Graphic Design?& Visual Communication Major

Design Skills That Employers Pay For: The B.F.A. Advantage

• What is a B.F.A. in Graphic Design & Visual Communication?

  Champlain’s BFA in Graphic Design & Visual Communication trains you to become a thoughtful designer who understands typography, color, composition, images, and motion. You’ll learn every step of design—from research and coming up with ideas to creating models and improving them. You’ll also learn to make designs that work across different media and platforms.

  A BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is a professional degree—meaning it directly prepares you for a specific career path.

  A B.F.A focuses on fine arts and creative aspects of graphic design. It emphasizes hands-on studio work and developing artistic skills. This degree typically includes more theory and studio coursework designed to prepare you for actual work in the creative field. A BFA is a good choice if you plan to pursue a Master of Fine Arts later or want a career as a professional artist or designer. It’s ideal for students who mainly want to develop their creative and artistic abilities for real-world application.

• Why earn a B.F.A. in Graphic Design & Visual Communication at Champlain?

  At Champlain, you’ll start creating real design projects in your first semester—not waiting years to touch professional tools like at most colleges. You’ll get career-building experiences that set you apart:

  • Work on actual client projects through our Creative Studio Experience
  • Build a professional portfolio that showcases your unique style
  • Get your work critiqued by designers from top design firms before graduation
  • Learn from faculty who have worked for major brands and agencies

  Our program is officially accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)—a credential that employers recognize and respect.

• What will I learn studying Graphic Design & Visual Communication?

  By the time you graduate, you will…

  • Create powerful brand identities – Design logos, colors, and typography systems that build business value
  • Master industry-standard software – Become proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud tools that employers require
  • Design for print and digital – Develop skills across multiple platforms from packaging to websites
  • Build compelling visual stories – Combine images and text to communicate messages that connect
  • Present your work professionally – Learn to explain your design choices and sell your ideas to clients

You might also be interested in these…

Based on your interest in the?Graphic Design & Visual Communication?major, we thought you also might like to check out these other academic programs and opportunities.

• Majors

  • Creative Media Major (BFA) 

    Develop your self-expression in our Creative Media major, and learn the business side of interdisciplinary production, digital creation, and entrepreneurship.

  • Digital Humanities Major (BS) 

    Be a digital pioneer. Bring the fullness of your human self to the study of emerging technology, including Artificial Intelligence, and make sure the digital future is humane as well as human.

  • User Experience & Interaction Design Major (BS) 

    Tomorrow’s technology requires good design to be usable. Specialize in user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design at Champlain, and create new intersections between human minds and digital spaces.

  • Marketing Communication Major (BS) 

    Businesses run on stories and data. Tune in to emerging marketing strategies and graduate ready for your career, with impressive industry-standard certifications.

• Minors

  • Interactive Narrative Minor 

    Discover different types of narratives that are immersive, non-linear, and engage our audience in a wholly new and unique way. Learn to design these narratives and create all new experiences.

  • Writing Minor 

    Develop strong writing skills in technical writing like journalism and grant writing and more creative writing like poetry and fiction. Increase your media literacy and written communication skills.

• Areas of Study

  • Creative Arts & Communication 

    With many majors to choose from, you decide how to bring your ideas to life and communicate them to the world.

  • Humanities & the Sciences 

    The born educator, the team player, the change maker, the advocate. Which of these human-centered majors fits you career goals?

  • Individualized Studies & Undeclared 

    Learn what you love, and love what you learn with one of these professional pathways.