traditional undergraduate on campus

Graphic Design

Trevecca’s Bachelor of Science in graphic design equips you with skills in Adobe Creative Cloud programs, interactive media and coding techniques so you can channel your creativity into meaningful digital design and marketing solutions. Through project-oriented curriculum that leads to a professional portfolio, you’ll be prepared to analyze and respond to graphic design and digital marketing needs in a variety of business settings.

Program Benefits

  • Graduate with the skills you need to be competitive in the job market. 
  • Learn from faculty who possess high degrees in their fields, who have relevant and valuable real-world experience and who make an effort to know you personally.
  • Enjoy our small class sizes and supportive campus community.
  • Take advantage of incredible internships and jobs available in the exciting Nashville market.

What to Expect

As a student in Trevecca’s Bachelor of Science in graphic design program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to make your mark in our increasingly digital and visual world. Companies of all kinds, from large organizations to schools to non-profits, need graphic designers to help with branding, visual communication and design strategies. Your degree prepares you to meet these needs and develop user experience solutions for websites and web applications.

This program equips you to capitalize on your creativity, taking classes that balance hands-on technical skills with communication and branding strategies for maximizing design impact. You’ll learn to use programs from Adobe’s Creative Cloud such as Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. You’ll also gain experience in sound design, animation, interactive media, coding techniques and typography as part of your core courses. And you can tailor your education to match your interests and goals by choosing from one of the following specialization tracks:

 

 

Throughout the program, you’ll also compile your many projects into a professional portfolio that can provide potential employers with tangible evidence of your skillset and work.

Why Choose Trevecca?

Founded in 1901 and a leader in online education for more than two decades, Trevecca helps students discover and pursue an individual calling by providing innovative instruction; cultivating a supportive, Christ-centered community; and establishing relationships that open doors.

Recognized nationally and locally for academic quality, Trevecca has earned a reputation for providing the world with servant leaders, problem solvers and difference makers. Trevecca’s holistic approach to education encompasses intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.

As a Christian university, we offer programs that explore the ways faith intersects with your field of study. This means you can gain your graphic design degree in a supportive, Christian community with small classroom sizes and engaged faculty members who care about you and your goals.

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Course Descriptions

Get details on all the courses you’ll complete as you work toward this degree at Trevecca.

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Financial Aid & Costs

Financial Aid & Costs

Nearly every student at Trevecca receives some form of assistance in paying for college. Learn all about the affordability of a TNU education and options for receiving aid.

Learn More

Career Opportunities

 

With a degree in graphic design from Trevecca, you’ll be ready to enter an exciting career or continue with graduate studies. Your degree prepares you to succeed in roles like these: 

  • Graphic designer 
  • UX designer 
  • Video game designer 
  • User interface designer 
  • Video and film editor 
  • Art director 
  • Creative director 
  • Drafter (architecture and engineering) 
  • Industrial/product designer 
  • Marketing manager 

 

“Trevecca prepared me with a solid foundation in design and software skills. I’ve been able to use my design skills to bring the gospel to people in a powerful, visual way.”

Daniel Brenneman Trevecca graduate and engagement strategist

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Course Descriptions

Get details on all the courses you’ll complete as you work toward this degree at Trevecca.


Life, Calling, and Purpose
INT 1100
Students will begin a journey of self-awareness where they can identify their individual gifts and talents while considering how God can use their uniqueness within their field of interest. Goals of the course include building community, understanding leadership and service, and evaluating God's calling. Required of all first-time freshmen (those enrolling with less than 24 hours) who are younger than 24 years of age and have not taken a similar course at another accredited institution.
English Composition I
ENG 1020

Emphasizes the recursive writing process through appropriate determination of subject, audience, purpose, and style, with correct usage of grammar, punctuation, and logical organization. Students will use appropriate technologies for writing and learning.

English Composition II: Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking
ENG 1080

Emphasizes intellectual and analytical reasoning through reading and writing assignments. Includes instruction in library and research technologies and the writing of a research project.

Speech Communication
COM 1010

A study of the principles and practices of effective human communication, with emphasis placed on public speaking. The course emphasizes the critical thinking and skill development necessary for effective speech. Listening skills are included in the study.

Financial Stewardship
BUS 2010

Provides the student with a basic understanding of his or her economic environment and the basic principles and tools of personal financial management. Emphasis will be placed on personal financial planning, including budgeting, managing personal debt, insurance, taxes, investments, and real estate. When possible, topics will be analyzed and discussed from a Christian perspective.

Introduction to Health and Wellness
HPE 1500

Designed to assist the student in their understanding and development of a healthy lifestyle. Emphasis is placed on the components and behaviors that promote lifelong, positive outcomes in the five dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual. Includes a fitness laboratory component. Fee charged.

Problem Solving: A Quantitative Reasoning Approach
MAT 1080

This course is designed to promote students' understanding and appreciation of mathematics and to develop quantitative and problem solving skills. The course will further introduce students to a wide range of applications of mathematics to modern life. Topics will be selected from linear and non-linear models, logic, sets, probability, counting techniques, statistics, matrices, and game theory.

Issues in Science
SCI 2600

An introduction to themes in the natural sciences that have significantly impacted our world. Among the themes discussed are relativity, modern cosmology, evolutionary thought, biotechnology, advances in modern medicine, biodiversity, and the use of natural resources. Scientific discoveries will be approached with both a historical perspective and a consideration of current and future applications. Interactions of scientific thought and the Christian worldview are considered. Lecture.

Life Science
SCI 1500

A study of biological concepts including the chemistry of life, principles of inheritance, evolutionary theories, biological organization of various organisms, and relationships between organisms and their environment. Issues related to current advances in biotechnology and medicine are also considered. The process of scientific inquiry is emphasized and practiced in both the lecture and laboratory. Fee charged.

World Literature
ENG 2000

Designed to engage students in dialogue with a variety of Western and Non-Western world literature, past and present. ENG 2000 is a recommended prerequisite for all upper-level literature courses.

Introduction to Biblical Faith
REL 2000

An introduction to Biblical faith and literature designed to help the student acquire a knowledge of the basic content of Scripture as well as be able to employ basic Bible study skills.

Christian Tradition
REL 3000

An introduction to theology as it has developed in the history of the church with a view to understanding the relation between faith and life. Special attention is given to understanding the doctrine of holiness.

Christian Life and Ministry
REL 4000

An integration of Christian spirituality, life, and ministry. Through a wide variety of readings and experiences, care is given to evaluate the spiritual structure of the student and to understand spiritual gifts, disciplines, and what it means for each individual to be a constructive influence in the Church and society.

Fine Arts
MUS 1500

Designed to give students a historical perspective of music, art, sculpture, and architecture from ancient times to modern times.

Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
BUS 2300

Designed to teach the student concepts and skills needed to succeed in an entrepreneurial venture. It will include understanding unique characteristics an entrepreneur should possess, and it will view marketing, economics, finance, accounting, management, communication and legal issues from a small business perspective.

Applied Logic and Mathematics for Computing
ITI 2540

The symbiotic relationship between the computing disciplines and mathematics has a long history. The foundations of hardware, software, networks, security, and digital multimedia rooted in theoretical and applied mathematics. This course will explore the mathematics of basic algorithm analysis, data structures, Boolean logic, sets, relations, functions, countability, computability, and complexity as applied to the computing domains. Special emphasis will be given to the practical applications of the binary and hexadecimal number system across the computing disciplines and the development of the theoretical finite state automation.

