Communication Design (M.F.A.)

M.F.A. Communication Design

The internationally recognized M.F.A. program provides students with advanced skills needed in the evolving world of communication design.
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Program Overview

Texas State's revolutionary approach puts the needs of working designers on equal footing with full-time students. The program favors
next-generation technologies for remote learning over traditional methods to teach advanced problem-solving methodologies, updated technological advancement relating to communication design, and examination of historical events within the discipline and theoretical constructs.

Course Work

The degree requires a minimum of 60 credit hours. The formal thesis will represent the student's research, design, and documentation of an original research inquiry that contributes to the field of communication design. In addition to the required credit hours, the degree requires a Mid-Program Portfolio Review.
The majority of the program is offered online supplemented with an on-campus residency at the end of each semester. The residency is packed with
in-person workshops, critiques, and visiting designer lectures. Our program meets the requirements for an Fl visa for international students.

DegreeHoursThesis OptionMinor Option
Degree
M.F.A.
Hours
60
Thesis Option
Thesis
Minor Option
No minor

Online Availability

The majority of this program may be offered online. If you are not a Texas resident and will not relocate, please visit the Office of Distance and Extended Learning. International students, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) regarding additional considerations in taking online courses.

What Our Students Say

“M.F.A./CD is an affordable and accredited low-residency design program, nestled deep in the heart of Texas, that seeks to challenge and support designers who want to take their creative craft and expertise to the next level."

— Margot Shields, Current M.F.A Student, Class of '23

Program Details

Working professionals benefit from the program’s convenient course-delivery systems, which include online instruction, directed study, blended evening courses, weekend and international summer seminars.

Program Mission

The Master of Fine Arts in Communication Design is a pioneering low-residency program that emphasizes conceptual thinking, experimentation, and investigation. Students engage in a broad spectrum of visual communication practices, including typography, digital experience, socially engaged design, and design pedagogy, and emerge ready to contribute to the field of communication design as professional practitioners and educators.

Career Options

Students have a wide variety of potential career paths such as graphic designer, UI/UX designer, design researcher, typographer, and educator. Furthermore, the program equips students to move their careers beyond a traditional 9-5 job and use design to engage their communities. For students seeking a career as an educator in higher education, the program provides mentorship, the appropriate academic credential, and the terminal degree in the discipline of visual communication design: the M.F.A. degree.

Program Faculty

M.F.A./CD faculty demonstrate sustained activity in peer-reviewed forums, including commissions, invited talks, lectures, presentations, and internal and external grant awards. Recognition and publication of faculty design work are evident in published books. Examples of faculty research topics include socially engaged design, independent publishing, alphabetic systems, impacts of cultural imperialism, interactive storytelling, design justice, and queer-feminist archives.

Contact The Graduate College for general questions about getting started with your application, funding your degree, and more. If you have program-specific questions after reviewing the program details, we encourage you to contact the following individuals.

Graduate Advisor 
Molly Sherman 
msherman@txstate.edu 
512.245.8098 
Joann Cole Mitte (JCM), Room 3107B

Advisor Support
Esmerelda Belsole 
lls181@txstate.edu
512-245-4491
Joann Cole Mitte (JCM), Room 2112-I

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Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?

Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall
U.S. Citizen
February 1 (*Flexible)
International
February 1 (*Flexible through June 1)
Deadlines
Spring
U.S. Citizen
October 31 (*Flexible)
International
October 1

*A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

Funding Information
The deadlines to apply for certain types of funding may be earlier than the deadline above.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a firm basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
    • $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree in communication design, advertising art direction and design, digital media design, graphic design, illustration or related field from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • minimum 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)

    This program offers a leveling program on a case-by-case basis to students who submit strong application materials but lack some communication design skills. Leveling students are conditionally accepted into the M.F.A. program to take four leveling courses, two in the fall and two in the spring, with a "B" or better. Leveling courses do not earn credit towards the M.F.A. degree in communication design.

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

    Effective Fall 2024

    • baccalaureate degree in communication design, advertising art direction and design, digital media design, graphic design, illustration or related field from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of
      • 19 listening
      • 19 reading
      • 19 speaking
      • 18 writing
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • Academic and professional statement of purpose (500-800 words) addressing the following:
      • What are your current design goals and specific reasons for seeking an MFA in Communication Design at Texas State University?
      • What experiences led you to this point, and how might they have shaped your current visual work?
      • What do you hope to achieve during your MFA studies?
      • What topics in design are you most interested in studying?
      • In addition to building a strong MFA community of learners, independent study is an essential feature of the low-residency model. It is important for us to assess your ability and potential for managing and defining your own educational direction. What other independent educational experiences have you pursued in design, and beyond?
    • Online portfolio (professional and/or student) showcasing 12-20 works in communication design

    Each sample must be clearly identified with a communicative message or project mission, media, and publishing information. Please create a PDF document that includes the portfolio URL.

    • Your portfolio will be evaluated on:
      • ideation/design/presentation
      • role and scope of work
      • peer-review (state, regional, national, or international)
    • Resume/CV
    • Three letters of recommendation from persons capable of evaluating your academic and professional ability

    Review important information about documents.

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