拥有视觉/语言能力的MFA候选人要进入该领域，但拥有建筑，生物学，计算机科学，历史，新闻学，文学等专业的本科学位，则需要获得基础学习年的基础课程才能获得排版方面的必要技能，颜色，理论，图像和设计应用程序将在接下来的两年中继续进行论文研究。一年级密集课程成功完成后，三年制轨道课程的学生将与两年制轨道课程的候选人合并，再选修一门排版课程，但要共享相同的，日益开放的课程。审视当代和历史工具，软件和理论的使用，同时对图形设计领域做出创新和重要的形式上的回应，产生视觉形式作为概念的证明和理论的证明，以先进的战略贡献
The MFA in Graphic Design prepares you for professional practice by emphasizing the roles of social context, media and aesthetics in the production of visible language systems.It encourages a nimble and intelligent response to constant change and burgeoning technology, while building a strong foundation of formal, aesthetic and analytical knowledge. MFA candidates choose between two program tracks: a two-year option for students entering with undergraduate degrees in graphic design or other visual communication, and a three-year option for those with degrees in liberal arts, the sciences or fine arts. Both options allow you to tailor individual courses of study through cross-disciplinary electives.<br><br>For those with the visual/verbal aptitude to enter the field but who hold undergraduate degrees in loosely or unrelated majors need a foundational year of study to gain skills in typography, color, theory, image and design application to move on to a thesis investigation. After completing the first year, your studies merge with the largely open curriculum enjoyed by two-year track candidates.