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Commercial Art Major

Study graphic design and digital imaging

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SBU's commercial art major is the largest major within SBU's art program and will expose you to a variety of art forms with an emphasis on graphic design and art technology.

The commercial art industry is competitive but full of opportunities. SBU commercial art and graphic design major alumni are serving as graphic designers in many different industries such as marketing, design and directing, studio photography, teaching and more.

The Commercial Art degree is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences. 

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree Plan

9:1
Student to Faculty
ratio

(Benefit from small class sizes with a 9:1 student:faculty ratio, enabling you to receive individualized instruction and guidance.)

SBU students working on laptop

The SBU Advantage

  • Choose either a graphic design or a digital imaging (photography emphasis) concentration for more focused career preparation.
  • Work with real-world clients on a regular basis completing projects that help build your professional portfolio.
  • Small class sizes mean you benefit from personalized instruction and guidance and can build lifelong friendships with your classmates and instructors.
  • Learn from commercial art faculty who have more than 20 years of professional experience in the field.

Faith Integration

SBU's Department of Art is intentional about the integration of Christian faith and academic discipline. You will learn how faith influences how we see the world and how art provides a platform by which we can communicate our faith and worldview. Faith discussions are woven into course material. For example, art history courses examine the impact of Christian history on famous and influential art pieces.

Additionally, you will learn how you can use your God-given artistic abilities to make a difference. At SBU, you will have the opportunity to incorporate art with missions and will be challenged to consider how faith influences art.

Perry Misloski
"The professors are experienced and used the most relevant software that is being used in the field. I continue to use many of the Photoshop techniques that I was taught in my graphic design class. The graphic design world is very competitive, and I believe my professors challenged us to go above and beyond the required task in order to create a habit of doing quality work."
Perry Misloski '13
Design and Social Media Manager for Harriman-Jewell Series

Full-Time Faculty

Chadd Caldwell

Chadd Caldwell, Associate Professor
Grant Cochran

Grant Cochran, Assistant Professor
 

Additional Information for Commercial Art Students

Driskill Art Gallery

The University Gallery provides students with hands-on opportunities in curating exhibits, hanging shows and displaying their own work. Additionally, the Driskill Art Gallery hosts regional artists throughout each academic year.

Art Club

Join the SBU Art Club to interact with other art students and participate in extracurricular activities which will enhance your art education.

Scholarships

You may submit an art portfolio to apply for an art performance scholarship.

Additionally, there are several privately funded art scholarships for which you may apply, including the Dunnegan Scholarship and the Earl & Gloria Shell and Sharon Shell Garrison Scholarship.

Commercial Art: Graphic Design Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

ART 1103 Design 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ART 1203 Drawing I 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
ART 1013 Introduction to Art 3
ART 2023 Sculpture I 3
ART 2703 Introduction to Graphic Design 3
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

ART 2203 Drawing II 3
ART 2013 Ceramics I 3
ART 2803 Art History I 3
ART 3703 Graphic Design Concepts 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

ART 2033 Painting I 3
ART 2003 Photography I 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
ART 2813 Art History II 3
ART 3043 Graphic Design Production 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

ART 3033 Painting II 3
ART 3103 Printmaking  3
ART 3713 Graphic Design Portfolio I 3
ART 4003 Computer Application/Commercial Art 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
Total hours 15

Spring Semester

PHS 1004  Introduction to Physical Science 4
  Cultural Studies Elective 2
ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
ART 3723 Digital Imaging Concepts 3
ART 4713 Graphic Design Portfolio II 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
Total hours 18
 

Senior

Fall Semester

ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
ART 4703 Graphic Design Senior Project 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 2
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ART 4001 Senior Seminar 1
ART 4963 Practicum in Commercial Art or  
ART 4983 Internship in Commercial Art 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 16

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Commercial Art: Graphic Design Plan (PDF)

Commercial Art: Digital Imaging Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

ART 1103 Design 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ART 1203 Drawing I 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
ART 1013 Introduction to Art 3
ART 2023 Sculpture I 3
ART 2703 Introduction to Graphic Design 3
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

ART 2203 Drawing II 3
ART 2013 Ceramics I 3
ART 2803 Art History I 3
ART 3703 Graphic Design Concepts 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

ART 2033 Painting I 3
ART 2003 Photography I 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
ART 2813 Art History II 3
ART 3043 Graphic Design Production 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

ART 3033 Painting II 3
ART 3103 Printmaking 3
ART 3713 Graphic Design Portfolio I 3
ART 3323 Photography II 3
ART 3003 Life Drawing (or Fibers) 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
Total hours 18

Spring Semester

PHS 1004 Introduction to Physical Science 4
  Cultural Studies Elective 2
ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
ART 3723 Digital Imaging Concepts 3
ART 4963 Practicum in Commercial Art or  
ART 4983 Internship in Commercial Art 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
Total hours 18
 

Senior

Fall Semester

ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
ART 4313 Photography Portfolio 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 2
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ART 4001 Senior Seminar 1
ART 4303 Photography Senior Project 3
ART 3813 Fibers (or Life Drawing in a Fall semester) 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 16

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Commercial Art: Digital Imaging Plan (PDF)