119 South St., BUS 200
Big Rapids, MI
(231) 591-2420
[email protected]
Bachelor's Degree
Locations:
Ferris Main Campus
Classes are held on the main campus in Big Rapids, online, or in a mixed delivery format. https://ferris.eduGraphic Arts Meets Business
Transform your creativity into a career that blends design, technology, and business strategy. In the Graphic Media Management program, you’ll learn to produce, market, and deliver high-impact printed and digital products - everything from die-cut packaging, banners, and apparel to signage, marketing materials, and specialty items. You’ll gain hands-on experience in one of the most advanced print labs in the country, mastering state-of-the-art equipment for offset, digital, wide-format, and specialty printing.
Collaborate across disciplines within the College of Business, building leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills while creating real-world products that help brands stand out. By graduation, you’ll have the technical expertise, business insight, and portfolio to launch your career in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
Program Details
Admission Requirements
New Student Admission Requirements
2.50 High School GPA (on a 4.00 scale)
- SAT Scores Two of the Three Criteria:
- ACT Scores Two of the Three Criteria:
- English ACT score of 16 or higher.
- Math ACT score of 19 or higher.
- Reading ACT score of 19 or higher.
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
- Combined college or university GPA of 2.35 (on a 4.00 scale) from all institutions attended. GPA based on completion of 12 credit hours or more. Developmental courses will not be considered in computing the GPA requirement.
- Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University's ENGL 150 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require an English ACT score of 16 or higher; or ERW SAT score of 450 or higher; or English Accuplacer score of 6 or higher.
- Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University's MATH 114 or MATH 115 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require a Math ACT score of 19 or higher; Math SAT of 500 or higher; or Math Accuplacer scores: Elementary Algebra score 75 or higher and College Level Math0 to 49.
- Graphic Communication - Associate
College Requirements - 85 Credits Required
Major Courses - 55 Credits Required
These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement
- GCOM 131 - Building Prof Digital Docs Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 132 - Port Doc Files/Prepress Wrkflw Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 161 - Media Imaging & Production Credit Hours: 4
- ACCT 201 - Princ. of Financial Accounting Credit Hours: 3
- DSGN 224 - Web Design and Planning Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 232 - Digital Color Reproduction Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 243 - Prepress Workflow Automation Credit Hours: 4
- GCOM 273 - Substrates, Inks, and Coatings Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 285 - Introduction to Packaging Credit Hours: 3
- GCOM 299 - Imaging & Finishing Proj Mgmt Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 310 - Var Data Pub/Cross Media Mktg Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 351 - Project Est and Cost Analysis Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 361 - Production Planning Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 393 - Media Management Internship Credit Hours: 4 (GMAN Major or Instructor Approval)
- GMAN 425 - Dig Workflow Eng & Automation Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 440 - Color Management Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 462 - Media Process Management Credit Hours: 3
- GMAN 498 - Current Topics in Media Mgmt Credit Hours: 1
Minor or Concentration 12-18 Credits (Advisor Approval)
Students must complete either 18 credits in one of the following approved College of Business minors, or complete 12 credits within the Graphic Media Management Approved Concentration (GMMA).
Minor -18 Credits Required (Adivsor Approval)
Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication (AIMC-MNR) Minor
Computer Information Systems (CIS-MNR) Minor
Digital Marketing (DGMK-MNR) Minor
Human Resource Management (HRM-MNR) Minor
International Business (INBU-MNR) Minor
Leadership and Project Management (LPMM-MNR) Minor
Public Relations (PURE-MNR) Minor
Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE-MNR) Minor
Graphic Media Management Approved Concentration (GMMA) -12 Credits Required (Advisor Approval)
- Directed Elective (consult advisor) - 3 credits
- Directed Elective (consult advisor) - 3 credits
- Directed Elective (consult advisor) - 3 credits
- Directed Elective (consult advisor) - 3 credits
Major Related Requirements - 18 Credits Required
These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement
- STQM 260 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 3
- MGMT 301 - Applied Management Credit Hours: 3
- BLAW 321 - Contracts and Sales Credit Hours: 3
- MKTG 321 - Principles of Marketing Credit Hours: 3
- MGMT 350 - Mgmt Metrics & Decision Making Credit Hours: 3
- MGMT 370 - Quality-Operations Mgmt Credit Hours: 3
Notes
- Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
- Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.
