Your Guide to Graphic Design Degrees

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Graphic design, communication design, and design programs focus on visual communications. Learn what you can do with a graphic design degree.

[Featured image] Graphic design student sits at a tilted table and works on a new design project. He has a series of papers in front of him and is using a pen to update his designs.

A graphic design degree signifies in-depth knowledge of visual communication and design. In fact, graphic design programs are also called communication design or design programs.

Learn about the different types of graphic design degrees and what you can expect if you pursue your bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

What do graphic designers do?

As a graphic designer, you will turn your client’s visual concepts into an image, illustration, website or page layout, or other visual projects. In this role, you can create many different kinds of graphics, from business logos, websites, and marketing materials, to educational materials, to product packaging design, to creating book covers or illustrations. 

Placeholder

What degrees relate to graphic design?

You can pursue your graphic design degree at the associate, bachelor's, or master's level. 

Explores a breakdown of each degree type:

  • Associate degree: Associate degree programs typically take about two years to complete if you attend school full-time. In graphic design, schools usually offer one of two associate degree programs: Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS). Both types of programs offer foundational knowledge, usually through introductory coursework. In some programs, it’s considered that students who pursue AA degrees will later transfer into a bachelor’s degree program, while AAS degree students may pursue a career directly after graduation.

  • Bachelor’s degree: Bachelor’s degree programs take about four or five years to complete if you attend school full-time. In graphic design, schools tend to offer either a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or both. Both programs will be similar, though BA programs may be more theoretical, while BFA programs may be more technical and creative.

  • Master’s degree: Master’s degree programs usually take one to two years of full-time study. Like at the bachelor level, schools typically offer Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or both. Master’s programs are advanced degrees designed to deepen expertise in visual communication. 

You can also take individual graphic design courses or earn a certificate. These options enable you to learn foundational design skills with less of a financial and time commitment. If you’ve already earned your degree in another subject area and hope to work in graphic design, a certificate program may be a good option as you refocus your career path.

Placeholder

specialization

Graphic Design

Make Compelling Design. Learn and apply the principles of graphic design towards a comprehensive branding project.

4.7

(17,129 ratings)

404,268 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Art History, Branding Communication, Visual Communication, Typography, Graphic Design, Adobe Indesign, Art, Creativity, Graphics, History, Graphic Arts, Adobe Illustrator, Design Theory, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop

Online graphic design degrees

With the prevalence of digital design, you can consider various options to pursue your graphic design degree online. You can expect similar foundational and technical coursework but with the flexibility of learning from anywhere with an internet connection. Online courses may also be asynchronous, meaning you can log on to learn at whatever time is most convenient for you.

See if online learning is right for you with the Fundamentals of Graphic Design from the California Institute of the Arts on Coursera. This is the first course of five in the Graphic Design Specialization, available completely online.

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design

A bachelor’s degree is often considered the entry-level education for many arts and design occupations, such as graphic designer, art director, and special effects artist. Among those with a fine and performing arts degree, graphic design is the most common major.

A bachelor’s degree isn’t always necessary to work in a design-related field—Zippia reports that 68 percent of graphic designers have a bachelor’s degree, while 23 percent have an associate degree [1].

Discover what you can expect if you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

Types of courses

When you pursue your bachelor’s degree, you can typically expect to take both general education courses across a variety of disciplines and coursework directly related to your major. For those in a BA graphic design program, your courses may skew toward culture and context, while BFA programs will likely incorporate more studio art courses. However, both BA and BFA programs will likely require some of both.

Some graphic design courses you may take include:

  • Introduction to graphic design

  • Digital communication

  • Design thinking

  • Art history

  • Color theory

  • Typography

  • Studio art courses like drawing, painting, or sculpture

  • Motion design

  • Production design

  • Web design

  • User experience

  • Information design

  • Media management

Placeholder

professional certificate

Google UX Design

Get on the fast track to a career in UX design. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI training from Google experts. Learn at your own pace, no degree or experience required.

4.8

(81,274 ratings)

1,145,409 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 6 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

User Experience (UX), Prototype, Wireframe, User Experience Design (UXD), UX Research, mockup, Figma, Usability Testing, UX design jobs

Tuition and degree length

Earning a bachelor’s degree tends to be a sizable financial and time commitment. The cost of your degree will vary depending on where you go to school. College Board reports that the average tuition and fees for a public four-year in-state university is $11,260 annually, while the average cost of a private four-year non-profit university is $41,540 annually [2].

Many graphic design programs are designed to be completed in four years with a full-time commitment. However, across all bachelor’s degree programs, many students spend five or more years earning their degree. Several factors can influence the time it takes to earn your degree, including full-time versus part-time status, whether you’ve switched majors, transferred schools, or entered your program with some college credits. 

Learn more: Is a Bachelor’s Degree Worth It?

What can you do with a graphic design degree?

A bachelor’s degree tends to be a fairly versatile credential, but you may find it easier to enter certain design-related fields with a graphic design degree. A graphic design degree can signal your knowledge to potential employers and, perhaps more importantly, can give you confidence as you approach design-related projects.

People who have earned graphic design degrees work in a range of industries for companies like Google, Meta, Reddit, Disney, Hulu, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Live Nation, and Capital One.

Graphic design salary

Jobs you may pursue with a graphic design degree, along with their average salaries in the United States as of November 2024, according to Glassdoor, include:

Learn more: Graphic Design Jobs: Career Paths to Explore

Placeholder

specialization

Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding

Learn to Design and Create Websites. Build a responsive and accessible web portfolio using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript

4.8

(25,476 ratings)

325,115 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Responsive Web Design, Html5, Web Development, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Web Design, Web Accessibility, HTML, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Document Object Model (DOM), Style Sheets

Start learning graphic design

If you enjoy figuring out ways to communicate with people using visual media and want to pursue a creative career path, you may like to study graphic design. Start learning today on Coursera. Check out the Graphic Design Specialization from CalArts, or pursue a Professional Certificate in UX Design from Google. Sign up today for a free, seven-day trial and see if graphic design is right for you!

Placeholder

specialization

Graphic Design

Make Compelling Design. Learn and apply the principles of graphic design towards a comprehensive branding project.

4.7

(17,129 ratings)

404,268 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Art History, Branding Communication, Visual Communication, Typography, Graphic Design, Adobe Indesign, Art, Creativity, Graphics, History, Graphic Arts, Adobe Illustrator, Design Theory, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop

Earn Your Degree

University of Michigan

Northeastern University
University of Pittsburgh

You are Currently on slide 1
Placeholder

professional certificate

Google UX Design

Get on the fast track to a career in UX design. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI training from Google experts. Learn at your own pace, no degree or experience required.

4.8

(81,274 ratings)

1,145,409 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 6 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

User Experience (UX), Prototype, Wireframe, User Experience Design (UXD), UX Research, mockup, Figma, Usability Testing, UX design jobs

Article sources

1

Zippia. “Graphic Designer Education Requirements, https://www.zippia.com/graphic-designer-jobs/education/.” Accessed November 25, 2024.

Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.