College of Fine Arts and Design
Degrees
Academics
The Department of Design is also pleased to annouce that students may now minor in illustration. The Department of Design's illustration students have won numerous local and regional Addy awards and are continually recognized for their ability and excellence in the market. The new minor requirements include Design Foundations I-IV, Illustrations I-III and Airbrush, Cartooning or Sequential Illustration. This is the only illustration program in the state. For more information, contact Assistant Professor Keith Webb at (405) 974-5200 or at kwebb@uco.edu.
Graphic Design (BFA)
Graphic Design has been evolving since its inception as a discipline of study in the 1940s. It has grown into an industry that specializes in the efficient and effective visual communication of information. Graphic designers are those best prepared to make sense of complex information and communicate messages to the intended audience in innovative ways. The Graphic Design curriculum embraces and integrates art, advertising, and communication. The Graphic Design Program at UCO has grown into the largest program between Kansas City and North Texas. It has truly become a center of excellence at UCO. View the degree plan.
Program Mission Statement
The Graphic Design Program is a pre-professional career preparation program that helps students excel in:
- Developing unique, innovative, and effective solutions to design problems
- Clearly communicating concepts and solutions
- Understanding philosophies, theories, and terminology of design
- Rendering, executing, and producing design
- Presenting concepts and solutions orally and in writing
- Developing high standards of professional practice
Student Portfolio Reviews
The portfolio book of design work is how students communicate to faculty and interviewers that the student/applicant understand creative problem solving and can produce effective solutions to a variety of design problems. The Graphic Design faculty conduct reviews of student portfolios as a prerequisite to Graphic Design II. This is about the midway point in the student's design curriculum - foundation art and design courses have been completed. The faculty consider the quality and quantity of the student's work in problem solving, innovation, and production; knowledge of computer technology; and oral and written presentation skills. This assessment and review by the design faculty provides:
- academic counseling for the student
- career counseling for the student
- assessment for the program
Tuition Waivers scholarships are awarded to the most outstanding student portfolios.
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Interior Design (BFA)
Interior Designers develop and plan spaces which protect the health and welfare of the user while creating aesthetically pleasing and functional environments. The Interior Design program helps equip students with the knowledge, skills, and work needed to pursue a career as an effective designer.
The program recently received accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Plus, three of the UCO Interior Design faculty have passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam. While not required of Oklahoma designers, the NCIDQ measures the knowledge and competency of interior designers, and passing it is considered a prestigious seal of approval of a designer’s abilities.
The Interior Design program at UCO is constantly evolving. During the 2001-2002 academic year, the Department of Design conducted an assessment of the Interior Design curriculum, using input from students, graduates, and professionals. This assessment guided the development of the current program which focuses on providing the most effective and efficient preparation for design students. View the degree plan.
Department Mission Statement
The Interior Design Program is a pre-professional career preparation program that helps students excel in:
- Developing unique, innovative, and effective solutions to design problems
- Clearly communicating concepts and solutions
- Understanding philosophies, theories and terminology of design
- Rendering, executing and producing design
- Presenting concepts and solutions orally and in writing
- Developing high standards of professional practice
Areas of Study
Interior Designers usually work either as Commercial Designers or Residential Designers. Commercial design includes space planning, systems furniture, aesthetics, codes and regulations. Residential design addresses room layouts, furniture, accessories, aesthetics and construction.
Student Portfolio Reviews
The portfolio book of design work is how students communicate to faculty and interviewers that the student/applicant understand creative problem solving and can produce effective solutions to a variety of design problems. The Interior Design faculty conducts reviews of student portfolios as a prerequisite to Rendering Techniques. This is at the end of the first year in the student's design curriculum - foundation art and design courses have been completed, along with introductory courses in Interior Design. The faculty considers the quality and quantity of the student's work in problem solving, innovation and production; and oral, written and graphic presentation skills. This assessment and review by the design faculty provides:
- Academic counseling for the student
- Career counseling for the student
- Assessment for the program
A final portfolio presentation occurs during the student's last semester in the program. This review by outside professional interior designers provides valuable input to students as they prepare to enter the job market.