Career Opportunities
Your degree in Graphic Media Management opens doors to careers in and beyond the print industry. Our graduates work in project management, sales, marketing, and customer service for major companies such as FujiFilm, Xerox, Quad, and other leaders in print and packaging. Others build careers as cost estimators, production planners, digital workflow specialists, and brand operations managers.
The printing industry remains one of our largest recruiters - offering nationwide opportunities as seasoned professionals retire. Your skills also translate into advertising, publishing, e-commerce, event marketing, and other industries where managing visual communication is important. Each year, top companies visit Ferris to meet our students, with more job offers than graduates to fill them.
Scholarships
Invest in your future without breaking the bank. Thanks to our amazing industry support and individual donors, we have many endowment scholarships to offer our students. For example, Michigan residents in the Graphic Media Management program may qualify for up to $4,000/year through the Ann Arbor Graphic Arts Memorial Foundation scholarship, plus access to additional program-specific, university, and industry awards. Many students combine these opportunities to cover a substantial portion of their tuition - making a career in graphic media more affordable than ever.
Thomas Bingman/Graphic Communications Alliance of West Michigan Scholarship Endowment
Award amount varies annually.
- Full-time junior or senior majoring in the Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 2.50
- Financial need is not considered
- Preference given to West Michigan geographic area
- Need one letter of reference from a Ferris Graphic Media Management program faculty with application
- Must submit completed application
James H. Bolthouse Leadership Achievement Endowed Scholarship
Award amount varies annually.
- Full-time sophomore or junior enrolled in the Graphic Communications or Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Financial need is considered as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in campus and/or community organizations
- Must submit completed application
Harley Halsted Scholarship
Award amount varies annually.
- Full-time student enrolled in either the Graphic Communications or Graphic Media Management Department.
- Minimum GPA of 3.00
- Financial need is considered as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
- Must submit completed application
Thomas Scott Reuther Endowed Scholarship
Award amount varies annually.
- Full-time junior or senior in the Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 2.75
- Financial need may be considered as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
- Minimum of one recommendation from faculty
- Written essay in response to the prompt "Why did you choose graphic arts as a career and what are your plans after graduation?"
- Demonstrated motivation and leadership within the program, campus and/or community
- Must submit completed application
Scott and Staci Sanders Endowed Scholarship
Scholarship amount varies annually.
- Full-time student majoring in the Graphic Communications or Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 2.25 at the time of application
- Financial need is considered as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
- Preference shall be given to student(s) who demonstrate motivation to succeed in the classroom and in their career path; and are members of Gamma Epsilon Tau or the Graphic Arts Association.
- Must be permanent resident of the State of Michigan
- Must submit completed application
Stechschulte Printing and Imaging Technology Management Endowed Scholarship
Scholarship amount varies annually.
- Full-time undergraduate student majoring in the Graphic Communications or Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
- Financial need is not considered
- Must submit completed application
Ann Arbor Graphic Arts Memorial Scholarship
Award is a minimum of $3,000 per year and is automatically renewed for up to a total of four years.
- High School Seniors and Full-time students majoring in the Graphic Media Management program
- Minimum GPA of 2.50 to applied, Minimum of 2.0 to maintain.
- Financial need is not considered
- Must submit completed application and references.
CMYK Scholarship
Award amount varies annually.
- Full-time student enrolled in either the Graphic Communications or Graphic Media Management Department.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75
- Must submit completed application
William Papo and Julie Stewart Printing Management Endowed Scholarship
Scholarship amount varies annually.
- The scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time junior majoring in Printing Management.
- The recipient shall have a minimum 2.7 GPA, not to exceed 3.2 GPA, at the time of application.
- Financial need is not a criterion.
- Preference shall be given to those applicants who are involved in extracurricular activities and/or organizations on campus.
William Papo and Julie Stewart Printing Management Endowed Scholarship
Scholarship amount varies annually.
- The scholarship shall be awarded to a full-time junior majoring in Printing Management.
- The recipient shall have a minimum 2.7 GPA, not to exceed 3.2 GPA, at the time of application.
- Financial need is not a criterion.
- Preference shall be given to those applicants who are involved in extracurricular activities and/or organizations on campus.
Outside scholarships are not managed by Ferris State University. However, it is our intent to make students aware of additional funding opportunities. If you have questions regarding a scholarship listed below, please contact their administrator directly.