Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA) Sharpen Your Creative Skills
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60
Credit Hours
100% online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Create a Brighter Future with Liberty’s MFA in Graphic Design
Visual communication is becoming more and more interactive, and the need for graphic designers to achieve the goals and needs of corporations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs continue to grow. Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Graphic Design is designed to help you succeed in the arts and visual communication industry.
Our masters in graphic design courses are constructed to train you to communicate in a way that is visually appealing through typography, digital illustration, digital imaging, and design techniques. With mastery of these skills, our graphic design MFA can give you a competitive edge over other artists in the design industry.
Liberty University’s master’s in graphic design degree can empower you to work innovatively and reach your highest potential. With an MFA in Graphic Design, you can gain hands-on, rigorous training from professors with years of experience to enhance your artistic abilities. Your ambition and talent, mixed with your professor’s knowledge and experience, can help equip you to meet challenging projects head-on as you learn to connect with the world through your designs.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
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Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Our Master’s in Graphic Design Online?
Liberty’s master’s in graphic design program is offered completely online, allowing you to remain active in your job, with your family, and in your community without the worry of having to take courses on campus. All of our MFA classes are taught from a Christian worldview by knowledgeable professors who share your passion for the arts.
One of the best reasons to choose Liberty’s MFA in Graphic Design online degree program is because of the valuable internship incorporated into this degree. You’ll complete a 180-hour internship under the supervision of a professional working in the field of graphic arts design. Along with your internship, you can also gain invaluable experience in a 90-hour practicum where you will compile a body of creative work.
Graphic arts design internships and practicums are the best way to bridge the gap between earning a college degree and finding a job in your field. Internships help provide valuable on-the-job experience, giving you relevant training to help in your career decisions.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Online Degree Program?
Our master’s in graphic design online degree can take you on an exciting exploration of the latest technological advances in the design industry. Our online graphic arts design courses can help sharpen your understanding of 3D art, publication, and game design, as well as vector illustration, digital photography, and many more intriguing areas of digital art. You can also gain foundational knowledge in interactive designing and professional practices. With a master’s in graphic design from Liberty, you can prepare to become a valuable asset to future companies.
Potential Career Opportunities
As a graduate of our MFA in graphic design, you may be qualified to pursue the careers such as:
- Advertising
- Animation
- Business
- Education
- Public relations
- Sales
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- A thesis or portfolio project, as well as an internship and oral examination, are required for this program.
- This program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts.
- View the Graduate Communication and the Arts Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan (PDF)
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
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Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Admission to this program requires:
- Artist Statement — The artist statement should include your artistic background, area(s) of specialty, and the intended direction of your work. This is your opportunity to provide context for your art and design. This will be submitted through SlideRoom in conjuncture with the portfolio.
- Master of Fine Arts Portfolio — The successful portfolio* should include a total of 20 items that best depict the applicant’s abilities and interests in their desired field of study.** Submitted items should be professionally photographed/composed and be client-ready. Neat and professional presentation, layout, and image quality should be considered by the applicant when submitting his/her work for review. The submitted work samples should demonstrate the applicant’s strong graphic design skills, aesthetic style, and potential for success in the program. All submitted items should be original creative artifacts designed by the applicant. Credit must be given when collaborative works are included. This will be submitted via SlideRoom, which requires a $10 non-refundable fee. Provide exactly 20 items including any of the following: images (up to 5MB each), video (up to 250MB each), PDFs (up to 10MB each), and models (Sketchfab).
*Students who transfer at least 30 credit hours into the program will have the portfolio requirement waived for admission.
**Applications for the online MFA will only be considered in the area of graphic design.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
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Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MFA?
An MFA, which stands for Master of Fine Arts, is a master’s degree that provides advanced training in a specific craft in the arts. Liberty University’s online MFA degree in graphic design provides a course of study that can help you develop your craft into mastery and provide opportunities for you to demonstrate your skills.
Similar to a doctoral degree, an MFA degree is considered a “terminal degree,” meaning that earning this degree is considered the peak of academic study in this area. While doctoral programs exist in many areas covered by an MFA, earning an MFA degree can qualify you for teaching advanced courses at the college level. If you want to become an expert in graphic arts and open up opportunities for teaching advanced art courses, then Liberty’s MFA online degree could be an excellent next step for you.
What is the difference between an MA vs MFA in graphic art design?
A master of arts (MA) program is a general graduate degree that is designed to equip you with advanced graduate skills and knowledge in a specific area of study. An MA can focus on many topics that do not relate to fine arts, such as history or communication.
A Master of Fine Arts (MFA), however, is a degree specific to the fine arts and represents the highest level of practical skills training in this field. Liberty University’s MFA in Graphic Design is an example of a fine arts degree that can equip you with the graphic arts design skills you need to build your career.
Is graphic design a fine art?
A fine art is a discipline that primarily focuses on the creation of beautiful objects and media. Graphic art design falls into this category due to its use of tools in both traditional and digital mediums to create images and compositions of images.
While graphic art design often applies to business as a part of the product, service, and marketing processes, the craft of creating images through graphic art design techniques is undeniably a fine art.
Do graphic designers need a master’s degree?
To work in the graphic art design field or to create your own digital art, you only need to have the skills and knowledge to work in the digital art medium. However, in order to pursue higher-level positions in business or to teach at the college level, you will often need to earn a graduate degree. Liberty’s online MFA in Graphic Design can help equip you with the advanced skills and techniques to master the craft while also opening the door to new opportunities.
What can I do with a master’s in graphic design?
With a master’s in fine arts online degree, you can gain the digital arts expertise you need to pursue advanced roles in business, teach at the college level, and develop your art to its highest peak. The techniques you learn and apply to your design work can help you work as a freelance designer, work through design firms, pursue management roles in design teams, or teach digital art and design at the college level.
With a terminal degree, you can have many more options for teaching than with a bachelor’s degree, with most of the same opportunities as a teacher with a doctorate in another discipline. Liberty’s online MFA degree can help provide many new options for your career.
Has Liberty’s MFA in Graphic Design received any recognition?
BestColleges.com awarded Liberty’s MFA in Graphic Design the best master’s in graphic design degree of 2021.
How will this portfolio project help me?
The portfolio project in this degree will become an invaluable promotional tool to help you secure a job in the graphic design industry.
How can I build my network with an online degree?
Network with other MFA students and participate in an online community of professional artists.
What products will be available to help me complete my courses?
You will have access to Adobe products, like the Creative Cloud Suite.
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