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The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany New York 12203
1-800-637-8556
 

 

Graphic Design
(B.F.A.)

THE SAINT ROSE DIFFERENCE
As a graphic design student at Saint Rose, you will be encouraged to develop your own unique image-making skills and visual problem-solving abilities, enabling you to graduate with a highly professional and competitive portfolio. Saint Rose graphic design majors earn the BFA degree in graphic design, which is considered within the industry to be the best possible preparation for a career in graphic design. The program emphasizes concept and content development as the principles of art are applied to visual communication. Through course work and semester long internships, you will learn the most advanced software applications and computer skills necessary to prepare you for a successful transition from the classroom to the professional workplace.

FIELD EXPERIENCES
Graphic design majors are required to undertake at least one semester-long professional internship. You will be carefully matched with an appropriate mentor in a creative environment. We offer extensive internship opportunities every semester, and summers, at a variety of advertising agencies, design firms and in-house creative departments in the Capital Region, as well as in New York City, Boston, Burlington, and Washington, DC. Students often undertake more than one internship, varying the geography and design related experiences. Internship placements include:

  • Eric Mower and Associates, Inc.—Albany, NY
  • Fairbrother and Company—Valatie, NY
  • Group 3 Design—Burlington, VT
  • Lebowitz/Gould Design—New York City
  • Media Logic—Albany, NY
  • St. Martin’s Press—New York City
  • Washington Times—Washington, DC
  • WBMG, Inc.—New York City
  • Winstanley Associates—Lenox, MA

CAREERS IN GRAPHIC DESIGN
Most our graphic design graduates achieve full employment in the field within one year of graduation. Our faculty serves as a clearinghouse for these professional opportunities by bringing prospective employers to campus and by arranging for our senior students to attend national job fairs and portfolio reviews. The Art Department hosts an annual Open Portfolio Night and Reception in which local art directors can meet the senior design students and review their portfolios. Additionally, the department faculty actively places sophomore and junior students in part-time and summer job opportunities in the field, both locally and nationally. The vast employment opportunities available for graphic design graduates include:

  • advertising agencies
  • corporate design departments
  • design firms
  • Internet design companies
  • magazines and newspapers
  • packaging firms
  • publishing houses
  • television networks and stations

PREPARATION FOR
GRADUATE STUDY

The professional preparation of the BFA degree in graphic design at Saint Rose will allow you to find rewarding employment in this field without the need for advanced study. However, if you choose to pursue a graduate degree, you will be well prepared to succeed. Our graduates have been accepted by some of the most prominent graduate design programs in the country, including:

  • California Institute of the Arts
  • Kent State University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology University
  • The School of Visual Arts
  • Stanford University
  • The Tyler School of Art of Temple
  • Virginia Commonwealth University

MODERATE PRICE AND
AGGRESSIVE FINANCIAL AID

The College of Saint Rose has one of the lowest tuitions of all New York state private colleges and we offer a variety of scholarships, including academic talent. More than 90% of our students receive several forms of financial aid. Students with outstanding portfolios containing work that demonstrates superior ability and potential may qualify for Art Talent Awards. Award amounts vary depending on the quality of a student’s portfolio.

Deadline: In order to be eligible for Art Talent Scholarships, all materials must be received by February 1.

THE PORTFOLIO REVIEW
A portfolio is required for all students who wish to pursue an Art major or minor and should contain a minimum of fifteen examples of work. Three-dimensional work should be submitted by slides labeled with the applicant’s name. Drawings from observation should be emphasized. Portfolios may be reviewed at a scheduled NPDA (National Portfolio Day Association) Portfolio Day held at various locations.
Portfolio Reviews are also held by appointmentwith the Art Department faculty.

Transfer students should include work from courses they wish to transfer. For example, if students expect to transfer credit for a painting class, the portfolio should include paintings from that class. Several scholarships are awarded to qualified undergraduate Art majors for excellent portfolios. The Christo Scholarship is a special award for students who show excellent potential in art.

The Graphic Design Program combines an expertly designed artistic and digital curriculum with the most rigorous and thorough career preparation available at any design school nationwide. Saint Rose students develop life-long skills in conceptual problem-solving and create outstanding, professional portfolios.

Ann Breaznell,
associate professor


Did you know?
For the past three years, the Saint Rose Graphic design Program has been named as one of the top 25 graphic design programs in the country, by the Art Directors Club of New York, based on a review of student portfolios.

 

 

Art Portfolio Review and Workshop Days:
All sessions are by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 30
Portfolio Workshop only*

Saturday, October 7
Portfolio Workshop only*

Saturday, October 28

Saturday, November 4

Saturday, November 11

Saturday, December 2

Saturday, December 9

Saturday, January 20

Saturday, February 17

Friday, March 16

*Portfolio Workshops are offered to assist students in preparing their portfolio for admission into one of the art programs at Saint Rose.

Your portfolio should contain a minimum of fifteen examples of work. Three-dimensional work should be submitted on slides labeled with the applicant’s name. Drawings from observation should be emphasized. Portfolios may also be reviewed by eCritique.

Call 518-454-5150 or email admit@strose.edu for an appointment.


Regional Portfolio Review Day
Date and location to be determined


National Portfolio Review Days
You may also meet Saint Rose representatives at the following National Portfolio Days:

Dates and locations to be determined

 

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