Minor Overview

Students interested in graphic design as a career or looking to complement a major area of study can benefit from this minor, which provides a foundation of layout, typography and color, along with relevant software skills and the language of graphic design. Electives include digital photography, color theory and web design.

Applicants must have a 3.25 or better overall GPA, have completed less than 70 hours and submit a 10-piece portfolio to be considered for the program. Tameka Barnett serves as the minor advisor for the college. Reach out to her or Jill Honeycutt with questions or concerns about the minor in graphic design. Their emails are tbarnett@mays.tamu.edu and jhoneycutt@tamu.edu.

Application review does not guarantee admission. Spots are limited. Applications are due March 6, 2026, for Fall 2026 admission. Applicants will be emailed on or before March 20, 2026, with an admission decision.

Curriculum

Three (3) Required Courses; Seven (7) Credit Hours

Course Title Hours
ARTS 104 Intro to Graphic Design 1
ARTS 303 Graphic Design I 3
ARTS 304 Graphic Design II 3

Three (3) Elective Courses; Nine (9) Credit Hours

Course Title Hours
ARTS 103 Design I 3
ARTS 210 Intro to Digital Photography 3
ARTS 255 Typography 3
ARTS 342 History of Graphic Design 3 * Limited offerings currently
ARTS 353 Color Theory 3
ARTS 356 Motion Graphics 3
VIST 374 Multimedia Design and Development 3 * Limited offerings currently
ARTS 403 Graphic Design III 3 * Currently only offered in the spring semester
ARTS 455 Experimental Typography 3 * Limited offerings currently
VIST 474 Designing for the Web 3 * Currently only offered in the fall semester

Must make a grade of C or better in each course.

Requirements

  • 3.25 GPA requirement
  • Less than 70 credit hours
  • A 10-image portfolio is required.
  • Application does not guarantee admission.
  • Admission will be competitive

The student’s home college/school/department may grant, with agreement from the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, transfer credit of no more than six credit hours. Transfer credit will not be accepted for any 300 or 400 level courses. To be awarded the minor in graphic design and receive transcript recognition, students must maintain a “C” average or better in all courses completed as part of the minor in graphic design.

Additional portfolio information: A portfolio with 10 works is required. A URL must be submitted with the application — this can be a website and/or a collection of images (via Google and/or Dropbox). Your portfolio may include fine art, graphic design work and/or any other medium of artistic works. Previous artworks are acceptable.

Advising

Tameka Barnett serves as the minor advisor for the college. Reach out to her or Jill Honeycutt, senior associate program director, with questions or concerns about the minor in graphic design. Their emails are tbarnett@mays.tamu.edu and jhoneycutt@tamu.edu.

Please email your PDF application to Jill Honeycutt with your first and last name, and with “Graphic Design Application” as the subject line.