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M.S. Communications Design/
M.S. Package Design
The M.S. in Communications Design
and the M.S. in Package Design
educate students from diverse
cultural, professional, and educational
backgrounds in creative discipline,
technical skills, collaborative abilities,
academic knowledge, and managerial
competence. While focusing on creative
problem solving, the curriculum is
pragmatic and industry-oriented. The
comprehensive thesis demonstrates
professional competence and
includes extensive research, project
formulation and production, and process
documentation. Graduates of these
programs enter the professional world
with an outstanding body of work,
prepared to become innovative leaders
in the fields of graphic, package, and
digital design.
The curriculum was initially
structured around the future needs
of the packaging industry in 1966.
It was expanded in 1972 to include
Communications Design. From its
inception, the department has provided
students with the skills to use the most
effective media to express ideas, but the
focus has always been on creative problem
solving. Students are provided the
opportunity to develop a design voice and
refine their design process and creative
skills, leading to professional competence
and leadership.
Students accepted into the programs
for M.S. Communications Design and
M.S. Package Design hold undergraduate
degrees in graphic design or related
design fields such as industrial or interior
design, architecture, fine arts, or media
arts. We welcome students from non-
design fields as well, such as business,
liberal arts, and the sciences. Students
may attend full or part time.
Areas of study in the M.S. programs
include:
▶ (^) M.S. in Communications Design,
which focuses on all aspects of
transforming information and
ideas into visual forms. Coursework
embraces the wide range of verbal
and visual language systems.
Design projects relate to extensive
communications applications
involving various aspects of society.
Representative solutions utilize
graphic design, corporate identity,
publications design, computer
graphics, and typography.
▶ (^) M.S. in Communications Design
(Digital Design Emphasis), which
offers communications design
students the option of an emphasis
in digital design, combining graphic
design and time-based media. This
emphasis requires a significant
level of conceptual and technical
competence in order to meet the
demands of courses that utilize
digital technologies.
▶ (^) M.S. in Package Design, which
offers a broadly based curriculum
centered on the decision-making
process for package development
for products, features courses in
package design, brand development,
visual communications, digital
technology, marketing, and
structural packaging.
A minimum of 48 credits, which can be
completed within two to three years of
study, is required for each of the M.S.
degree programs. A qualifying program
of up to an additional six credits of
prerequisite classes may be required
for applicants whose undergraduate
backgrounds do not meet all entrance
standards but whose applications
indicate a strong aptitude for graduate
study. For students with substantial
design experience, however, the
program—with courses ranging from
visual communications to marketing
and electronic media—challenges their
creativity to its fullest potential.
The final stage of the curriculum is
the thesis, which provides knowledge
of the problem-solving process through
directed research and, over the succeeding
two semesters, gives students the
opportunity to develop an extensive,
innovative project. Work on the thesis
is done under the direction of a major
discipline faculty advisor.
Right: Natalie Sims