Faculty for the introductory graphic design courses will advise students on the preparation of the review portfolio during enrollment in those courses. The review is very selective in determining the group of students who will progress to the upper level. The competitiveness of this process has served to heighten the level of excellence long enjoyed by the graphic design program. Students must have completed all required courses in the art foundations program to apply to the major. Students must have been formally accepted into the B. F. A. program and complete foundations prior to enrolling in GRD 4000-level studio courses.
Any exceptions require the approval of the permanent graphic design faculty.
The number of students accepted into the program has varied over the past academic years and has always been determined by quality of the work presented and the creative potential demonstrated through performance in the introductory graphic design sequence. As the popularity of the program has increased, it has become necessary to designate a ceiling of fifteen to twenty students accepted into the upper level at the end of each academic year. If not accepted into the B. F. A. program, students may apply the work already completed in graphic design courses to pursue the B. A. degree. The B. A. Degree in art is a liberal arts degree which does not require a portfolio review. This degree should not be confused with the B. F. A. degree, most often recognized as the professional degree.