Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program is to provide professional training for students who wish to pursue a variety of careers in the field of art, as working artists and designers, critics, managers, and directors, or in the field of education as teachers and researchers. Students will be provided the opportunity to build significant skills in the history, research, practice, and discourse of art and design.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Develop design solutions that address design problems at various scales of complexity.
• Assess the efficacy of design in relation to its context.
• Formulate research based design solutions based on knowledge of the literature/artifacts of the discipline.
• Integrate aesthetic and visual design principles into original compositions.
• Create design solutions that balance form and function.

Program Specific Admission Procedures

The MFA program will follow the standard admission, curriculum and graduation requirements as stated in the Liberty University Graduate Catalog with the following specific admission procedures:

1. Regionally or nationally accredited bachelor's degree with at least a 3.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) for acceptance in good standing.
2. Students with a GPA of 2.50 to 2.99 (on a 4.00 scale) may be considered for admission on Academic Caution.
3. TOEFL scores for students who speak English as a second language (score of 600 paper-based test; 250 computer-based test; 80 internet based test)
4. Artist Statement
   • The artist statement should include your artistic background, area(s) of specialty, and the intended direction of your work. This is your opportunity to provide context for your art and design.
5. Departmental Approval via Master of Fine Arts Portfolio
   • The successful portfolio should include no less than 20 images that best depict the applicant's abilities and interests in their desired field of study. (Please note: applications for the online MFA will only be considered in the area of graphic design).
     • Submitted images should be professionally photographed/ composed and be "client" ready.
     • Neat and professional presentation, layout, and image quality should be considered by the applicant when submitting his/her work for review. The submitted work samples should clearly demonstrate the applicant's strong design skills, aesthetic style, and potential for success in the program.
     • All submitted images should be original creative artifacts designed by the applicant. Credit must be given when collaborative works are included.
     • This will be submitted via SlideRoom, this is a $10 Non-refundable fee.
       • Provide 20 items.
       • Images (up to 5MB each)
       • Video (up to 250MB each)
       • PDFs (up to 10MB each)
       • Models (Sketchfab)
   • The portfolio requirement is waived for applicants who transfer in at least 30 credit hours into the program.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 30 credit hours from an accredited institution subject to department approval. In order to transfer credit, students must have earned the minimum grade of B-, and courses must have been completed within 10 years of the start date of the program. Credits from a prior degree on the same academic level earned through Liberty University are considered transfer credits.

Delivery Format: Residential and Online

Industry Sectors Employing MFA Graphic Design Graduates

• Tech & Software
• Film & Media
• Education & Higher Ed
• Healthcare Systems
• Faith-based Organizations
• Government & Public Sector
• Nonprofits & NGOs
• Retail & Consumer Products
• Sports & Entertainment
• Publishing & Journalism
• Advertising Agencies
• In-House Corporations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Museums and Cultural Institutions

Career Titles in Creative Industries

Higher Education & Academia

• Educational Design
• Education and Technology Designer
• Design Research
• Professor/Instructor in higher education
• Arts Management

Creative Leadership Roles

• Art Director (Advertising Agency)
• Art Director (Design Studio)
• Art Director (In-House / Corporate Marketing)
• Creative Director
• Digital Media Manager (In-House / Corporate)

Core Design Roles

• Graphic Designer
• Junior Art Director

• Visual Designer
• Visual Communication Designer
• Digital Designer
• UX/UI Designer
• Brand Designer
• Data Visualization Designer
• Photography
• Illustration
• Production Artist
• Visual Information Specialist (Government and Military)

Web & Digital Design Roles

• Web Designer (Front End)
• UX Designer (User Experience Designer)
• UI Designer (User Interface Designer)
• Mobile App Designer
• Interaction Designer
• Social Media Designer

Print & Physical Media Roles

• Packaging Designer
• Production Designer
• Environmental Graphic Designer
• Editorial & Publication Roles
• Editorial Designer
• Publication Designer
• Publication Art Director
• Book Designer

Marketing & Advertising Roles

• Advertising Designer
• Marketing Designer
• Social Media Designer
• Content Designer
• Campaign Designer
• Junior Art Director

Illustration & Image-Making Roles

• Illustrator
• Commercial Illustrator
• Book Artist
• Visual Storyteller
• Storyboard Artist
• Children’s book Artist
• Comic book Artist
• Concept Artist