Our graphic design major equips you with expertise needed to become a successful professional in the field of Graphic Design.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BFA

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What courses will you take?

Two graphic design students seated next to their packaging designs in a UMass Lowell studio

The B.F.A. in Graphic Design curriculum at UMass Lowell teaches design thinking, design process and software training. 

You will begin with a sequence of core courses in graphic design and typography, learning the fundamentals of design as well as such skills as team building, critical thinking and problem-solving. 

Additional coursework includes information design, user experience, interaction design, motion graphics, branding, publication design, app and web design. Assignments focus on graphic design systems, graphic design in context and professional practice. 

The final year culminates with the Senior Studio project, where you will develop an online portfolio, resume and a self-directed project that reflects your talent and skills.

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about our art minors.

  • Degree Pathways are a semester-by-semester sequence of courses recommended for successful completion of a degree, diploma, credential or certificate from the university. The most current degree pathway is:

    Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

  • Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will:

    • Be informed and intelligent citizens, and as such be valuable members of society committed to making a difference as influential cultural producers, leaders, and trend-setters
    • Acquire fluency in the major discourses informing their concentrations in Studio Art and/or Graphic Design
    • Exhibit literacy in the history of art and visual communication
    • Be exposed to current trends in art and design
    • Be ready for careers in the creative industry as studio artists, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, interactive-media practitioners, animators, gallery administrators, art critics and/or researchers.
    • Be qualified to enter graduate study in art, design, visual studies, and/or art education
    • Be able to integrate multiple disciplines and media for their creative projects in both personal work and professional pursuits
    • Demonstrate preparedness to navigate waves of cultural production and adjust to changing modes of visual expression in both art and graphic design fields
    • Not only excel in the area of concentration within their degree, but also in their ability to continually embrace, innovate and advance the ever-changing developments in art and design production and research.

Why study graphic design at UMass Lowell?

Professor and student work at computer in a UMass Lowell interactive animation studio

Fun Outside the Classroom

Put your learning into practice. Check out some of the fun ways UML students come together.

Student photographing another student with a tablet computer in a UMass Lowell studio

Cutting-Edge Technology

Our facilities offer ample studio space and current technology including:

  • Cintiq drawing tablets
  • Laser cutters
  • 3-D printers & scanners
  • Motion capture & virtual reality technology
Graphic design student presents in front of a video screen in a UMass Lowell classroom

Experiential Learning

Build career-ready skills through experiences outside the classroom, including:

  • Research in a faculty laboratory 
  • Co-ops and internships 
  • Paid work on campus 
  • Service learning 
  • Study abroad
Professor and two students review prints showing animals and text in a UMass Lowell graphic design classroom

Expert Faculty

Enjoy the individual attention we offer through our small class sizes (average size is 15 students). 

Our renowned faculty are all practitioners in their fields—and you may get to help them with research projects that include national and international exhibitions, films and books.

What can you do with a degree in graphic design?

Graduates from UMass Lowell's B.F.A. in Graphic Design gain a strong foundation in design, typography and web design, allowing them to thrive in a variety of fields.

Graphic Design major Grace Deraney credits the UML graphic design program and its faculty for preparing her as a graphic design professional.

Job roles can include:

  • Corporate design
  • Brand identity design
  • Video game design
  • Web design
  • User experience design
  • Book design
  • Package design