Graphic Design

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

About this program

At Penn College, you’ll be immersed in a career-focused curriculum with unparalleled foundational classes, award-winning graphic design and web design courses, and cutting-edge facilities. Build a standout portfolio. Soak in valuable insight from passionate and experienced instructors. And learn what it takes define your future in graphic design.

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Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

96%

Overall Placement Rate

Career-Focused Classes Grounded in Formal Design Principles 

24/7

Access to Mac Labs with Adobe Suite

Careers

  • Graphic designer
  • Junior designer
  • UI designer
  • Web designer
  • Art director
  • Creative director
  • Studio owner
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • Visual Literacy for Designers (ART107)
  • Drawing (ART180)
  • Digital Photography (PHO150)
  • Two-Dimensional Design (ART102)
  • Design & Color (ART109)
  • Art History: Ancient through 15th Century (ART125)
  • Introduction to Web Page Development (BWM150)
  • History of Graphic Design (ART145)
  • Introduction to Three-Dimensional Design (ART202)
  • Type Design I (ART225)
  • Computer Graphics I (ART270)
  • Social Media in Business & Society (BIM120)
  • Introduction to Graphic Design (ART210)
  • Type Design II (ART235)
  • Computer Graphics II (ART275)
  • Introduction to Graphic Design for the Internet (ART285)
  • Environmental Graphic Design (ART320)
  • Advanced Graphic Design for the Internet (ART361)
  • Illustration (ART340)
  • Package Design (ART311)
  • Advanced Visual Literacy for Designers (ART307)
  • Commercial Photography (PHO230)
  • Branding (ART411)
  • Specified Graphic Design Elective (BGD)
  • Portfolio Design (ART420)
  • Senior Project (ART496)

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

  • Science Elective (SCI)
  • World History I (HIS116) or
  • World History II (HIS126)
  • Introduction to Philosophy (PHL110)
  • Science Elective with lab (SCL)

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

  • English Composition I (ENL111)
  • Information, Technology & Society (CSC124)
  • Math Elective (MTH151 or Higher) (MMM)
  • Technical & Professional Communication (ENL201) or
  • English Composition II (ENL121)
  • Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101)
  • Introduction to Geometry (MTH172)

Creatively connecting

Join us for a virtual discussion that’ll give you a glimpse of the graphic design program at Penn College. Instructor Nick Stephenson and several up-and-coming designers are excited to tell you what makes this standout program so popular.

Student-created video

This engaging video created and edited by Graphic Design alumni Luke Bierly shares his view of the Graphic Design program at Penn College. To him, it’s more than drawing and art. It’s about solving problems and developing thoughtful, real-world solutions.

Graphic Design 2022

Student Portfolio Exhibition

Graphic Design 2022 is an annual exhibition displaying the best design, illustration, and web design work of graphic design majors in their final semester of study at Penn College. Design faculty select the top works developed by each student within their time at Penn College.

View Exhibition
Fully Equipped Labs & Studios
Facilities

Fully Equipped Labs & Studios

From a cutting-edge commercial photography studio to Mac labs with the latest software, a ceramics studio, 3D studio, and professional print center, we have everything to support your creative journey.

Maker Profiles
Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Apr 7

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, April 7 8:30 AM - 3 PM

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Contact

Admissions Office

Student Life

Lead and put your skills to the test

American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA)

American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA)

The AIGA encourages students to get involved in the local design community, create a community of their own, and build leadership skills that will be valuable as they move into the professional world.

Zone V Photography

Zone V Photography

This club encourages members to explore the photographic medium for artistic growth and develop a personal artistic vision. Students also acquire and strengthen the skills used in analogue photographic methods and techniques.

Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Penn College News
02.29.2024

Graphic design alumni recognized in national competition

Pennsylvania College of Technology graphic design alumni captured nine awards in AIGA Baltimore’s 2023 nationwide Flux Student Design Competition. The seven alumni who were honored created their designs during their senior year and graduated in 2023.

01.22.2024

Inspiring images invite viewing on library's second floor

Black and white photographs by 13 students offer inspiration to onlookers along a second floor wall of The Madigan Library.

12.12.2023

Students' black-and-white photography on display in library

“Black and white photography is alive and well!” heralded Mark W. Wilson, instructor of graphic design at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Proving the point, Wilson’s Fine Art Photography (PHO 210) class is exhibiting works on the second floor of The Madigan Library.

Gain global experience
Study Abroad

Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

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Internship

Your knowledge in practice

Internships are key for career preparation. Our students have scored internships at popular companies including: Amtrak, Auntie Anne's, andCulture, Elisco’s Creative Café, Little League International, Mother New York, Mullen Lowe U.S., Playworld Systems Inc., Yuengling, and Woolrich.

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Student Experience

The community as their classroom

Graphic design students sweep awards

Graphic design students sweep awards

All that hard work pays off when student projects take their place in the spotlight. Our graphic designers often receive awards when judged alongside national competition.

See them shine

More Information

Students must earn a grade of 'C' or better in all courses with an ART and PHO course designator to receive credit for their completion. Students earning a 'D' or below must retake courses in which they are deficient before those courses can be considered as meeting the prerequisite requirements for more advanced courses. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course, after the maximum attempts allowed by College policy, results in withdrawal from the major in which the course is required.

Graduates of Penn College's two-year Advertising Art major can transfer all courses into the Graphic Design major; however, major courses (defined as those with ART, PHO designators) must have been completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Internal and external transfers with fewer than 61 credits can carry parallel courses into the baccalaureate when grades are 'C' or better. 

View general transfer information

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

View the Graphic Design Tool List

Uniforms and tools are available for purchase through The College Store.

Penn College has state-of-the-art facilities with an abundance of current computer technology for training in design and production. Along with computer skills we feel it is important to continue to educate students to use their hands in disciplines such as design, drawing, painting, and photography. This process provides a tactual and perceptive approach to visual problem solving. Using traditional media provides direct and physical engagement; the process requires a necessary interval for the development of concept, image, techniques, and evaluation.

Students become involved in a process that nurtures creativity and stimulates conceptual performance. The freshman, foundation year focuses on developing students’ visual thinking and hand skills. In subsequent years, students concentrate on applied art courses directed toward design and production in many media.

The art faculty encourage students in the objective pursuit of excellence. Individualized critiques provide structure for the creative process and are essential to the ultimate quality of the artwork.

Students are encouraged to attend exhibitions and artists’ talks as part of their education. The Department and College promote exhibitions at the resident gallery.

  • Sister Alma Mary Anderson, CSC, Professor, Graphic Design, Indiana State University
  • Mr. Ric Jones, Creative Director, MoJo Active
  • Mr. Dan Rowland, President/Owner/Director, Rowland Creative
  • Mr. John Saal, '00, Principal, Untuck Design Studio
  • Mr. Ryan Starr, '00, Creative Director, Saint John's University
  • Ms. Marjaneh Talebi, Director, Graphic Design Program, Harrisburg Area Community College
  • Mr. Todd True, Principal / Creative Director, True Geist
  • Career Fair Connections

    Career Fair Connections

    Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

    Learn More About Career Fair