CalArts GD MFA

The MFA curriculum consists of a mix of required and elective classes. This structure supplies the core, essential learning and experimentation, while also giving each student the opportunity to shape a curriculum specific to their individual interests.

Classes fall into four categories:

  1. Core GD classes

    (main seminar and critique classes)

  2. Required GD classes

    (essential typography, design history and theory classes)

  3. GD program electives

    (classes that you choose that are more specialized by topic or media)

  4. Institute electives

    (classes that you choose that are outside the GD program)

2-year track

The two-year MFA is for students who have a graphic design undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience. This track focuses on advanced exploration of form, methodology, and practice, informed by contemporary contexts like audience, theory, history, and media shifts. Group critiques and seminars help define personal direction beyond graduate school.

MFA1 (Year 1)

FALL

SPRING

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio
  • Typographics IA
  • Historical Survey of Graphic Design
  • Screen Printing Workshop

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio
  • Typographics IB
  • Historical Survey of Graphic Design
  • Design Theory
  • 2 Winter Session Workshops

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Beginning Web
    • Advanced Coding for Web
    • Beginning Motion
    • Motion I
    • Animating with Cinema 4D
    • Imagemaking II
    • Poster Workshop
    • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • User Experience Design for Web
    • Motion II
    • AR/VR
    • Designing for Spaces
    • Poster Workshop
    • AI + Typography

MFA2 (Year 2)

FALL

SPRING

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio
  • 1 Winter Session Workshops

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Advanced Coding for Web
    • Motion I
    • Animating with Cinema 4D
    • Professional Practice
    • Type Design A
    • Type Design History
    • Design Pedagogy I
    • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Motion II
    • AR/VR
    • Adv. Publication Design
    • Type Design B
    • Design Pedagogy II
    • AI + Typography

3-year track

The three-year MFA in Graphic Design program is for students who do not have a graphic design undergraduate degree, but demonstrate a high-level talent and enthusiasm for design, and expertise in their given field. The first year curriculum provides students with a broad set of graphic design skills that will equip them to successfully join the two-year MFA program the following year.

PMFA (Year 1)

FALL

SPRING

REQUIRED

  • Visual Literacy Lecture
  • Visual Literacy Studio
  • Typographics IA
  • Historical Survey of Graphic Design
  • Screen Printing Workshop

REQUIRED

  • Visual Literacy Lecture
  • Visual Literacy Studio
  • Typographics IB
  • Historical Survey of Graphic Design
  • 2 Winter Session Workshops

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Beginning Web
    • Beginning Motion
    • Animating with Cinema 4D

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • User Experience Design for Web
    • Poster Workshop

MFA1 (Year 1)

FALL

SPRING

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar I Lecture
  • Grad Seminar I Studio
  • Design Theory
  • 2 Winter Session Workshops

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Advanced Coding for Web
    • Beginning Motion
    • Motion I
    • Animating with Cinema 4D
    • Imagemaking II
    • Poster Workshop
    • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Motion II
    • Designing for Spaces
    • Advanced Publication Design
    • AR/VR
    • Poster Workshop
    • AI + Typography

MFA2 (Year 2)

FALL

SPRING

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar II Lecture
  • Grad Seminar II Studio

REQUIRED

  • Grad Seminar II Lecture
  • Grad Seminar II Studio
  • 1 Winter Session Workshops

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Professional Practice
    • Advanced Coding for the Web
    • Type Design A
    • Type Design History
    • Design Pedagogy I
    • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

SUGGESTED

  • 1 Non Graphic Design Elective
  • 1 Graphic Design Elective
    • Motion II
    • Designing for Spaces
    • Advanced Publication Design
    • AR/VR
    • Design Pedagogy II
    • AI + Typography

Graphic Design Pedagogy Concentration

As part of CalArts’ studio-based MFA Program in Graphic Design, the GD Pedagogy concentration offers a combination of theory and hands-on teaching experience designed to foster agency for the next generation of design educators in the classroom and beyond. The concentration requires additional teaching and pedagogy courses, an optional addition for all Graphic Design MFA students.

Suggested Specialization Pathways

If you have a specific area of interest, these clusters of electives can help form the basis of your personalized curriculum.

TYPOGRAPHY | PRINT | EDITORIAL

REQUIRED

  • Typographics IA + IB

ELECTIVES

  • Poster Design Workshop
  • Type Design A + B
  • Type Design History
  • Advanced Publication Design
  • AI + Typography

UI/UX | SCREEN

REQUIRED

  • Typographics IA + IB

ELECTIVES

  • Beginning Web
  • Advanced Coding for the Web
  • User Experience Design for Web
  • Yearbook Website Design
  • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

THEORY | WRITING | EDUCATION

REQUIRED

  • Historical Survey of Graphic Design
  • Design Theory

ELECTIVES

  • Professional Practice
  • Design Pedagogy

DIGITAL MEDIA | MOTION

ELECTIVES

  • Intro to VR
  • Beginning Motion
  • Motion I + II
  • Motion History
  • Animating with Cinema 4D
  • AI + Typography
  • Building Software Through Code Prompting Workshop

Faculty

Core Faculty

  • Michael Worthington

    Grad Seminar I Lecture & Studio

  • Lorraine Wild

    Grad Seminar II Lecture & Studio

  • Yasmin Khan Gibson

    Design Pedagogy

Special Faculty

  • Bobby Joe Smith

    Design Theory

  • Kat Catmur

    AI + Typography

  • Christina Huang

    Typographics, Grad Seminar II Lecture & Studio

  • Emma Berliner

    Motion I

  • Ben Woodlock

    Motion II

  • Roman Jaster

    Advanced Coding for the Web

    User Experience Design for Web

View all GD faculties

STEM Qualification

The CalArts Graphic Design MFA qualifies as a STEM degree which allows international students to apply for a 24-month extension to the typical 12-month optional practical training (OPT) period. This means students completing this degree may be eligible for up to three years of work in the US.

Please see the US government's website for more information.