B.A. in Women & Gender Studies
Queens College offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs across variou...
B.F.A. in Design
New York City, New York
INTAKE: Jan & Aug
Program Overview
The B.F.A. in Design at Queens College is a highly specialized program focusing on visual communication and problem-solving through design. It emphasizes hands-on experience, critical thinking, and the development of a professional portfolio. Students can choose from three concentrations: Communication Design, Animation & Illustration, or Interaction Design. This allows for specialization in techniques and approaches relevant to specific design careers, from traditional hand-drawn methods to immersive digital media. The program is competitive, requiring a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 for admission, and emphasizes maintaining strong academic standing within the major.
Curriculum: The curriculum is rigorous and blends foundational art principles with advanced design methodologies and software proficiency. Core courses typically include "Design Foundations," "Basic Software for Design," "Design I, II, and III," and "Typography I and II." Depending on the chosen concentration, students delve into specialized courses such as "Web Design I," "Introduction to Digital Animation," "Motion Graphics," "Branding and Identity Design," and "User Experience Design." The program also integrates art history courses to provide a historical and theoretical context for design. A significant component of the B.F.A. is the "Senior Capstone" or "Senior Portfolio" course, where students consolidate their skills and create a professional body of work essential for launching their careers. The curriculum encourages exploration of a wide range of design techniques, including traditional and digital media, and incorporates writing-intensive units.
Research Focus: While traditional "research" in a B.F.A. program differs from scientific research, the faculty in the Art Department at Queens College are practicing designers and artists actively engaged in their respective fields. Their work and expertise directly influence the curriculum and studio projects. For design, this "research" translates into exploring new design methodologies, emerging technologies, visual communication theories, and the application of design to contemporary social and cultural issues. Faculty bring their professional insights into the classroom, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to innovate and develop their own unique design voice. The department's focus on industry-standard software and real-world design problems reflects a practical and applied "research" approach.
Industry Engagement: Queens College's B.F.A. in Design program places a strong emphasis on industry engagement, critically leveraging its location in New York City. The program has an active network of internships, allowing students to gain invaluable real-world experience, earn college credit, and build their professional resumes before graduation. The School of Arts at Queens College actively facilitates these opportunities, connecting students with major arts organizations, design studios, advertising agencies, production houses, marketing firms, and in-house creative departments across NYC. The curriculum is designed to be industry-ready, teaching skills in demand such as graphic design, UX design, multimedia and web design, packaging design, illustration, and art direction. Graduates are prepared with the skills and portfolio needed to launch successful careers in a dynamic and exciting industry.
Global Perspective: The B.F.A. in Design program at Queens College inherently fosters a strong global perspective through its engagement with design principles that transcend cultural boundaries and its location in one of the world's most diverse cities. Students are encouraged to develop their technical, problem-solving, and creative skills from a global lens. The curriculum often involves analyzing international design trends, understanding diverse user needs, and creating visual content for a globalized audience. Furthermore, Queens College's student body is exceptionally diverse, representing over 96 languages. This multicultural environment provides a rich context for students to collaborate with peers from various backgrounds, enhancing their cross-cultural understanding and preparing them to work effectively in an increasingly interconnected global design industry.
Location
New York City, New York
Score
IELTS 6
Tuition Fee
USD 19207
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for undergraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 60% or above in their previous academic qualifications.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.0 or 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 61 or higher.
- PTE: Overall score of 44 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 100.
Queens College, United States of America, is supporting international students through various scholarship opportunities designed to recognize academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.
Merit-Based Scholarships: Queens College offers a range of merit-based scholarships specifically available to international students. These awards are typically granted based on academic achievement, standardized test scores, and overall potential. Some scholarships are automatically considered during the admissions process, while others may require separate applications.
Queens College Foundation Scholarships: The Queens College Foundation administers several scholarships funded by alumni and donors. These scholarships reward outstanding academic performance and community service. International students are encouraged to explore these opportunities and apply early to maximize their chances of receiving aid.
Departmental Scholarships: Many academic departments at Queens College provide scholarships for students excelling in their respective fields. International students can inquire within their chosen department about specialized awards, grants, and assistantships that may be available during their studies.
External Scholarships: Queens College encourages international students to seek external scholarships offered by governments, private organizations, and international education foundations.
Queens College's B.F.A. in Design offers three concentrations: Communication Design, Animation & Illustration, and Interaction Design. This allows students to specialize and hone skills for specific areas within the vast design landscape. Graduates emerge with highly valuable skills in visual communication, problem-solving, digital media, and a professional portfolio, making them competitive candidates.
Graphic Designer: This is a broad and in-demand role where graduates create visual concepts using computer software or by hand to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They design logos, websites, advertisements, brochures, magazines, and more for various industries.
Web Designer: Focusing on the visual layout and user experience of websites, web designers combine artistic flair with technical skills. They are proficient in HTML, CSS, and design software, ensuring websites are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and user-friendly.
UI/UX Designer (User Interface/User Experience Designer): Particularly strong for those in the Interaction Design concentration, UI/UX designers focus on making digital products (websites, apps, software) intuitive and enjoyable for users. They conduct research, create wireframes and prototypes, and work to optimize the user journey.
Animator: Graduates specializing in Animation & Illustration can work as animators, creating moving images for films, television shows, video games, advertisements, and web content. This can involve 2D, 3D, or stop-motion animation.
Illustrator: Illustrators create original images for books, magazines, websites, advertisements, and other media. This role requires strong drawing skills and the ability to translate concepts into compelling visual narratives.
Art Director: With some experience, a design graduate can advance to an Art Director role, typically in advertising agencies, magazines, or design studios. They are responsible for the visual style and images for various projects, overseeing a team of designers, illustrators, or photographers.
Motion Graphics Designer: Combining animation, graphic design, and videography, motion graphics designers create animated titles, logos, explainer videos, and visual effects for film, television, and digital platforms.
Brand Identity Designer: These designers specialize in creating comprehensive visual systems for brands, including logos, color palettes, typography, and imagery, to establish a consistent and recognizable brand identity across all touchpoints.
Packaging Designer: Focusing on the aesthetic and functional design of product packaging, these designers create eye-catching and practical solutions that protect products, communicate brand messaging, and attract consumers on retail shelves.
Marketing and Advertising Designer: Working within marketing or advertising agencies, these designers create visual assets for campaigns across various channels (print, digital, social media), ensuring brand consistency and effective communication of marketing messages.
