Program Description

The art and graphic design major at Springfield College provides an opportunity for students to learn to creatively combine practical, conceptual, and critical skills to engage with the challenges of an ever-changing and increasingly visual contemporary world. Art and graphic design students are encouraged to develop a personal vision through guided exploration in the studio arts and graphic design in parallel with a comprehensive foundation in art and design history. Through diverse coursework, the major provides students opportunities to develop their creative talents in a variety of visual arts and design approaches. As students mature as artists and designers, they become visually literate, skilled in creative problem-solving, and aesthetically sensitive.

The core requirements of the major expose students to an exciting foundation of coursework in both studio arts and graphic design. Once the core requirements have been met, students will pursue a focus in the studio arts, graphic design, or will declare a concentration in art therapy.Students who focus on studio arts choose from an exciting array of introductory and advanced-level courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. Exploration and development in different areas of studio arts are informed by an experimental approach, one that supports risk taking and innovation. Through a solid foundation, students are prepared for advanced study and professional opportunities in the arts.

Students who focus on graphic design develop skills in areas of web design, UX/UI, multimedia and communication design, motion graphics, exhibition, packaging, animation, and environmental design. An innovative blend of the creative and the technological, the design focus prepares students to enter the workforce with experience, strong portfolios, and the knowledge gained from an evolving curriculum that reflects a rapidly changing field. Students explore these areas utilizing computer software, 3D printers, virtual reality, and emergent technologies. The flexibility and expansive understanding of design prepare students to pursue a variety of exciting creative careers.

Interested prospective students can apply and be admitted to a direct-entry art therapy program (art and graphic design/pre-art therapy) that leads from the undergraduate to our own master’s degree program in art therapy. In addition, art and graphic design students can declare a concentration in art therapy at any time in their undergraduate degree program. Students who declare a concentration in art therapy will take courses in art therapy, psychology, and the visual arts as preparation to apply to any graduate art therapy program. Students take a minimum of 18 credits in visual arts and 12 credits of psychology and art therapy coursework, focusing on the development of art therapy, its applications, materials & methods, and multiculturalism. Students also participate in a practicum within a community service or pre-clinical setting to develop pre-professional competencies, preparing them to work in various settings as pre-professionals before graduate school training and utilizing foundational knowledge in art therapy theory, visual arts skills, and psychological theory, learning how to engage the public, addressing wellness methods and materials within a community service framework. Our curriculum is a unique blend of visual art, design, psychology, and community engagement, providing students with the skills necessary not only to succeed in the field but also to understand how to engage with and improve the communities in which they are a part.

Undergraduate Curriculum Overview

The Academic Advising Center provides the following repositories of sequencing and curriculum guides for all undergraduate majors and minors to assist with course planning:  

• Sequencing Guides - Majors 
• Sequencing Guides - Minors

Additional Notes:

• There may be circumstances where credit totals do not reflect coursework that is eligible to count towards Core Curriculum and Major Requirement sections of a major simultaneously.
• Degree requirements are subject to change. 

I. Core Curriculum (40 credits)

This Core Curriculum is faithful to the Springfield College mission and further strengthens the Humanics philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind, and body. It is a cornerstone of a Springfield College education. Regardless of one’s major, it provides a strong, developmental, and holistic foundation for leaders in service to humanity. Upon completion, all graduates will be prepared to learn, lead, and serve in diverse, multicultural, and global contexts as well as in any career path they may choose. They will have the knowledge, habits of the mind, skills, and abilities to face unexpected situations and challenges, the values and attitudes for self-motivation and a vision of service that stems from hope, optimism and making a difference, as well as the self-determination to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

View the Core Curriculum Requirements (40 credits)  section for a complete list of the domains and courses therein.

II. Major Requirements (52-60 credits)

III. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)