MICA’s online M.A. in Graphic Design (GDMA) offers an intensive, concept-driven immersion in graphic design through a flexible, fully asynchronous format. Designed for motivated designers and creative professionals seeking a rigorous graduate education in graphic design—without any displacement or interruption of professional commitments, the program delivers the same curriculum, faculty, and academic rigor as MICA’s renowned on-campus program—without requiring relocation to Baltimore or full-time residency.
The online GDMA program is ideal for students seeking a deep engagement with the language, theory, and practice of graphic design—whether to advance their professional careers or prepare for competitive M.F.A. programs. Students’ progress through the program as part of a dedicated cohort, building strong intellectual and creative relationships while working from anywhere in the world.
The 18-month program runs year-round across Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Courses are taken one at a time in focused 8-week sessions, allowing for sustained immersion while balancing time zone differences, and professional and personal commitments.
Courses are built around media-rich instructional content developed by MICA faculty and emphasize active making, critique, and dialogue. Students receive individualized feedback on their work and engage in guided discussions around advanced design topics. Weekly live office hours provide opportunities for real-time conversation and mentorship via video conference.
With the expanding networking possibilities of the online format, students experience a strong sense of community and collaboration—mirroring the collegial, critique-driven culture of MICA’s residential programs.
GDMA students learn alongside professionals and graduates from a wide range of disciplines—including fine arts, liberal arts, architecture, media studies, journalism, and design. This diversity of cultural and professional perspectives enriches critique, expands global design awareness, and prepares students for cross-cultural collaboration in international design environments.
The curriculum begins with an intensive introduction to design fundamentals, process, and visual research. Studio projects are structured with meaningful constraints that build typographic and graphic design mastery while encouraging experimentation across media, systems, and cultural contexts.
Students deepen their understanding of design discourse through the Design Theory and Practice seminar and continue to refine their critical thinking and personal design process as the program progresses. Two required typography courses build advanced typographic fluency, while electives allow students to explore areas such as:
The program culminates in a capstone project and professional portfolio that reflect each student’s voice, values, and career goals.
All core courses follow a weekly modular structure that includes lectures, demonstrations, discussions, and individual or group critiques within the online classroom. Remote students are encouraged to engage with MICA’s broader academic community through virtual lectures, workshops, teaching internships, and interdisciplinary collaborations on community-focused projects.
The GDMA program is delivered through customized, media-centric courses hosted in Canvas. Students also receive access to LinkedIn Learning for technical and software tutorials, along with MICA-provided licenses for Adobe and Microsoft products.
The online GDMA is designed for professionals and recent graduates who cannot relocate or commit to a residential program, but are ready for an immersive graduate experience. It is especially well-suited for:
Designers seeking advanced conceptual, theoretical, and typographic training
Creative professionals looking to pivot into graphic design from adjacent fields
Applicants preparing for future M.F.A. study at MICA or other institutions
Those seeking a rigorous graduate credential in a shorter timeframe than a traditional M.F.A.
If you’re ready to deepen your practice, sharpen your critical thinking, and join a global creative community of committed designers—without putting your life on hold—the online GDMA offers a powerful path forward.
|
COURSE TITLE |
COURSE NUMBER |
CREDITS |
|
Design Theory and Practice |
GLA 5402 |
3 |
|
Graphic Design MA Studio I a |
GD 5010a |
3 |
|
Graphic Design MA Studio I b |
GD 5010b |
3 |
|
Graphic Design MA Studio II a |
GD 5020a |
3 |
|
Graphic Design MA Studio II b |
GD 5020b |
3 |
|
Graphic Design MA Workshop |
GD 5025 |
3 |
|
Transmedia Type Lab |
GD 5530 |
3 |
|
Typography Intensive |
GD 5325 |
3 |
|
Open Electives |
|
6 |
