Guide to Becoming a Marketing & Graphic Design Student

Here's your guide to becoming an MGD student and unleashing your creative potential.

Step 1: Express Your Interest and Become a Pre-MGD Student
Your journey begins by expressing your interest in the MGD major. This step is especially advised for freshman and sophomore students, as it allows you to plan your courses accordingly. Reach out to the advising office at UMD to initiate the process. After meeting with the advisor, your interest and potential will be evaluated. Upon successful evaluation, you'll be recognized as a pre-MGD student. This designation signifies that you're on the path toward becoming a full- fledged MGD major and opens the door to further steps in the process.

Step 2: Advisor Meeting and Evaluation
As a pre-MGD student, you'll have the opportunity to meet with an advisor who specializes in the MGD program. During this meeting, you'll discuss your aspirations, interests, and academic history. The advisor will evaluate your alignment with the criteria for the MGD major, which includes a genuine passion for marketing and graphic design, a solid academic standing, and a demonstrated potential to excel in the program. Quite commonly students at this stage already started taking lower division art classes, for example, Art 1900, Art 1011, and Art 1013.

Step 3: Enroll in ART 901 - Graphic Design Portfolio Review – Every Spring
Being a pre-MGD student is a prerequisite for enrolling in ART 901 - Graphic Design Portfolio Review. This zero-credit course is specifically designed for graphic design. Here, you'll have the opportunity to present your portfolio and other necessary materials that demonstrate your artistic skills, creative thinking, and potential for success in the MGD major. You will meet with Art & Design faculty who will give you feedback on your work.

Step 4: Showcase Your Portfolio and Evaluative Materials ART 901 is your platform to shine. During this course, you'll be given the chance to present your portfolio, which serves as a visual representation of your artistic prowess and ability to convey messages through graphic design. Additionally, you'll provide other evaluative materials that further highlight your qualifications for the MGD major.

Step 5: Success and Admittance to the MGD Major
The culmination of your hard work and creativity arrives as you showcase your portfolio and evaluative materials during the ART 901 class. Successful completion of this presentation and evaluation will lead to your admittance into the coveted MGD major at UMD. This is where your journey as an official MGD student truly begins. Admittance into the MGD major is contingent on a successful portfolio review.

It's important to note that while juniors and seniors are acceptable candidates, they should carefully evaluate course offerings due to the fact that art courses are not offered each semester. Additionally, students enrolled in the MGD major are not eligible to minor in marketing due to curriculum overlap.

The Marketing and Graphic Design program at the University of Minnesota Duluth is an exciting fusion of artistic expression and marketing thinking. By following these steps, you're setting yourself up for success in the world of visual communication, marketing campaigns, and creative branding. Your path to becoming an MGD student is marked by dedication, artistic innovation, and the drive to make a meaningful impact in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and design.

Info Sessions: held in-person in spring 2024 semester

RSVP to attend one of our information sessions held jointly with the Graphic Design faculty in Art & Design. Strongly recommended to attend one of the two sessions to learn about which major is best for you and the career you want in the future. Opportunity to meet current faculty/students and ask your questions directly. 

Dates in Spring 2024 - still to be determined