Business Analytics and Intelligence
ITI 3250

Enterprises today gather massive amounts of data that are archived using a variety of storage systems and technologies. Organizations now realize the value of accessing, synthesizing, and analyzing that vast data store to create business value. The ability to transform this data into business information that will enable managers and executives to make informed strategic business decisions has now become essential to business competitiveness. Using a variety of innovative analytical tools, the student will learn to harness the power of data to solve business problems as well as suggest new directions to create value for business.

Foundations of Software Design and Development
ITI 2160

Technology is all around us. It is deeply embedded and integrated into our daily lives. More than ever technology and design is the fabric of our culture, society, and core for modern business. Not only is technology the key enabler for strategic growth in today's digital economy but it is also a foundational pillar of communication around the world. From social media to online commerce, programming is the core foundational tool that organizations use to run their businesses. More than ever businesses need creative problem solvers to help expand their reach through technology enablement. You will begin your journey here in this course to empower modern businesses to succeed in our digital economy. You will begin to learn the fundamental principles that are the underlying framework for technology. That is to say that programming is the key element that drives the capabilities of simple to advanced systems. In this course, you will be learning a creative approach to problem-solving with code that is both scalable and timeless.

Foundations of Web Design and Development
ITI 2170

The ubiquitous aspects of the web are at all intersections of modern life. Instead of having social and business communications and applications walled off and only accessible as desktop applications, the Internet provides a development environment and ecosystem to facilitate serious and powerful computing, accessible to people around the globe. In this course students will learn the core fundamental principles and tenets of web technologies and development methodologies. This course is designed to provide in-depth, hands-on instruction in designing and scripting web sites. Major web scripting languages are covered in detail. Students will also learn how to implement visual design principles and digital design software. Through a project-based approach, students will develop the skills needed to develop web sites in a business environment.

Foundations of Data and Database Management
ITI 2180

Computers in all visible and hidden forms, from embedded chips to supercomputers, must input, output, store, and process data. Foundationally critical is the understanding that the digital world is binary data in all forms, including computer instructions we call software. The characteristics, structure, and meaning of this data must be understood by the computing professional to adequately protect and transform it into meaningful information and appropriate uses. Digital representations of our world requires professionals to accurately and efficiently store, search, retrieve, classify, analyze, and report this information. In this course the student will lay a foundation of understanding to accurately interpret what "digital" means and how binary data is stored, retrieved, and moved in software applications, operating system file subsystems, communications networks, and more complex relational and non-relational databases. Through problem sets and hands-on exercises, students will apply concepts to practice. There is no area of study in computing technology that is not touched by the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of binary data.

Foundations of Cybersecurity and Forensics
ITI 2380

Because of increased cyber threats on financial, health, and other information, securing what is important to us has become a priority to companies and individuals. This course is designed to provide an in-depth introduction to wide range of cybersecurity issues confronting organizations today and the methods by which practitioners can secure a business environment. Since significant investments are being made in the security of networks and the IT infrastructure today, specific emphasis is placed on global network based threats and vulnerabilities. Other topics include physical security, access control, authentication, authorization, data security and integrity, encryption, recovery, computer forensics, penetration testing and business continuance. Students will learn about and work with firewalls, network security, application security, email security, and tools for securing, monitoring, and auditing the IT environment.

Portfolio Assessment I
ITI 3975

The Portfolio I course is designed to prepare students to create a digital online presence in order to competitively position themselves in the marketplace. Students are prepared to develop a communication and presentation strategy that best suits their career goals.

Information Technology Internship I
ITI 4900

The IT internship offers deep learning and mentoring in an IT-related applied setting for which students receive academic credit under the guidance of the University "Learning Contract". The applied experience is onsite at an outside employer. The internship requires the onsite supervisor to establish written expectations for a project-based experience, meets regularly with the student, and provides a written evaluation using a format provided by the university. At 55 hours per credit hour a 3 credit hour work experience will result in 15 hours per week per semester (165 hours total), or 4 weeks of full time.

Portfolio Assessment II
ITI 4975

This senior presentation course is the culmination of your studies, meant to help you demonstrate talent, skills and presentation, and communication abilities. This experience will not only provide you the opportunity to begin honing your skills in presenting your work to be used for expanding your career, but it will allow you to receive feedback from experienced designers and developers from the industry on ways you can improve your portfolio as you begin your job hunt. While it is critical to show finished work which reflects strong concepts, design and technical abilities, it is also important to be able to demonstrate the process used to create the work along with the reasoning which led its final form. Each senior is allowed to present 4- 5 projects. These projects can have multiple components but, in total, can't exceed a total of 10. Presentations are to be, at least, 10 minutes and no longer than 15 and are to be made digitally online or with a projector. The presentation should cover your creative process from beginning to end.

Senior Seminar in Computing
ITI 4980

The senior seminar is a learning space where students actively evaluate and critique the questions, controversies, and complexities of the information technology, information systems, computer science, and graphic design disciplines. While developing disciplinary and research skills, students lead discussions that explore current topics and challenges of intellectual importance. The seminar is facilitated by the faculty member with the goal of preparing students for academic research and professional success.

Entrepreneurial Marketing for Small Business
BUS 2410

Marketing today for small business is more dynamic and more challenging than ever before. What should one do when starting a new business? In this course students will learn the successful strategies that often propel successful businesses. From the foundational principles of marketing for a small business to the guerrilla marketing tactics that are employed to help it succeed the student will be involved with the complete range of marketing activities to help a business startup to succeed.

Foundations of UX Design
ITI 2140

Deeply rooted in the success of digital experiences is a key intersection between psychology and sociology. User Experience design (or UX Design) is the study and practice of the psychological and design principles of how users interact with interactive systems. This course is a formal study of human computer interaction, information architecture, and usability design. Students will learn analysis and design techniques that will help them to evaluate users, styles, tasks and other factors of the human-computer interface. The course provides a foundation for students to be able to build effective computer interfaces that support human needs and improved productivity. Students are also introduced to UX History and current research. The total spectrum of human-computer interaction is contained within the field of User Experience design. This course focuses on the interactive design process in order to generate rapid prototypes that are used to steer business and product design decisions. This course will teach students how to take a concept from prototype to digital product. Students will learn how to transform ideas into tangible reality. Students will learn how to develop user stories and user tasks that will be utilized for the shaping of the product definition and functionality, while at the same time learning how to build a design and a development road map.

Graphic Design and Imaging I
ITI 3800

Designed to provide in-depth, hands-on instruction in designing and developing graphics and images primarily for Web-based use. Students will gain experience with industry software used for design and imaging such as PhotoShop and Fireworks. Extensive lab time will help to develop skills needed when designing and developing images in the business environment.

Graphic Design and Imaging II
ITI 3810

Designed to be a continuation of ITI 3800, Graphic Design and Imaging I. In this advanced studio-based class, students implement creative solutions for the fields of advertising and marketing. Students further their knowledge of corporate identity, trademarks, and visual presence while gaining an understanding of the cultural impact of their work. Emphasis is given to typographic implementation for challenging projects.

Digital Typography
ITI 4830

A study of the design and use of basic letter forms, typographic contrast, hierarchy of information, major type families and characteristics, history of design and typographic grids. Students build skills for the art of typesetting and typographic layout, and for expressive typography and conceptual thinking.

Corporate Identity and Advertising Design
ITI 3840

In this advanced studio-based class, students implement creative solutions for the fields of advertising and marketing. Students further their knowledge of corporate identity, trademarks, and visual presence while gaining an understanding of the cultural impact of their work. Emphasis is given to typographic implementation for challenging projects.

Choose a Track

Game Design and Development
TRACK
Rich Media Design
TRACK
Social Media and Digital Marketing
TRACK
Specialized Computing
TRACK

General Electives — 7-8 hours

*ITI 4900: 3 hours required.

*For a complete list of courses, tracks and other relevant information, view the program's course catalog.