Master of Arts in Faith-Based Graphic Design, Specialization in Digital Advocacy Branding

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

M.A. in Faith-Based Graphic Design

Total program length

60 graduate semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years of full-time study

Advanced Faith-Based Graphic Design core

27 credit hours

Research, assessment, and program evaluation

12 credit hours

Professional application and field experience

12 credit hours

Graduate capstone requirement

9 credit hours

The Master of Arts in Faith-Based Graphic Design, with a specialization in Digital Advocacy Branding, is a comprehensive graduate program designed to bridge the gap between high-level visual communication and the strategic needs of mission-driven organizations. Students will engage in rigorous academic study focusing on design theory, user experience, digital identity, and brand strategy, all while cultivating an ethical framework for professional practice. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of creative technical proficiency and organizational stewardship, equipping graduates to serve as strategic partners for non-profit and community-focused institutions. Through intensive coursework, participants will master the use of industry-standard tools to develop compelling visual narratives that resonate in a crowded digital landscape. The program fosters a deep understanding of visual rhetoric and its capacity to motivate audiences toward social action and community engagement. By examining the roles of branding, social influence, and digital outreach, students will be prepared to lead creative departments with both technical excellence and a commitment to servant leadership.

The 60-credit master's program provides advanced preparation in Faith-Based Graphic Design theory, human behavior, ethics, assessment awareness, research, program evaluation, crisis response, leadership, referral, and faith-based graphic design-support services.

The graduate capstone may include: An applied research study; A community needs assessment; A faith-based graphic design-support program; A professional training manual; A program-development and evaluation project; Another faculty-approved scholarly project.

The program is designed for completion within two academic years by students maintaining the University's prescribed full-time course load. Part-time students may require additional time.

Florida establishes a minimum of 24 semester credits beyond the bachelor's degree for a master's program. The University's 60-credit requirement is an institutional academic standard that exceeds that minimum.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 60
• Duration: 2 years
• Degree Level: Master

Capstone: Strategic Branding Project

• 4
• All Core Courses
• DES680
• Professional Portfolio and Practice
• 3
• None
• MGT650
• Strategic Implementation of Social Programs
• 3
• MGT620
• COM660
• Digital Influence and Engagement
• 4
• None
• CAP699 — Capstone: Strategic Branding Project: The culmination of the program where students execute a comprehensive digital branding initiative for an organization. This project synthesizes design, leadership, and ethical application. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DES680 — Professional Portfolio and Practice: Students refine their professional portfolios to communicate their capability as ethical design leaders. Emphasis is placed on the reflection of personal values in professional work. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT650 — Strategic Implementation of Social Programs: Focuses on the logistics of implementing social-good initiatives through effective digital coordination. Students learn project management tactics for non-profit success. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM660 — Digital Influence and Engagement: Analyzes the mechanics of engagement on social platforms to foster genuine community connections. Students develop content strategies that prioritize relational outcomes over transactional ones. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Thesis or Capstone Project

• The Capstone Project serves as the final, integrative experience for the Master of Arts program. It requires students to design and execute a comprehensive digital advocacy branding campaign for a selected community-based organization. Students are expected to produce high-level deliverables including a brand identity guide, a multi-platform digital content strategy, and a research paper detailing the project's theoretical framework and impact assessment. This project carries 4 credit hours and is conducted under faculty supervision to ensure both academic rigor and alignment with organizational needs. Through this process, students reflect on their role as stewards of visual information, demonstrating how their design choices promote organizational integrity and sustainable impact. The capstone serves as a tangible expression of the student's integration of high-level design competence and a commitment to serving the greater good through professional excellence and ethical reflection.

Career Opportunities

• Director of Communications for Non-profit Organizations
• Creative Strategist for Community Engagement Initiatives
• Digital Branding Consultant
• Visual Advocacy Specialist
• Creative Arts Director for Charitable Foundations
• Social Impact Designer

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | M.A. in Faith-Based Graphic Design
• Total program length | 60 graduate semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Two academic years of full-time study
• Advanced Faith-Based Graphic Design core | 27 credit hours
• Research, assessment, and program evaluation | 12 credit hours
• Professional application and field experience | 12 credit hours
• Graduate capstone requirement | 9 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DES501 | Design Theory and Visual Rhetoric | 4 | None
• MGT510 | Principles of Organizational Stewardship | 3 | None
• DES520 | Digital Typography and Branding | 4 | None
• RES500 | Research Methods for Creative Practice | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DES550 | Interactive User Experience Design | 4 | DES501
• COM530 | Advocacy and Digital Storytelling | 3 | None
• DES560 | Motion Graphics for Social Impact | 4 | DES501
• ETH520 | Ethical Reasoning in Digital Media | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DES610 | Advanced Brand Strategy and Design | 4 | DES520
• MGT620 | Leadership in Creative Teams | 3 | MGT510
• DES630 | Data Visualization for Social Advocacy | 4 | RES500
• HUM600 | Cultural Contexts of Design | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP699 | Capstone: Strategic Branding Project | 4 | All Core Courses
• DES680 | Professional Portfolio and Practice | 3 | None
• MGT650 | Strategic Implementation of Social Programs | 3 | MGT620
• COM660 | Digital Influence and Engagement | 4 | None