The one-year, full-time Graphic Design MA program is tailored for those who seek an in-depth study of the language and practice of graphic design to advance their careers and/or to apply to competitive M.F.A. programs. The program offers students a challenging and supportive learning environment with a cohort of dedicated peers.
Our students are professionals and graduates from complementary fields, including liberal arts, fine arts, architecture, media studies, and journalism as well as those who studied design as undergraduates yet desire a more comprehensive and rigorous education in the theory and concepts of graphic design.
In the Fall, the curriculum provides an intensive introduction to design, taught with an emphasis on design fundamentals, process, and visual research. GDMA Studio projects include constraints designed to build typography and graphic design skills, yet encourage experimentation with content and media. The Design Theory and Practice seminar builds students' knowledge of design discourse and contemporary topics. In the Spring, students hone their personal process and critical thinking while creating a capstone project and professional portfolio. Additionally, students build typography skills in two required courses. In electives, students explore visual identity, UI/UX, publication design, motion graphics, letterpress, screenprinting, illustration, social design, and more.
All core classes meet weekly with faculty and visiting designers for lectures, demos, discussion and individual or group critiques. Participation in the larger graduate and undergraduate design community at MICA is encouraged through lectures, workshops, teaching internships and participation in interdisciplinary teams working on community projects.
MICA’s Graphic Design MA graduates are eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension. Designers can apply for the extension while completing their first year of OPT.
The GDMA program is housed on the fourth floor of MICA's Fox Building on Mt. Royal Avenue, in a renovated, fully equipped loft-style studio space. Students have dedicated workspace and computers as well as access to color printing and a production area. The program's studio is conveniently located close to graduate and undergraduate programs in graphic design and illustration.
The GDMA program is appropriate for professionals or recent graduates who seek an in-depth study of graphic design practice and theory, and who are prepared for an immersive, full-time experience. Applicants with experience or education in complementary fields who seek the tools, abilities, and context to pivot and launch into industry positions in a shorter amount of time than an M.F.A. program. Some applicants may seek to gain experience and appropriate preparation for an application to M.F.A programs at MICA or other institutions in the future.
