Art & Graphic Design Minor
The Art & Graphic Design Minor is an 18-21 credit adjustable minor designed to suit the artistic interests of the individual student. All students will gain a basic foundation of art and design skills and an opportunity for further study in areas such as art history and related humanities, fine arts, graphic design and/or digital photography.
Students interested in this minor must be accepted into the minor by the Visual Communications department and meet with an advisor to choose appropriate courses.
About Academic Minors
Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).
Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.
- A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
- Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
- Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
- A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
- At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
- At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
- Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor.
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor. Some minors may require a higher GPA.
- Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
- Students are permitted to double-count courses.
- Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.
Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
Contact Information
Visual Communications
Jack Harris
Hale Hall, Room 156
934-420-2181
artdept@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Fall 2026
Subject to revision
| Required Courses: | 6 credits |
|---|---|
| VIS 112 Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| VIS 260 Graphic Design for Non VIS Majors | 3 |
| Required Course (choose one): | 3 credits |
|---|---|
| VIS 110 Drawing I OR | 3 |
| VIS 116 Digital Media | 3 |
|
Pick 3-4 Courses from the following list. Note: At least 3 courses must be at the 200 level or higher |
|
|---|---|
| Art History and Humanities | credits |
| ART 200 History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 201 Survey of Art History: Prehistoric — Middle Ages | 3 |
| ART 202 Survey of Art History: Early Renaissance — Present | 3 |
| ART 203 History of Interaction Design | 3 |
| ART 302 Art History: Survey of American Art | 3 |
| ART 303 MesoAmerican Art History | 3 |
| ART 304 Global Art History | 3 |
| Fine Arts | credits |
| VIS 101 Introduction to Drawing (with VIS permission only) | 3 |
| VIS 103 Introduction to Watercolor | 3 |
| VIS 104 Introduction to Calligraphy | 3 |
| VIS 105 Introduction to Photography (with VIS permission only) | 3 |
| VIS 114 Principles of Color | 3 |
| VIS 115 Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| VIS 120 Drawing II | 3 |
| VIS 216 Painting I | 3 |
| VIS 217 Introduction to Printmaking | 3 |
| VIS 252 Drawing and Painting Techniques | 3 |
| VIS 380 Illustrative Style I | 3 |
| Design | credits |
| IXD 101 Design Thinking | 3 |
| IXD 102 Design for Game Play | 3 |
| VIS 122 Typography I | 3 |
| VIS 215 Introduction to Animation | 3 |
| VIS 225 Photography I | 3 |
| VIS 240 Publication Design I | 3 |
| VIS 242 Publication Design II | 3 |
| VIS 254 Package Design | 3 |
| VIS 265 Web Design for Non-Majors | 3 |
| VIS 353 Editorial Design | 3 |
| VIS 354 Corporate Identity | 3 |
| 2-Credit Options: | credits |
| VIS 338 Illustration for Designers | 2 |
| VIS 350 Photography II | 2 |
| 1-Credit Options: | credits |
| VIS 118 Creative Concepts Seminar | 1 |
| VIS 280 Adobe Illustrator | 1 |
| VIS 281 Adobe Photoshop | 1 |
| VIS 284 Adobe InDesign | 1 |
| VIS 328 Industry Topics Seminar | 1 |
Other VIS 200+ courses may be considered as electives if approved by the Department Chair.
Curriculum Summary
Total Credits: 18-21