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Design (MFA)
Designers are innovative problem solvers who process information and user needs to improve communication and environments. The variety and complexity of design issues is expanding. Developments in technology, information processing, and materials have affected design practice and education - new challenges confront the designer and the design educator. There is today a greater need for balance between human beings and their sociocultural, natural, and built environment. View the degree plan.
Department Mission Statement
The MFA Design Program is a pre-professional career preparation program that helps students excel in:
- Developing unique, innovative and effective solutions to design problems
- Clearly communicating concepts and solutions
- Understanding philosophies, theories and terminology of design
- Rendering, executing and producing design
- Presenting concepts and solutions orally and in writing
- Developing high standards of professional practice
Philosophies
The MFA in Design is a student-centered and a learning-centered environment which enables students to experiment and develop their potential beyond rigidly structured academic programs. Design graduate projects and research can help:
- Expand the student's body of work in design
- Increase the production of design knowledge in order to enhance design performance
- Prepare students for change
- Foster innovative thinkers
- Allow/encourage independent and interdisciplinary projects
- Network with the design community: local, national and global
- Add significantly to the body of knowledge
- Make positive contributions to society
- Provide professional career preparation
Professional Preparation Areas of Study
The MFA in Design provides opportunities for students who are interested in:
- Design education Teaching and classroom instruction methodology
- Design research Advanced research and study in design
- Design proficiency Additional skills in creative problem solving
Thesis for MFA in Design
To meet the goal of helping the MFA student prepare a significant body of work, the culminating thesis can be a major project in design or a theoretical research project. All thesis projects require a detailed proposal with topic of study, project objectives, methodology and presentation formats.
Project and Thesis Committees
The MFA candidate’s committee for project presentations, thesis proposal and thesis/project presentation is comprised of full-time faculty in the Department of Design and at least one additional graduate faculty member from outside the department.
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Application Procedures
Admission Requirement for an MFA in Design
Students seeking an MFA in Design must fulfill the following requirements before being formally admitted to the program. See the current UCO Graduate Catalog.
1. Apply for admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies
Program admission standards: 2.5 overall GPA or 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours attempted.
2. MFA Design Application Packet
Submit to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies:
A. An essay that includes the following:
i. Why you wish to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design at UCO.
ii. Your professional career plan and objectives.
iii. Your proposed area of interest, topic, or focus of graduate study.
B. Official transcript of undergraduate courses with degree posted.
If transferring from another graduate program, also submit transcript showing
graduate courses. Acceptance of a transfer class for credit depends on the class
content, the method of evaluation, and the demonstration of skills that are
expected in the equivalent course offered at UCO.
C. A current resume.
D. Three letters of recommendation with at least one of these from a
design professional. Letters from UCO faculty are not acceptable.
E. A design portfolio that includes the following:
i. 10-15 examples of your work submitted, preferably as slides.
ii. A sheet identifying the project titles, dates, descriptions and other relevant
information.
iii. A self addressed stamped envelope to return the portfolio.
3. Application Deadlines
The MFA Design Application Packet must be submitted by:
Semester Application deadline
Fall April 1
Spring October 1
Summer March 1
4. Portfolio Review and Interview
The Jackson College of Graduate Studies and the Design Graduate Advisor will review your Application Packet. If acceptable, you will be contacted for an interview to be conducted with the Faculty of the Department of Design. This interview will include a review of your design work, explanations of your work, design philosophies, topic/focus of graduate study, and your reasons for pursuing graduate studies.
5. Prerequisites
If you do not have an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design or Interior Design, you will need to take up to 45 hours of undergraduate courses and/or conduct a portfolio review with the Design Graduate Advisor before beginning the MFA-Design program.
6. Acceptance into the MFA-Design Program
The Jackson College of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of the Department of Design will determine the acceptance status of each candidate.
Advisement
1. Upon acceptance into the MFA - Design program, the Design Graduate Advisor will prepare, in consultation with the student, the Plan of Study with required, recommended, and elective courses necessary to earn the MFA-Design degree.
2. Meet with the Graduate Advisor, who will complete a 'Recommendation for Admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies' form for qualified students. Upon receipt of the completed recommendation form, the Jackson College of Graduate Studies will admit the student for graduate studies.
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