{"id":23243,"date":"2021-05-16T20:54:29","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T20:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/?page_id=23243"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:55:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:55:59","slug":"graduate-courses-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/academics\/graduate-courses-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Courses and Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p>The MGXD (II) degree requires successful completion of <strong>48<\/strong> total credits, however students typically take advantage of additional coursework during their time at NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The core curriculum consists of 6-credit studios and  3-credit seminars \u2014 Design Research Methods, Theoretical Frameworks in Design, Accessible Design and Final Project Preparation \u2014 in the first three semesters of study. Students are encouraged to augment their study during this time with 400 or 500 level elective coursework that enhances skills and\/or investigates topics of interest. For instance, the program offers seminars on Graphic Design Pedagogy, Design Discourse &amp; Typography, and Special Topics in Social Innovation. Students can enroll in 3-credit 400 or 500 level electives at NC State or at nearby Duke University or UNC\/Chapel Hill under NC State tuition. The fourth semester is devoted to the Final Project Studio (9 credits) under the supervision of three faculty members comprising each student\u2019s graduate committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Curriculum Displays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mgd2\">MGXD II &#8211; 4 Semesters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>First Year, Fall Semester, 12 Credit Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD501 <\/strong>MGXD Design Studio I (6 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD571<\/strong> Design Research Methods Seminar (3 Credits)<br>(If Track 3, an elective can be taken here)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><strong>GD573<\/strong> <\/strong>Future of Interface Design (3 Credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>First Year, Spring Semester, 12 Credit Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD502 <\/strong>MGXD Design Studio II (6 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD575<\/strong> Accessible Design (3 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elective<\/strong> (3 Credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Second Year, Fall Semester, 12 Credit Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD503<\/strong> MGXD Design Studio III (6 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD581<\/strong> Final Project Preparation Seminar (3 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD572<\/strong> Visual Representation Seminar (3 Credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Second Year, Spring Semester, 12 Credit Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD588<\/strong> Final Project Studio (9 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elective <\/strong>(3 Credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Sample Electives<\/em><\/strong> (there are many other options offered annually)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>(Must be 500 level inside the College of Design (COD); 400 level outside of the COD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD574<\/strong> Graphic Design Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Academia <br>(highly recommended for all future design professors!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD510<\/strong> Special Topics in Social Innovation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD517 <\/strong>Special Topics in Typography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ID582<\/strong> Enterprise Design Thinking with Emerging Tech for Social Good (w\/IBM)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PSY420<\/strong> Cognitive Processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PSY400<\/strong> Perception<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>COM436 <\/strong>Environmental Communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>COM444 <\/strong>Film Production<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ENG517<\/strong> Advanced Technical Writing &amp; Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ENG\/STS438 &amp; ENG587<\/strong> Responsible AI &amp; Society (fall)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mgd3\">MGXD III &#8211; 2 Semesters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: After completing these two Track III semesters, students move into <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/academics\/graduate-courses-curriculum\/#mgd2\"><em>the Track II curriculum<\/em><\/a><em>. The full course of study for Track III students is three years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fall Semester, 12-15 Credit Hours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD501 <\/strong>MGXD Design Studio I (6 Credits) (content changes each year)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><strong>GD571<\/strong> <\/strong>Design Research Methods Seminar (3 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD303<\/strong> Graphic Design Theory (3 Credits) or Typography III (3 Credits) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spring Semester, 12 Credit Hours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD400_001<\/strong> Advanced Graphic Design Studio (6 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD592_002<\/strong> Design Discourse and Typography (3 Credits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elective<\/strong> (3 Credits)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Graphic Design Electives<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GD203<\/strong> Graphic Design History<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD317<\/strong> Typography II<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD417<\/strong> Typography III<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD592<\/strong> Design Pedagogy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD510<\/strong> Special Topics in Social Innovation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GD517<\/strong> Special Topics in Typography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ID582<\/strong> Enterprise Design Thinking with Emerging Tech for Social Good (w\/IBM)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ENG\/STS438 &amp; ENG587<\/strong> Responsible AI &amp; Society (fall)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The MGXD (II) degree requires successful completion of 48 total credits, however students typically take advantage of additional coursework during their time at NC State. The core curriculum consists of 6-credit studios and 3-credit seminars \u2014 Design Research Methods, Theoretical Frameworks in Design, Accessible Design and Final Project Preparation \u2014 in the first three semesters&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":23147,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"boxPosition\":\"left\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.42,\"y\":0.3},\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/08\/NC_MGXD1.jpg\",\"imageID\":24826,\"imageAlt\":\"Two college students and a professor discussing a VR experience. 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