Visual Communication: Graphic Design | BFA |
Admission to the major of Visual Communication (Graphic Design) is limited to 80 new students each year. This limitation is based on the size of the faculty and facilities in place at this time. There are 40 spaces available in the Fall semester for Graphic Design students. In the Spring semester, there are 20 spaces for Graphic Design students and another 20 spaces for Illustration students.
Typically there are nearly two applying students for every one space in the program, and so it is necessary to arrive at an impartial means of admission that will also ensure the continued quality of the program. To that end, a list of all Foundations students declaring the major of Visual Communication is arranged in a descending order according to their GPAs (students must minimally be completing Design, Think & Make I and Design, Think & Make II). The first 40 in each semester's list are allowed first opportunity to enroll in the major's two introductory courses, Visual Concepts and Typography. Those who do not exercise their claim to a space create an opportunity for the next student on the list, and so forth. Enrollment to the courses is controlled through "Closed Class Openers" which need to be obtained by qualified students during the advising period. It is important for students to know who their Visual Communications advisor is and schedule their advising period at the earliest possible opportunity.
BFA Program
In the graphic design program, students are introduced to the concept of design as a means of communication and visual persuasion. Towards this end, students must become adept in analyzing communication problems and developing creative visual solutions that accomplish the communication objective. Course content deals with a variety of design problems related to the community, society, industry, commerce and advertising. Emphasis is placed on the innovative use of typography in design. Particular attention is given to the development of a well-rounded, representative, quality portfolio. Career options for graphic designers include advertising agencies, art studios, corporate art departments, television, publication design and packaging design.
The illustration program provides students with the opportunity to become educated in communication and visual ideation and at the same time develop a personal style or statement within their own painting and/or drawing. Illustration serves as a bridge between the commercial application of art and the individual's need to express oneself visually. The illustration curriculum is structured to provide the time and instruction necessary to produce a high quality, competitive portfolio. First-year students begin with courses that introduce communication, media techniques and the history of illustration. The second year is spent developing visual ideas and concepts while searching for a personal style. The applied courses of the third year provide client-oriented projects with continued development of each student's strengths and interests, while considering career opportunities and alternatives.
Fall Semester:
After completing the coursework for VISC 202:Elements of Type and VISC 204:Principles in Visual Communication, students must receive a grade of a “C” or higher in each course to continue in the Spring Semester courses. Students at the C level are considered borderline. Any grade of C- or below automatically eliminates the student from proceeding into the major/continuing onto the Spring semester, they do not have the option of repeating any VISC course work and need to transfer to another major.
Students who met the Fall semester requirements will be enrolled in the Spring semester, VISC 302:Typographic Systems and VISC
304:Designing Understanding.
Spring Semester:
After Completing the Spring Semester coursework (VISC 302:Typographic Systems and VISC 304: Designing Understanding) students must receive a minimum grade of a “C+” in each visual communication class, and participate in a portfolio review of all course content. The Portfolio Review is of all projects produced in both the Fall and Spring semesters in Visual Communication (Graphic) Design courses. The Visual Communication (Graphic) Design faculty use this review to determine if the students work is at a satisfactory level. Supplemental to the grade portion of the Portfolio Review, students are also evaluated on attendance, work habits, attitude and the ability to listen and learn from constructive criticism. Any grade of C or below automatically eliminates the student from proceeding into the major, they do not have the option of repeating any VISC course work and need to transfer to another major.
