BS in Visual Communication Design
At a Glance
Program
Curriculum
To provide a broad-based education and to foster life-long learning, approximately half the courses within the Bachelor of Science in VCD curriculum are in Liberal Arts, the other half are major specific coursework. Students are advised by VCD faculty all four years as they progress through a sequence of eight core VCD courses, with the ability to select a specialization in either Graphic Design Communication or Web Design & Development. In their final year, all VCD students complete a self-authored capstone project.
TOTAL: 121 credits
First Year (31 credits)
Major Courses
Design 1: Design Essentials (Fall)
Drawing Essentials (Fall)
Digital Imaging CAD (Fall)
Design 2: Intro to Graphic Design (Spring)
A Survey of the History of Art
Hallmarks Core
Pathways Seminar
Writing Seminar I: Written Communication
American Visions
Mathematics
General Science
DEC Core
Finding and Shaping Opportunities
Second Year (30 credits)
Major Courses
Design 3: Intro to Typography (Fall)
Design 4: Advanced Typography (Spring)
Fundamentals of Web Programming (Fall)
Foundation for Web Design and Strategy (Spring)
Art History Elective
Hallmarks Core
Ethics
Global Diversity
Writing Seminar II: Multimedia Communication
DEC Core
Systems Thinking & Sustainability (Science)
History of Graphic Design
Third Year (30 credits)
Students select a specialization prior to beginning their third year.
Major Courses: Graphic Design Communication Specialization
Design 5: Branding (Fall)
Design 6: Advanced Branding (Spring)
Media Production
Principles of Marketing
Major Courses: Web Design & Development Specialization
Design 5: Advanced Web Design and Strategy (Fall)
Design 6: Web Development (Spring)
Javascript (Spring)
Media Production (Fall)
Principles of Marketing
Hallmarks Core
American Diversity
Global Citizenship
Contemporary Global Issues
DEC Methods
Ethnographic Research Methods
Fourth Year (30 credits)
Major Courses: Graphic Design Communication Specialization
Design 7: Systems Design Integration (Fall)
Capstone Prep and Professional Practice (Fall)
Design 8: Capstone for VCD (Spring)
Design Theory and Criticism (Spring)
Two [2] VCD Electives
Major Courses: Web Design & Development Specialization
Design 7 User Interface Design (Fall only)
Design 8: Capstone for VCD (Spring only)
Capstone Prep and Professional Practice (Fall)
Design Theory and Criticism (Spring)
[2] VCD Electives
Hallmarks Core
Philosophies of the Good Life
Business Core
[3] Free Electives
Electives
Package Design, Illustration, Issues in Information Design, Intro to Service Design, Experiential Graphic Design, Adv. Javascript, Photography, Advanced Publication Design, Design for Accessibility, Content Management Systems, Animation, Virtual Reality, etc.