Find the right UMGC degree, specialization, or certificate for your professional and educational goals. Use the compare option to decide between multiple programs of interest.
Graphic Communication
Bachelor of ArtsThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Master skills and technology to compete in today's rapidly changing visual arts environment with an online graphic communication bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland Global Campus. With this degree—and an updated portfolio aimed at your ideal clients—you can utilize your creative streak as a graphic designer, project manager, or creative director. The curriculum, designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars, combines theories with real-world applications and practical skills, so you can apply the skills you learn in your career right away.
Program Highlights
- Explore creative strategies: Learn to apply principles of composition, layout, color theory, and context.
- Gain leadership skills: Develop professional, analytical, collaborative, and technical design skills.
- Expand portfolio: Create a portfolio to demonstrate your work to potential employers and clients.
- Proactively solve problems: Analyze and determine the graphics that would best fit a business plan.
- Design for the web: Create interactive solutions such as user interfaces and mobile applications.
- Gain hands-on experience: Define and direct creative strategy in an overarching design campaign.
Required Courses
(3 Credits, GRCO 100)
(3 Credits, ARTT 110)
(3 Credits, ARTT 120)
(3 Credits, ARTT 210)
(3 Credits, GRCO 230)
(3 Credits, GRCO 350)
(3 Credits, GRCO 354)
(3 Credits, GRCO 355)
(3 Credits, GRCO 450)
(3 Credits, GRCO 479)
(3 Credits, GRCO 495)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you for a graphic design or communication management career in business, government, or industry. It is intended to provide you with a complete professional portfolio to work in the graphic communication field in areas such as graphic design, communication design, freelance graphic design, and art direction.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $312 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Communication Studies
Bachelor of ArtsThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Earn an online bachelor’s degree in communication studies from UMGC and build a firm base of knowledge to boost your career in a variety of communication sectors. The curriculum, designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars, combines theories with real-world applications and practical skills to help you better convey information to a variety of populations. Whether you’re interested in journalism, public relations, business, or digital communication, this degree will help you master communication within ethical, legal, and financial parameters.
Program Highlights
- Sharpen skills in research: Design and employ specific research methods and tools to gather information.
- Work in multiple media channels: Integrate multimedia components into print, broadcast, and online formats.
- Improve writing style: Write News articles in a variety of journalistic styles.
- Expand marketable skills: Write a comprehensive public relations plan and create targeted messages.
- Develop informative communication: Create professional written and visual communications for diverse audiences.
- Gain hands-on experience: Learn to incorporate communication theory and professionalism into your work.
Required Courses
(3 Credits, SPCH 100) or any SPCH course
(3 Credits, COMM 207) or any COMM course
(3 Credits, JOUR 201)
(3 Credits, COMM 300)
(3 Credits, COMM 302)
(3 Credits, SPCH 324)
(3 Credits, JOUR 330) or any upper-level JOUR course
(3 Credits, COMM 400) or any upper-level COMM course
(3 Credits, SPCH 470) or any upper-level SPCH course
(3 Credits, COMM 390) or any upper-level COMM course
(3 Credits, COMM 495)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you for a career in mass media, new media, journalism, public relations, business, or online communication.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $312 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Web & Digital Design
Bachelor of ScienceThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Explore web and digital design with an online bachelor’s degree program at University of Maryland Global Campus. You'll learn how to create digital works using industry-standard software, design theory, and efficient workflows. The coursework provides hands-on experiences in web development, motion graphics, virtual reality, augmented reality, user experience, game design, user interfaces, animation, and graphic design.
Program Highlights
- Explore digital strategies: Design, develop, and manage digital media using emerging technologies.
- Build leadership skills: Analyze needs and effectively manage projects and resources.
- Meet high standards: Design and develop digital, interactive, and web-based media.
- Combine theory & practice: Apply relevant theories, practices, and principles when designing digital media.
- Develop technical savvy: Develop, test, and implement web and multimedia applications.
- Gain hands-on experience: Design websites, web applications, animations, and cross-platform publications.
Required Courses
- Take the following three required courses:
(3 Credits, CMST 290)
(3 Credits, CMST 295)
(3 Credits, CMST 495)
- Take 21 credits of upper-level CMST courses.
Degree Focus
To align with the upper-level requirement listed above, we recommend you choose from one of the following groups of classes below to align with your career interests:
Web Design Focus
(3 Credits, CMST 385)
(3 Credits, CMST 386)
(3 Credits, CMST 325)
(3 Credits, CMST 320)
(3 Credits, CMST 388)
(3 Credits, CMST 450)
(3 Credits, CMST 488)
Digital Design Focus
(3 Credits, CMST 310)
(3 Credits, CMST 311)
(3 Credits, CMST 325)
(3 Credits, CMST 320)
(3 Credits, CMST 425)
(3 Credits, CMST 341)
(3 Credits, CMST 351)
Augmented/Virtual Reality Focus
(3 Credits, CMST 308)
(3 Credits, CMST 315)
(3 Credits, CMST 330)
(3 Credits, CMST 331)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you to work in areas such as web design, electronic publishing, motion graphics, multimedia, animation, and graphic design.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $312 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.