Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for VISUAL ARTS

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement

• General Guaranteed Admission Agreement: https://www.vt.edu/admissions/transfer/vccs.html

• This degree program is covered by Virginia Tech's Guaranteed Admission Agreement.

• By meeting the following criteria, you are guaranteed admission to the Graphic Design Major, BFA Degree:

• Complete a transferable VCCS associate degree.

• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.4 or higher in your degree program. GPA calculations, including in the case of repeated coursework, will follow VCCS policies.

• Meet the minimum admissions requirements for your intended major by completing with a grade of "C" or higher any and all of the "required" coursework for the program as outlined in the Admissions Transfer Roadmap.

• Meet all other requirements outlined in the agreement and apply through the standard transfer admissions process.

Important Links & Dates

• Transfer Initiatives Office: https://advising.vt.edu/transfer-student-advising.html

• Admission Application: See dates for Fall or Spring admission at https://vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/dates-and-deadlines.html

• Financial Aid: https://finaid.vt.edu/

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Information at studentaid.gov

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: The completion of an Associate Degree results in some lower-division general education requirements being met when you transfer to Virginia Tech.

• Credit for Prior Learning: AP, IB, and CLEP are evaluated for credits https://www.registrar.vt.edu/Transferable-Credit.html

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at the community college post high-school graduation.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: The completion of an Associate Degree concurrent with high school results in up to half the required credits (120) towards a BFA degree, with all general education courses satisfied (except those unique to Virginia Tech). Students will be enrolled as a freshman for orientation and engagement purposes.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Located in rural area, with 2600-acre campus, 37,000 on and off campus students, and a 14:1 student-faculty ratio

• Transfer students have both on-campus and off-campus housing options, including a living community on campus just for transfer students (all majors). https://llp.vt.edu/llc/transfer.html

• Virginia Tech is a diverse campus with students from over 40 states and 115 countries.

• Students can attend full-time or part-time.

• Classes are most typically offered Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm

• Learn more about our university at https://vt.edu/about/facts-about-virginia-tech.html

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at Virginia Tech.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• The Graphic Design major at Virginia Tech prepares students with a strong foundation in design research, typography, and image making – and we apply these skills across a wide variety of forms and media (motion graphics, web design, app design, editorial design, packaging, AR/VR, systems design, immersive experiences, branding, and more).

• Notable alumni have gone on to work at companies such as: Amazon, AT&T, Capital One, CIA, Disney, ESPN, Esquire, Facebook, FBI, GrubHub, Instagram, NASA, National Geographic, Seventeen, Tractorbeam, USA Today, The Washington Post, and Watermark Design.

Program Successes & Highlights

• Our program is consistently ranked as a "Top Graphic Design Program" by GD USA.

• We have a faculty-led, student-run design studio, FourDesign (where students get real-world experience in the safety of the classroom).

• Opportunity to study abroad in Italy and Switzerland

• Since 2022, we have hosted an annual design-a-thon for non-profits called DesignUP. For this event we pair design professionals with teams of students and together they design materials for local non-profits (such as logos, brochures, websites, and more).

• All students are required to have an internship. We work with alumni and career services to provide as many career connections as possible and many of our students are successful in getting multiple internships during their time at Virginia Tech.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Please follow the suggested coursework outlined above.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Due to the sequencing and scheduled offering of course requirements, it will take transfer students 4 years (8 Fall/Spring semesters) to complete the Graphic Design major at Virginia Tech. Upon reaching their fourth year, some transfer students find themselves able to enroll part-time to complete their senior level coursework and with extra time to work professionally or pursue additional internships.