Are you creative and artistic? Do you love to design? Do images excite you? If so, then the Visual Communication (Graphic Media) degree may be the key to your future career.

This interdisciplinary major brings you the best of graphic communication skills rooted in an understanding of artistic theory and traditions.

Firmly grounded in the liberal and fine arts, this concentration prepares graduates for a wide range of artistic and creative careers.

As a Visual Communication (Graphic) graduate, you will be prepared for a career in public relations, advertising, corporate communications, marketing, graphic design, publishing, web design, electronic commerce, and many other related careers. 

Your senior portfolio will contain professional-quality promotional materials suitable for getting a successful start in this competitive industry.

What You Will Learn:

• Express your ideas through computer art, design, and photography.
• Gain hands-on experience with photography, graphic design, and computer art. 

Skills You Acquire:

• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, writing, and technological skills.
• Hands-on design and writing skills that utilize the latest digital technologies.
• Valuable critical thinking and problem solving skills to adapt to a changing professional environment.
• Skills in audience analysis and the development and implementation of strategic campaigns to effectively use design and writing skills to influence your audience.

"This major educates the students about how to really use their imagination and creative thoughts to visually communicate deeper meanings."

Bekah Dalfonso (‘08)

2010-2011

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (B.A.)  

Visual Communication: Graphic Media (Major)

The Visual Communication: Graphic Media degree program provides students with an understanding of how to create, design, and mobilize images, symbols, and representations to communicate effectively in the graphic media field. Firmly grounded in the liberal arts, the concentration combines skills in communication graphics, digital technologies and fine arts, informed by knowledge of media history, theory, and criticism. The unique combination of coursework, culminating in a professional internship, leads students to pursue artistic and creative professions or to pursue graduate study.  Main Campus only.

COM 100  Communication Colloquium (each semester)
ART 120  Two-Dimensional Design
ART 121  Three-Dimensional Design
COM 202  Introduction to Mass Communication and Mass Media
COM 210  Photojournalism
COM 250  Fundamentals of Electronic Media Production I
ART 260  Black and White Photography
ART/COM 308  Digital Art I
ART/COM 309  Digital Art II
COM 311  Public Relations Practice
COM 312  Advertising Principles
COM 314  Strategies for the Advertising/Public Relations Campaign
COM 325  Web & Interactive Media Design
COM 340  Professional Writing and Communication
COM 360  Intercultural Communication
COM 403  Theories of Media and Visual Culture
COM 407  Communication Internship
COM 490  Capstone Senior Seminar

Minor in Visual Communication (21 hours)

• COM 250 Fundamentals of Electronic Media Production I
• COM 251 Fundamentals of Electronic Media Production II
• ART/COM 308  Digital Art I
• COM 350 Introduction to Film and TV Studies
• Two electives with a 300 or 400 level COM prefix