Admission To Graphic Design

 

Admission to Texas Tech University and the School of Art does not guarantee admission to the Graphic Design Program. The Graphic Design program requires specific course requirements and a portfolio review.

In the Fall semester of the first year at the School of Art, a student interested in graphic design should enroll in 2D Design (ART 1302) and Drawing I (ART 1303), which are pre-requisites to enroll in Graphic Design Process (ART 2388) offered only in the spring semester. 

If the courses have yet to be taken beforehand, it is recommended that students enrolled in ART 2388 concurrently enroll in 3D Design (ART 2303) and Drawing II (ART 2304).

Graphic design program applicants are selected each year in the Spring via a portfolio and interview process. The student enrolled in this class will prepare a portfolio specifically created for interviewing purposes in the hopes of admission to the program. Therefore a student interested in applying to the Graphic Design program must enroll in ART 2388.

Graphic Design is a limited-access program, and the selection process is competitive. Students can complete the program in Graphic Design in four years if accepted upon the first portfolio review and after successfully completing each course in the curriculum sequence. Students who are not accepted can reapply one final time during the subsequent Spring semester review process.  

Laptop Requirement

All students accepted into the Graphic Design Program must have a laptop computer meeting specific criteria as they enter their major coursework. We continually update our computer requirements; therefore, waiting until you are accepted before purchasing the recommended laptop computer is essential. Students will be instructed regarding purchase requirements and should only buy a laptop after consulting with their Spring semester's Graphic Design Process (Art 2388) Professor. Purchasing a computer at the beginning of your second year gives a student a better chance of meeting their needs through the fourth year in the program.

The Graphic Design Area requires the use of the industry-standard Apple Macintosh platform. An Apple Macintosh (Mac) computer is the best choice for a Graphic Design major. Apple products typically require less maintenance, are generally more robust, and are less prone to viruses and spyware than Windows. While a similarly powered Windows PC may be sufficient for some classes and/or assignments, it is not ideal as faculty will use the Macintosh platform to deliver most course content and demonstrations. Faculty and staff will not be able to provide support for Windows PCs.