Looking to expand your creative horizons? Want to study design surrounded by the beauty of nature? Look no further than Georgia! This U.S. state in the southeast has everything from coastal beaches, mountains and farmland on offer. Not to mention turn-of-the-century architecture, leafy public squares and if you fancy a little sport—a golf tournament.
We’ve compiled a list of the top graphic design schools in Georgia. But do you really need a bachelors to become a graphic designer? Read on to the end to discover an alternative option —studying online or on campus with a bootcamp like Shillington could fast-track your creative career and save you time and money.
1. Savannah College of Art and Design
Location: Savannah, Atlanta
Duration: 4 years
Spanning across two locations in Georgia, SCAD is one of the graphic design colleges in Georgia that dips students into the fundamentals of graphic design with their 4 years, 180-hour Bachelors in Visual Communication. If you’re looking for options and variety, the college claims to offer more degree programs and specializations than any other creative university. SCAD’s graphic design journey begins with a series of foundational studies and general education courses that hone the student’s critical thinking and creative communication skills. Students are prepared for industry upon graduation, with the course boasting one-on-one critiques, mentoring and industry exposure.
2. University of Georgia
Location: Athens
Duration: 4 years
Established in 1801, the University of Georgia is the state’s ‘oldest, most comprehensive and most diversified institution of higher education.’ Nestled under the Lamar Dodd School of Art, one of many graphic design schools in Georgia—the graphic design area program at the university is a high-demand major with competitive admission. To undertake the major, students must go through a portfolio process to be accepted—in tandem with the completion of coursework prerequisites. The school offers dynamic facilities, including an experimental design lab that doubles as a gallery and opportunities to study abroad in places like Italy, Ghana and Costa Rica.
3. Georgia Southern University
Location: Statesboro
Duration: 4 years
Located in the college town of Statesboro, GSU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is a four-year course covering the fundamentals of graphic design. Although the student’s experience of study depends on their academic outcomes, they must pass a portfolio review after completion of base subjects in order to enroll in further graphic design courses. Amongst other graphic design colleges in GA, campus perks include academic advisement and established grounds where students can enjoy historic brick streets and oak trees—a lush backdrop to academic life.
4. Kennesaw State University
Location: Atlanta Metropolitan Area (Kennesaw)
Duration: 4 years
Kennesaw’s School of Art and Design or SOAAD is a vibrant school, dedicated to the development of creative individuals. Their graphic communications concentration offers an interesting mix of subjects with a supporting selection of general studies (including economics, political science and cultural perspectives) amongst the graphic design units. Like similar graphic design schools in Atlanta—application is portfolio-based, with a required submission of four artworks and a 200-word artist statement.
5. Chattahoochee Technical College
Location: Atlanta Metropolitan Area
Duration: 2 years
The largest technical college in Georgia, Chattahoochee Tech offers its design course at a diploma level over four semesters. With more of a focus on digital media, this program of study emphasizes a hands-on approach with coursework over a variety of practices—from graphic design and pre-press to digital, motion graphics and more. Unlike other graphic design schools in Atlanta, students will undertake their studies at the Mountain View Campus located in picturesque Marietta, a great place to be for anyone fond of old films—the city boasts a Gone with the Wind museum!
6. University of North Georgia
Location: Dahlonega, Gainesville
Duration: 4 years
With a combination of studio classes and design theory, the Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in graphic design at UNG is a well-rounded course that prepares graduates for a career in a variety of creative industries. Campus facilities and course perks include an on campus gallery, a semester-long internship and opportunities to expand your global perspective and study abroad. If that all sounds good to you, and you’re looking at other graphic design schools in Georgia, it might be worth your while setting down creative roots in the poultry capital of the world!
7. Georgia State University
Location: Atlanta
Duration: 4 years
Situated in the heart of downtown Atlanta, you can study graphic design at GSU’s Ernest G Welch School of Art and Design. The school features an internationally active faculty and thorough and rigorous curriculum that sets students up for a wide variety of creative careers.
Like other graphic design schools in Atlanta, foundational coursework must be passed before students can continue into the graphic design concentration. If successful, the holistic program encourages students to synthesize practical design skills with personal exploration, social responsibility and career development goals. The college itself features an innovative culture, award-winning housing and a diverse student body.
8. The Art Institute of Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Duration: 4 years
With its career-oriented course, a graphic design course at The Art Institute of Atlanta is geared towards preparing students for ‘the multifaceted needs of an emerging global market’. The curriculum for the concentration is ‘hands-on, rigorous and well-rounded’ and like many other courses in Georgia, begins with common classes before diving into a graphic design concentration. Like many other graphic design colleges in GA, admission includes the submission of a high school transcript or certificate, in conjunction with an essay about your career goals. This will be followed by an interview before the student can confirm their acceptance to the program.
9. University of West Georgia
Location: Carrollton
Duration: 4 years
With an emphasis on immersive programs, the University of West Georgia boats a 19:1 student to teacher ratio, and a plethora of clubs and activities to get involved with active campus life. Located at the Carrollton campus, 45 miles west of Atlanta near the Alabama state line—you can opt to pursue a bachelor of graphic design. The course offers an emphasis on the mix of analog and digital creative processes. Similar to some other graphic design schools in Georgia, the department of art also offers other bachelors with a fine arts focus, which allows for a large amount of cross-disciplinary and hands-on coursework for the graphic design major to dip into.
10. Mercer University
Location: Macon
Duration: 4 years
Situated in central Georgia, you can develop well-rounded graphic design skills at Mercer University with their graphic design major. Their multi-disciplinary course is nestled under a liberal arts curriculum, ensuring a holistic creative education. The classes have a collaborative emphasis and are studio-style and modeled after work environments in the real world. Like other graphic design colleges in GA, the study is geared towards developing skills and projects over the duration of the course that will eventually lead to the development of a cohesive portfolio. This aims towards assisting students in post-graduate professional life, or in other cases—the pursuit of further study with admission to a graduate program. The course culminates in a final year major project, where students must submit work to a graduate exhibition.
And that wraps up some of the top schools to study graphic design at in Georgia…but what if there was another way to study graphic design?
Can’t wait to become a designer? Reading this article, you may have been thinking—4 years? No way! If you want to jump into design right now, it seems like multiple factors could stand in the way of your graphic design education. A portfolio, proof of creativity, overwhelming fees that add up over the years, and not to mention having to dedicate years of your life to study.
Well, great news there’s another option—study with Shillington!
In just 3 months full-time or 9-months part-time on campus or online we’ll teach you how to learn graphic design—you could become a fully fledged, industry ready designer. Nothing to hold you back.
At Shillington we believe that anyone has the potential to become a graphic designer, and our inclusive course accepts anyone from anywhere—no creative or academic proof necessary. No experience required. If you’re ready to dive into design right now—hear from our global graduates and find out more.
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