This online program will begin enrolling students in spring 2026.
About the degree
Earning an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Graphic Design online can be a game-changer for your career and personal growth. Imagine cutting-edge industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign and diving deep into the world of design principles—color theory, typography, layout, and composition. You will sharpen your technical skills and unleash your creative potential, learning to think visually and solve problems innovatively. Plus, you’ll build a stunning portfolio that showcases your best work, making you stand out to potential employers.
With this associate degree, exciting career opportunities open up. You could become a graphic designer, crafting eye-catching visuals for advertising, marketing, or publishing. If you love drawing, you might thrive as an illustrator, bringing stories to life in books and magazines. And if you prefer flexibility, freelancing allows you to offer your design services on your terms.
But the journey doesn’t have to stop there. Many graduates transfer their credits to Youngstown State University's four-year program, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Start working in your chosen design field while you complete your 4-year degree to unlock career advancement.
Contact information
To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, professional development and careers, exhibitions, faculty, and students, visit Department of Art or contact us at 330.941.3627.
To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Requirement | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math (Recommended MATH 2623) | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (2 Courses) *One course included in major | 3 | |
Any A&H Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
ART 1541 *Included in major | ||
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) | 7 | |
| Social Science (2 courses) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives (3 courses) *One course included in major | 6 | |
CMST 1545 (3 s.h.) | ||
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
| Survey of Art History: Body, Gender, and Self *Included in major | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Art History (6 s.h.) | ||
| ART 1541 | Survey of Art History 1 | 3 |
| ART 1544 | Survey of Art History: Body, Gender, and Self | 3 |
| Concentration Requirements (24 s.h.) | ||
| DSGN 1529 | Design + 2D | 3 |
| DSGN 1531 | Design + Drawing as Thinking | 3 |
| DSGN 1532 | Design + Raster Images | 3 |
| DSGN 1533 | Design + Color | 3 |
| DSGN 1534 | Design + Painting | 3 |
| DSGN 2660 | Design + Applications | 3 |
| DSGN 2661 | Design + Print 1 | 3 |
| DSGN 2662 | Design + Typography 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 62-64 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| DSGN 1529 | Design + 2D | 3 |
| DSGN 1531 | Design + Drawing as Thinking | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| DSGN 1533 | Design + Color | 3 |
| DSGN 1534 | Design + Painting | 3 |
| ART 1541 | Survey of Art History 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science + lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DSGN 1532 | Design + Raster Images | 3 |
| DSGN 2660 | Design + Applications | 3 |
| ART 1544 | Survey of Art History: Body, Gender, and Self | 3 |
| General Education Elective - Art & Humanities | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| DSGN 2661 | Design + Print 1 | 3 |
| DSGN 2662 | Design + Typography 1 | 3 |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 62-64 | |
Learning Outcomes
1) Students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency of art vocabulary.
2) Students will be able to demonstrate technical expertise appropriate to their
progression in the program relevant to their chosen artistic medium.
3) Students will be able to demonstrate a high level of content expression appropriate to
their progression in the program relevant to their chosen artistic medium.
Faculty
Amy Copeland, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor
Bliss Hall 4089
330.941.1866
adcopeland01@ysu.edu
Sebastian Giraldo, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor
Bliss Hall 4085
330.941.3301
sgiraldo@ysu.edu
Michelle Nelson, M.F.A.
Professor
Bliss Hall 4073
330.941.1858
mnelson@ysu.edu