Communication Design (M.F.A.)
M.F.A. Communication Design
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 F1 visa for international students.
| Degree | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.F.A. | Hours 60 | Thesis Option Thesis | Minor Option No minor | Location San Marcos |
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 us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Molly Sherman
msherman@txstate.edu
512.245.8098
Joann Cole Mitte (JCM), Room 3107B
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall | U.S. Citizen February 1 | International February 1 |
Deadlines Spring | U.S. Citizen October 31 | International October 1 |
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Funding Information The deadlines to apply for certain types of funding may be earlier than the deadline above. |
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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.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
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Transcripts & GPA
- 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)
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
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.
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Documents
- 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.
- Academic and professional statement of purpose (500-800 words) addressing the following: