The Graduate Program in Graphic Communications at the University of Houston promotes advanced research in graphic design and critical theory. Personal investigations converge cultural, social, historical, methodological and/or technological ideas within a graphic design context. Students define an area of specific interest and concentrate their research and development on this new direction. Students and advisors work together to push the boundaries of theory and practice.

The graduate program brings together students from a variety of places and backgrounds. This group is a vital component to the program, with each graduate informing and extending to others their areas of knowledge and interest. Additional areas of support can be gained through the strong undergraduate program. The University of Houston, which encompasses a large number of programs and faculty with distinguished areas of expertise; and Houston, a large and dynamic city. We encourage our graduates to extend their conceptual base beyond the design program and investigate these other avenues.

The MFA degree is a sixty semester-hour program.

Studio Courses in Design     30 hrs
Related Arts                         12 hrs
Art History                            12 hrs
Seminar                                 6 hrs
Total                                    60 hrs

A full-time load is 9 credit hours per semester and should include:

Art 6330 Graphic Design Graduate Studio (mandatory)
and
Art 7330 Graphic Design Graduate Studio (advisory)
or related arts course
and
three credit hours in art history, graduate seminar, related arts, etc.

Basic understanding of form, composition, typography, technology, history, process, methodology, and theory are assumed. Undergraduate courses for graduate credit will be recommended at the guidance of your advisors to ensure these requirements are met. Students who have bachelor's degress in unrelated fields may apply, but will be required to take additional hours in design fundamentals.

Evaluation is an ongoing effort which culminates at the end of each semester with a portfolio presentation and written documentation of ongoing research. Each student will be evaluated by their ability to define individual investigations that are supported through visual presentation, reading, writing and research. Research must be synthesized into clearly articulated and critically evaluated design projects. Each semester will involve one or more assigned projects by your advisor in addition to your individual projects.

Upon completion of all course work for the degree, students present their work for exhibition in a department wide group show. This will be accompanied by photographic documentation submitted to the program and department for their keeping. The exhibition and photographic documentation constitute the visual requirements. Additionally, students must produce a written thesis in the first semester of the final year of work towards the degree, and a comprehensive oral exam at the time of the Thesis Exhibition.

Applications for the graduate program are due in February of each year for admittance the following Fall semester. For further information and admission requirements visit www.art.uh.edu/GradInfo.html

For students interested in applying to the graduate program in Graphic Communications contact: Cathy Hunt, Graduate Coordinator, 713.743.2830. Fine Arts Building. chunt@uh.edu