Your path to a future in advertising design begins at Penn College. Here, you’ll find a community of creators. Students and instructors, alike, determined to inspire your finest work. Nurture your creative spirit and challenge you to reach new heights. This career-defining program cultivates strong foundational skills, builds proficiency in graphic design for print and interactive media, and employs a rigor that turns out motivated, real-world ready artists.
Join the Penn College Graphic Design Community 
Your coursework will cover classes specific to your area of specialization along with foundational concepts and lessons that invite fresh perspectives.
4
Semesters
21
Courses
61
Credits
Fall 2026
6 courses 16 credits
50% program-specific courses
Spring 2026
5 courses 15 credits
40% program-specific courses
Fall 2027
5 courses 15 credits
100% program-specific courses
Spring 2027
5 courses 15 credits
100% program-specific courses
Please Note: The outlined curriculum assumes a fall semester start for students completing a full credit load schedule without additional developmental math requirements. Students beginning in the spring or summer, taking less than a full load, and/or requiring developmental coursework follow an altered curriculum sequence. Speak to your academic advisor or school office with questions.
Seamless Associate-to-Bachelor Degree Pathway
24/7
Access to Mac Labs with Adobe Suite
Unparalleled Foundation Focused on Formal Design Principles
Take hands-on learning to the next level. Explore your creativity. Collaborate with others. Bring your ideas to light. Tomorrow is in the making. The makerspace is a workshop where you can collaborate with students, faculty, and staff, or work independently to test theories, explore ideas, and gain real-world skills to power your career.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
As a Graphic Design & Art student at Penn College, you may be elgible for 118 scholarships.
Student exhibition opens at The Gallery at Penn College
April 27, 2026
“Graphic Design 2026” opens Thursday, April 30, at The Gallery at Penn College and runs through May 8. The exhibition showcases the work of graduating seniors…
Penn College graphic design students collaborate with city
January 20, 2026
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s graphic design program has collaborated with the city on a project that explored ways to encourage more people to visit,…
Visiting artist offers drawing workshops
December 09, 2025
Contemporary artist Adrian Gor recently offered two workshops for students in drawing classes. Gor’s work, “Masses of the Undone,” was on exhibit in The Gallery…
Students create African masks
November 18, 2025
Students in Mark W. Wilson’s Wood Sculpture class recently completed work on African masks that will be on display on the second floor of the Madigan Library…
Two retired Penn College faculty granted emeritus status
October 14, 2025
The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors approved two retired faculty for emeritus status during its Oct. 9 board meeting. Kirk M. Cantor,…
Yoder shares salt print process through exhibits, publications
September 25, 2025
What started with a bit of curiosity now has Joanna Yoder, Pennsylvania College of Technology photography instructor, showing her artwork in exhibits and…
Penn College students fabricate steel globe for Little League
July 29, 2025
Pennsylvania College of Technology welding students are the spark behind an eye-catching addition to the Little League Baseball World Series complex in South…
Graphic design students capture 32 awards
June 06, 2025
Graphic design students from Pennsylvania College of Technology are concluding a highly successful 2024-25 season of national design awards. Capturing 32 awards…
Celebration of design
May 06, 2025
A showcase of student artwork and creative development was celebrated this past Friday with a reception honoring 12 talented graphic design students in their…
Graphic design students’ creative development on display
April 25, 2025
“Graphic Design 2025” runs May 1-9 in The Gallery at Penn College. The exhibition showcases the work of graduating seniors in Pennsylvania College of…
The AIGA encourages students to get involved in the local design community, create a community of their own, and build leadership skills that will be valuable as they move into the professional world.
This club encourages members to explore the photographic medium for artistic growth and develop a personal artistic vision. Students also acquire and strengthen the skills used in analogue photographic methods and techniques.
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
All that hard work pays off when student projects take their place in the spotlight. Our graphic designers often receive awards when judged alongside national competition.
Students must acquire their own tools and laptop computer as noted below.
See the Tool List for this major.
Students must earn a grade of 'C' or better in all courses with an ART and PHO course designator to receive credit for their completion. Students earning a 'D' or below must retake courses in which they are deficient before those courses can be considered as meeting the prerequisite requirements for more advanced courses. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course, after the maximum attempts allowed by College policy, results in withdrawal from the major in which the course is required.
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Penn College has state-of-the-art facilities with an abundance of current computer technology for training in design and production. Along with computer skills we feel it is important to continue to educate students to use their hands in disciplines such as design, drawing, painting, and photography. This process provides a tactual and perceptive approach to visual problem solving. Using traditional media provides direct and physical engagement; the process requires a necessary interval for the development of concept, image, techniques, and evaluation.
Students become involved in a process that nurtures creativity and stimulates conceptual performance. The freshman, foundation year focuses on developing students’ visual thinking and hand skills. In subsequent years, students concentrate on applied art courses directed toward design and production in many media.
The art faculty encourage students in the objective pursuit of excellence. Individualized critiques provide structure for the creative process and are essential to the ultimate quality of the artwork.
Students are encouraged to attend exhibitions and artists’ talks as part of their education. The Department and College promote exhibitions at the resident gallery.
Advertising Art/Graphic Design Advisory Committee Members
Zachary Bird
Senior Designer
Design B&B
Reed Burgoyne
Manager, Environmental Design & Spatial Experiences
Kenvue
Walter Calahan
Photographer
Mr. Ric Jones
Creative Director
MoJo Active
Roman Ley
Head of Packaging Creative & Product Graphics
Google Devices & Services
Jared Narber
Senior Designer
Sesame Workshop
Ali Petrizzi, Ms.
Senior UX Designer
Microsoft
Kevin Rorick
Global Design Director
Haleon
Mr. Dan Rowland
President/Owner/Director
Rowland Creative
Mr. John Saal
Principal
Untuck Design Studio
Steve Semanchik
Senior Art Director
Mission Agency
Ms. Marjaneh Talebi
Director, Graphic Design Program
Harrisburg Area Community College
Mr. Todd True
Principal / Creative Director
True Geist
Kathryn Anderson
Instructor, Graphic Design, Co-Department Head
Assistant Professor, Graphic Design
Gerald Kaplan
Instructor, Ceramics
Assistant Professor, Graphic Design
Instructor, Graphic Design, Co-Department Head
Mark Wilson
Instructor, Graphic Design
Joanna Yoder
Instructor, Photography
Graphic Design
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Brewing & Fermentation Science
Certificate
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Online
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
General Studies
Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Chemical Dependency, Online
Competency Credential
Individual Studies
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)