What is Graphic Design?

Do you love creating visuals that tell a story? Graphic Design is a creative field that blends art and technology to communicate ideas through print and digital media. Whether designing logos, websites, advertisements, or product packaging, graphic designers bring concepts to life using a mix of traditional art skills and modern digital tools. 

At MSU-Northern, you’ll build a strong foundation in design, drawing, and painting, then expand your skills with industry-standard software to develop real-world projects that prepare you for a career in visual communication, marketing, and digital media. 

Why Choose the Graphic Design Program?

MSU-Northern’s Graphic Design program offers a comprehensive approach to design, starting with foundational courses in drawing, painting, and visual composition. As you progress, you’ll explore typography, photography, web design, and motion graphics, all while working with Adobe Creative Suite and other industry-standard tools. 

With small class sizes and one-on-one faculty mentorship, you’ll get personalized feedback to refine your creative and technical skills. By graduation, you’ll have developed a professional portfolio showcasing your best work—helping you stand out in the job market. 

Graphic Design: Bachelor of Arts (BA) 

  • Best for students interested in careers in visual communication, digital design, or media production. 
  • This degree focuses on creative and technical skills in branding, illustration, and web design, preparing students for roles in advertising, marketing, and multimedia design. 

Graphic Design: Minor 

  • The Graphic Design Minor pairs well with a variety of degrees such as Business Administration, Business Management, Education, and Liberal Studies for students who want to develop visual design skills. 
  • The minor provides foundational design principles and software training that enhance professional versatility in many industries.  

Here are some of the things you'll learn:

  • Master typography, illustration, and layout techniques
  • Use Adobe Creative Suite and other design software
  • Work with both traditional and digital media for print and web
  • Apply graphic and web design to real-world projects
  • Think critically and solve creative challenges with visual problem-solving

At MSU-Northern, you’ll gain hands-on experience through project-based learning in small, interactive classes. Our program emphasizes practical design applications, with coursework in areas like social media design, motion graphics, and web development.

Each student builds a professional portfolio throughout the program, which they present to a faculty panel before graduation—giving them a head start when entering the design field.

Northern’s Graphic Design program also partners with local businesses to help develop students’ skills in real world settings. As a graphic design student, you’re encouraged to intern for our local partners, like the Havre Daily News, Havre Chamber, and United Way of Hill County, to get valuable on the job experience before graduation.

Every spring, the Graphic Design program also puts on the Student Art Show, where students are able to show off their projects and artistic skills. A celebration of student talent, the art show is a great way to showcase your work in public and get noticed by the community!

MSU-Northern’s program blends traditional art techniques with cutting-edge digital design, preparing you for a fast-paced, evolving job market. Our faculty bring real-world industry experience, mentoring you in fine arts, digital illustration, and web design.

By combining artistic creativity with technical skills, you’ll graduate with the versatility to work in graphic design, advertising, UI/UX design, and digital media.

A Graphic Design degree opens the door to exciting careers in creative industries. With a strong portfolio and hands-on training, you’ll be ready for roles in advertising, branding, digital media, and more. 

Potential Careers
Career Description Median Salary*

Graphic Designer 

 Creates visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers, using computer software or by hand.  $58,910  
Web Designer  Designs and creates the visual layout, aesthetics, and usability of websites, ensuring an optimal user experience.  $77,200
Advertising Illustrator  Develops original artwork for use in advertisements, brochures, magazines, and other media, translating concepts into visual representations.  $65,000
UI/UX Designer  Focuses on the design and usability of user interfaces for digital products, enhancing user satisfaction by improving the functionality and accessibility of a product.  $85,000
Package Designer  Creates packaging for products that is both functional and appealing, considering factors like materials, design, and branding to attract consumers.  $50,000
Social Media Manager  Develops and implements strategies to increase a brand's presence on social media platforms, creating content and engaging with the online community.  $55,000

*Please note that the salaries provided here are for illustrative purposes only and are general estimates based on various data sources. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and specific employer. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consulting industry-specific reports or professional organizations is recommended.

"As a recent graduate, I am proud to say I have secured a high-level position in my field immediately after graduating, and I owe it all to the exceptional education and support I received from the MSU-Northern’s Graphic Design program. The program’s personalized approach allowed for a lot of one-on-one attention from my educators whenever I needed it. The program was well rounded, covering all aspects of graphic design, from traditional techniques to the latest digital tools. I am proud to be a graduate of MSU-Northern’s graphic Design program, and I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gained will continue to serve me well in my new career."
- Mikayla Connelly (Alumni)  

"The Graphic Design program at MSU-Northern is top-notch and above all has the benefit of smaller class sizes, which I believe is a big advantage and is instrumental while learning graphic design programs. It gave me a huge step forward compared to others when entering the job market."
- Tyler Sheppard  

Academic Maps provide a clear semester-by-semester breakdown of the courses required to complete the program.

Graphic Design BA
Graphic Design Minor

Example Courses :

  • Electronic Design
  • Painting courses
  • Digital Image Manipulation
  • 3D Printing Applications

Our Financial Aid team is here to support you in overcoming financial barriers and unlocking opportunities.  Learn about scholarships, grants, loans, work study, and federal aid.

For estimated tuition/fees, residence hall rates and more, see the 2024-2025 Estimated Costs of Attendance document, and for detailed tuition and fee costs including course fees, see the Tuition and Fees page.
 

Additional Program Costs
Students may want to consider buying a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or a personal laptop to use for designing, but a Mac Lab equipped with Adobe Software is available on campus for students to use. 

Joel Soiseth, MFA
  Office: Cowan Hall 315 G
  Phone: (406) 265-3501

Mary Ward, MFA
  Office: Cowan Hall 315 E
  Phone: (406) 265-3596