Program Overview
The Visual Communication Design Major is a rigorous, pre-professional program stressing concept development and visual communication skills necessary to prepare content and imagery for print, interactive media and the Web. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the discipline and build a portfolio of work to begin a career in the graphic design profession. The program is based in the Department of Art and Design. For further information, go to: Visual Communication Design (BFA).
On This Page
Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 19 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 6-9 | |
| Major Requirements | 84 | |
| Free Electives | 11-8 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 3 |
| or PRDN 100 | Design Visualization I - Concept Sketching | |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| VIST 105 | Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| VIST 262 | See What I Mean: A History of Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| VIST 306 | Critical Design Studies | 3 |
| Core Elective | ||
| Complete one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Perceptual Drawing | ||
| Drawing as Research | ||
| Space | ||
| Digital Literacy | ||
| Textiles | ||
| Anatomical Drawing for Product Designers | ||
| Special Topics in Global Art Cultures | ||
| Studio Requirements | ||
| VCDS 120 | Typography I | 3 |
| VCDS 201 | Visual Communication Design Studio I | 3 |
| VCDS 220 | Typography II | 3 |
| VCDS 225 | Creative Coding | 3 |
| VCDS 301 | Visual Communication Design Studio II | 3 |
| VCDS 311 | Visual Communication Design Studio III | 3 |
| VCDS 320 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| VCDS 401 | Visual Communication Design Studio IV Thesis | 3 |
| VCDS 411 | Visual Communication Design Studio V Portfolio/Thesis Exhibition | 3 |
| VCDS 465 | Motion Design | 3 |
| Collateral Courses | ||
| CMST 110 | Introduction to Communication and Media | 3 |
| ENTR 260 | Introduction to Innovation and 3D Printing | 3 |
| ENTR 360 | Advanced Innovation and Digitally Mediated Making | 3 |
| ENTR 460 | Applied Digital Innovation Design, and Lean Fabrication | 3 |
| MKTG 240 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Complete six courses from the list below. | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 84 | |
Major Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARGS 260 | Special Topics in Art and Design | 1-12 |
| ANTH 100 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | Art of the Visual Narrative | 3 |
| ARPH 201 | Digital Photo and Imaging I | 3 |
| ARPM 262 | Screen Printing | 3 |
| ARST 205 | Photography | 3 |
| ARST 206 | Printmaking | 3 |
| ARTX 120 | Introduction to Apparel Construction | 3 |
| ARTX 201 | Culture and Appearance | 3 |
| ARTX 220 | Textile and Apparel Colloquium | 3 |
| ARTX 230 | Fashion Illustration | 3 |
| BUGN 280 | Strategic Business Communications | 3 |
| CMST 200 | Going Viral | 3 |
| CMST 225 | New Media and Participatory Culture | 3 |
| FMTV 201 | Digital Filmmaking I | 3 |
| FMTV 252 | Fundamentals of Film and Television | 3 |
| MKTG 250 | Professional Selling | 3 |
| MUTC 101 | Music and Computer Technology I | 3 |
| MUGN 109 | Introduction to Jazz | 3 |
| MUGN 120 | Rap and Rock as Cultural Phenomena | 3 |
| MUGN 152 | Music in Film | 3 |
| POLS 100 | Introduction to Politics | 3 |
| PRDN 201 | Design Visualization III - Digital Sketching | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| VCDS 335 | Visual Communication Design Co‐op | 3 |
| VIST 203 | Modern Philosophies of Art | 3 |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | ||
| Fulfilled in the major. | ||
| Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | ||
or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course. | 3 | |
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 3-9 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | |
| World Cultures | 3 | |
| ARFD 101 or PRDN 100 |
Surface or Design Visualization I - Concept Sketching |
3 |
| VCDS 120 | Typography I | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| CMST 110 | Introduction to Communication and Media | 3 |
| Core Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science | 3 | |
| World Language 1 | 3 | |
| VCDS 201 | Visual Communication Design Studio I | 3 |
| VCDS 225 | Creative Coding | 3 |
| VIST 105 | Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| World Language 2 | 3 | |
| VIST 262 | See What I Mean: A History of Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| MKTG 240 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 |
| VCDS 220 | Typography II | 3 |
| VCDS 301 | Visual Communication Design Studio II | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 | |
| ENTR 260 | Introduction to Innovation and 3D Printing | 3 |
| VCDS 311 | Visual Communication Design Studio III | 3 |
| VCDS 320 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| VIST 306 | Critical Design Studies | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENTR 360 | Advanced Innovation and Digitally Mediated Making | 3 |
| ENTR 460 | Applied Digital Innovation Design, and Lean Fabrication | 3 |
| VCDS 465 | Motion Design | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| VCDS 401 | Visual Communication Design Studio IV Thesis | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| VCDS 411 | Visual Communication Design Studio V Portfolio/Thesis Exhibition | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |