Saint Anselm College is excited to announce new programs to begin in the fall of 2023 including a major in Graphic Design. 

Student working on a project on an iMac

The college’s latest major will strengthen student’s abilities in communication and personal expression within the graphic arts. Graphic Design students will be introduced to the tools, techniques, concepts, history, and vocabulary essential for building knowledge and skills within the discipline, and will develop a sharp sense of problem-solving, visual composition, and aesthetic strategies. Students will be prepared for careers in graphic design, art direction and branding design, web design, advertising and marketing, and data visualization, among others.

“The Graphic Design major will offer creative students real-world experience and a clear career pathway where they can apply their passion for art and design in a variety of settings,” says Fine Arts Professor Laura Shea, Ph.D.

Through fine arts and computer science courses, students will develop a fluency with typography, style, and visual design as well as with industry-standard software (ex. Adobe Creative Suite). Students will learn how to craft visual user experiences (UX) and interfaces (UI), sharpen their creative problem-solving skills, and discover design principles, processes, and history.

The dynamic field of Graphic Design is responsible for producing and enhancing the visual and textual media pervading almost every aspect of our contemporary society. As a branch of the visual arts, graphic design offers students professional preparation while also encouraging their intellectual, creative, and ethical development. 

Students will prepare for professional workforce opportunities or graduate degree programs through real-world experiences. All students must complete a required internship, a junior year portfolio review, and an independent project in their senior seminar. 

The graphic design courses that will be offered in the fall include: Animation, Motion Art, & Design, Art & Design for the Web, and Digital Photography. 

In addition to Graphic Design, the college has also added two new minors: Design Thinking Innovation and Special Education which also begin in the fall of 2023. 

  • The Design Thinking Innovation minor is an interdisciplinary minor highlighting courses from the Psychology and Economics and Business Departments. It introduces students to the methods, mindsets, and process associated with design thinking (i.e., human-centered design) to solve real world problems. Students will collaborate with clients (on or off-campus) to design solutions (products, services, etc.) that are desirable, feasible, and viable. Some interesting courses include Design Thinking in Ethics, Multicultural Perspectives on Public Schooling in the United States, and Social Movements, People, Power, and Change. 
  • The minor in Special Education provides students (from any major) an opportunity to study the concepts related to better supporting the needs of individuals with disabilities. It also gives those education majors who are considering a master’s in the subject to “test-out” the field. Some of the courses that students can take in this program are Autism Spectrum Disorders, Ethical and Legal Influence on Educational Practices of Students with Diverse Abilities, and Positive Behavior Supports. 

To see the full list of courses available visit https://www.anselm.edu/academics/departments-programs/education