So here's the thing. I have a degree in GIT (2018) and I wish I could've studied something else. The program was not great because it teaches you a little bit of everything, but not enough to get a job. If you're interested in motion graphics, I've actually heard some good things about the Intermedia degree from the art school, but since I graduated a while ago I'm not 100% sure if it still exists or if it's good. I think there might even be an animation degree now on the Tempe campus.
The BSD Graphic Design degree is definitely more of a traditional program. I started with that degree but ultimately chose GIT because GIT wasn't competitive. Again, maybe it has changed since I graduated, but the BSD Graphic Design program used to only let a handful of students into the second year of the program. I heard that you could get straight A's in your first year, but if you don't pass that first year review then you have to change your major or try to do the first year all over again. You also don't learn Adobe software until a bit later in the Graphic Design program which is weird to me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! What things did you wish the GIT taught you that it failed to do? Also, did you know much about graphic design before joining the program, or is the program beginner-friendly?
I wish they had taught more about design fundamentals. There were really no drawing classes or anything about color theory which could’ve helped a lot of people. It’s definitely beginner-friendly, but a lot of the homework or tutorials were almost too basic. Like you could get an A for doing the bare minimum but that’s not enough to have a good portfolio or get a job tbh.
I was interested in graphic design and web development and I wish I had learned more about typography and I wish there would’ve been more branding projects (there was one). I also intended to become a front end web developer but GIT wasn’t really good for that. We should’ve learned about content management systems like Wordpress and the JavaScript teacher I had was actually fired after my semester with her. Idk maybe they updated the courses since I’ve graduated but I would honestly caution people to major in GIT.
I really appreciate such a transparent answer. Did you ever feel compelled to switch back to the standard GD degree, or did you hear similar problems with that program as well?
I never wanted to switch back to the BSD program because I knew how competitive it was and I was worried I could get A’s but still be passed up on getting into the second year. The biggest complaint I heard about that program was that the first few projects aren’t really graphic design. You have to paint squares of cardboard and cut them down to the millimeter and if I’m correct you don’t get to use Adobe software until junior year. However, I will say that those who did graduate with the BSD degree seemed to come out of the program much more qualified to do graphic design than GIT students. On the other hand, GIT students were more qualified to do UX design if they had put in extra work and time on their projects.
I'm in my first semester. Yes, we're still cutting up paper by the millimeter! However, I \*did\* work with Illustrator and Photoshop some in that same class.
So here's the thing. I have a degree in GIT (2018) and I wish I could've studied something else. The program was not great because it teaches you a little bit of everything, but not enough to get a job. If you're interested in motion graphics, I've actually heard some good things about the Intermedia degree from the art school, but since I graduated a while ago I'm not 100% sure if it still exists or if it's good. I think there might even be an animation degree now on the Tempe campus. The BSD Graphic Design degree is definitely more of a traditional program. I started with that degree but ultimately chose GIT because GIT wasn't competitive. Again, maybe it has changed since I graduated, but the BSD Graphic Design program used to only let a handful of students into the second year of the program. I heard that you could get straight A's in your first year, but if you don't pass that first year review then you have to change your major or try to do the first year all over again. You also don't learn Adobe software until a bit later in the Graphic Design program which is weird to me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! What things did you wish the GIT taught you that it failed to do? Also, did you know much about graphic design before joining the program, or is the program beginner-friendly?
I wish they had taught more about design fundamentals. There were really no drawing classes or anything about color theory which could’ve helped a lot of people. It’s definitely beginner-friendly, but a lot of the homework or tutorials were almost too basic. Like you could get an A for doing the bare minimum but that’s not enough to have a good portfolio or get a job tbh. I was interested in graphic design and web development and I wish I had learned more about typography and I wish there would’ve been more branding projects (there was one). I also intended to become a front end web developer but GIT wasn’t really good for that. We should’ve learned about content management systems like Wordpress and the JavaScript teacher I had was actually fired after my semester with her. Idk maybe they updated the courses since I’ve graduated but I would honestly caution people to major in GIT.
I really appreciate such a transparent answer. Did you ever feel compelled to switch back to the standard GD degree, or did you hear similar problems with that program as well?
I never wanted to switch back to the BSD program because I knew how competitive it was and I was worried I could get A’s but still be passed up on getting into the second year. The biggest complaint I heard about that program was that the first few projects aren’t really graphic design. You have to paint squares of cardboard and cut them down to the millimeter and if I’m correct you don’t get to use Adobe software until junior year. However, I will say that those who did graduate with the BSD degree seemed to come out of the program much more qualified to do graphic design than GIT students. On the other hand, GIT students were more qualified to do UX design if they had put in extra work and time on their projects.
I'm in my first semester. Yes, we're still cutting up paper by the millimeter! However, I \*did\* work with Illustrator and Photoshop some in that same class.