Cultivate
Provides opportunities inside and outside the classroom to cultivate and enhance your overall learning and academic experience.
DEPARTMENT OF ART
Major milestones are activities Communication Design Major, B.F.A. students should complete during their first year, middle years and final year at MSU Denver.
Explore the Communication Design Major, B.F.A.
The Department of Art is a vibrant, diverse community where creativity is our passion. Whether you are interested in being a professional artist, designer, educator, or historian, you will learn the skills you need to pursue a career that feeds your curiosity. Classes in our department focus on innovation and experimentation in both traditional and new media with faculty focused on student success.
CAREER MILESTONES
There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.
Essential skills build through majoring in Communication Design include:
- Oral & Written Communication, Critical Thinking and Technology:
- Discover how to design for people and contexts that require communication.
- Create meaning, foster function and mediate messaging through process-based problem solving.
- Design for a diverse range of consumer-oriented physical and digital products.
Students graduating from Communication Design find themselves as:
- Creative Director
- Art Director
- Motion Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Production Designer & Manager
- Environmental Graphic Designer
- Visual Designer
- UX/UI Designer
Based on Modern Campus Pathways (data provided by Lightcast), employment in Art is projected to grow by 6.2 percent from 2024 to 2026.
Click here to explore career opportunities by major.
Many students also choose to pursue a graduate degree.
WHAT ARE MAJOR MILESTONES?
Major milestones consist of activities students should complete during their first year, middle years and final year at MSU Denver. These milestones will help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan to integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom, and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences. For example, milestones might list specific classes student should take at specific times along their journey or may suggest when students should participate in research opportunities with faculty members.
Simply put, Major Milestones are meant to enhance your student experience and set you up for success.
MAJOR MILESTONES CATEGORIES
Engage
Highlights activities you can engage and participate in globally, nationally and locally to enhance your essential skills and start building your resume.
Prepare
Lists steps to prepare for postgraduate success whether that's entering the workforce, attending graduate school or pursuing other goals and plans.
HOW TO USE THE MAJOR MILESTONES TOOL
- Scroll to your current year in school.
- Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
- Complete any necessary steps listed.
- Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.
All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.
ARRIVE - Your First Year at MSU Denver
First Year Milestones
- Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
- Declare a major, (explore our fully online programs!) or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
- Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).
- Check out Career Link for on-campus and career-aligned jobs.
- Attend Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) career workshops and events.
- Write your early experience resume and utilize resume resources from the C2Hub.
- Take your ART/ ARTH Foundations classes.
- Meet with your Faculty advisor.
- Attend open studio hours.
- Join FLoD (Future Leaders of Design) student organization to get connected to AIGA Colorado.
- Speak with your professor about community opportunities and events.
- Attend a Communication Design BFA Portfolio Workshop.
- Start documenting your art and design work to begin building a portfolio.
THRIVE - Your Middle Years at MSU Denver
Middle Years Milestones
- Consider adding a minor or adding a certificate to your chosen major.
- Explore resources like the tutoring program or the writing center.
- Get familiar with MSU Denver’s Academic Planning Tool.
- Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
- Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
- Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.
- Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
- Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
- Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.
- Enroll in 2000 and 3000-level Communication Design courses.
- Apply to the B.F.A. in Communication Design by submitting a portfolio.
- Meet with your Faculty Advisor.
- Serve within the FLoD leadership and organize networking events.
- Attend an AIGA conference.
- Apply to work at Metrosphere, the campus arts magazine.
- Research Design internships that align with your career goals.
- Take advantage of Communication Design course electives to build diversity in your portfolio.
SOAR - Your Final Year at MSU Denver
Final Year Milestones
- Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
- Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
- Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.
- Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
- Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.
- Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
- Get help on your industry-ready resume, then attend in-person career-focused events.
- Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
- Prepare and submit applications for jobs, explore graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.
- Enroll in 3000 and 4000-level upper division Communication Design course electives.
- Develop a research topic and ideation for the Senior Experience Thesis Exhibition.
- Meet with industry professionals in your field of interest.
- Lead design and networking events through FLoD.
- Establish your portfolio and network online.
- Enroll in Professional Practices, Portfolio Development and Senior Thesis courses.
- Complete your Communication Design Internship.
Roadrunner Roads
Things every student should do at MSU Denver.
Roadrunner Upkeep
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF/Scholarship Applications every year.
- Stay on track for graduation by meeting with your advisor every year and check into the Rowdy Pit Stop every semester.
- Read The Runner in your email every Monday.
Roadrunner Career Readiness
- Find and get hired for jobs during college and beyond by visiting the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) and utilize C2Hub resources for students.
- To be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way, update your resume early & often.
- Explore options for hands-on learning and explore graduate school & get prepared for both.
- Log in to Career Link each month to stay up to date on programs, events, and job/internship opportunities.
Roadrunner Wellbeing
- Explore wellness and belonging resources from CESA.
- Access mental wellbeing support through the Counseling Center.
- Visit Rowdy’s Corner when you need some food access support.
- Nourish your physical well-being by checking out the Rec Center and checking out Exercise Sciences, including for-credit courses.
- Determine if you need to fill out the Health Insurance Opt-Out Waiver each semester.
Additional College Resources
College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Steps for Success
Major Maps
Download the Communication Design Major, B.F.A. Map (from CLAS), a print version of this webpage.
Academic Program Pages
Visit the Communication Design Major, B.F.A. Academic Program Page to learn more about this program and all it offers.
Student Success Roadmap
Complete additional steps on the CLAS Student Success Roadmap to round out your MSU Denver experience.
Contact the Department of Art
Connect with Us
Phone: (303) 615-0300
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Arts Building
First Floor, Suite 187
Arts Building, Auraria Campus – Google Map