POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam has received approval to offer new bachelor’s degree programs in graphic design and media arts.

The college's Department of Art will offer two tracks, one leading to a bachelor of arts degree, and another leading to a rigorous bachelor of fine arts degree, the college said.

SUNY Potsdam's art department has seen significant growth in the last decade, with high enrollment and an excellent placement record into both graduate programs and employment in art fields, the press release said.

The college was seeing increased demand for the digital design concentration in its art studio and visual arts BFA programs and began to develop the new majors.

“With our culture of creativity, these new arts programs are a natural fit for SUNY Potsdam,” said college president Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg. “We can't wait to see what our students and faculty will create together.”

The new program will offer students courses in graphic and printed design, time-based design, typography, interactive media, digital illustration and imaging, and video, sound and motion graphics. Grounded in SUNY Potsdam's liberal arts and sciences core, the majors will also incorporate art foundations, and students will choose from studio electives in painting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing and mixed media, ceramics or photography.

All degree candidates will complete a “capstone course” – one demonstrating relevant experience -- in graphic design or media arts professional practices and portfolio development, and will be required to complete an internship.

SUNY Potsdam art graduates have gone on to pursue professions in the fine arts, art administration, art therapy, digital design, K-12 and university teaching, museum curation, audio/visual administration, publishing, gallery ownership, interior design, architecture, commercial printing, pattern making, photojournalism and studio ceramics.

For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/art.