Mar 29, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art - Visual Communication Design - Major (BFA)


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The BFA in Visual Communication program is an interdisciplinary program with a blend of professional and fine art studio courses and a liberal arts curriculum. The specific objectives are centered on professional preparation including technical competency, effective visual communication, and development of a professional portfolio, which is presented in the Senior Portfolio course. The program prepares students for careers in advertising, publishing, print and web marketing, and illustration, or for entry into graduate school.

BFA-VCD students develop technical competence, informed aesthetic judgment, and an understanding of the design profession’s formal processes for collaborative visual production. They achieve an understanding of advanced branding and marketing concepts, and how visual design can support them. Students benefit from exposure to the design processes for a wide variety of media platforms, including the printed page, the Internet, social networking sites and online interactive websites.

Nazareth’s liberal arts educational core further prepares students for the collaborative, multi-media professional world of visual communication design, where the ability to think critically, to verbally communicate, and to draw on experience and knowledge from a broad range of disciplines is necessary in order to solve problems in a global, competitive market of products and ideas. Students learn to develop creative visual responses to communication problems with the construction of striking, engaging and meaningful images. Strong connections to local firms and alumni working in the industry both locally and nationally provide students with various internship and employment opportunities.

Art Core


The Art Core is designed to provide fundamental knowledge in preparation for more advanced coursework in Art.  5 Core Studio courses are required:

Required Courses for the BFA in Visual Communication Design Major


BFA in Visual Communication Design Majors are required to take 14 upper level studio courses, in addition to the 5 core courses listed above. The requirements are as follows: 6 studio courses required at the 200 level, 6 studio courses required at the 300 level, 2 elective studios and 1 required art internship course at the 400 level.

The following six studio art courses are required at the 200 level:

Required Visual History Courses for the BFA in Visual Communication Design Major


Visual Communication Design students are required to take 4 Visual History liberal arts courses. These may include courses in Design History or Art History, or in related Visual Histories.

One Perspectives (P-EQ) Design History Course is required at the 200 level:

Free Elective Courses for the BFA in Visual Communication Design Major


In addition to the credits listed above, BFA-VCD students select 2 “free” elective courses that would be supportive of their major studies in the professional Visual Communication Design area. Students may choose to take free elective courses in Studio courses or in other supportive areas (e.g. Art History, Communications, Information Technology, or Business), after discussing options with their academic advisor. Students with their advisor may choose elective courses from the list below or choose other courses not listed here. (Note: the same course cannot count as both a requirement and an elective.)

Senior Experience Course for the BFA in Visual Communication Design Major


The senior capstone course in the BFA in Visual Communication Design Major explores the intersection of contemporary design practice and contemporary culture through readings, writing and discussions. Issues are examined through lectures, readings, discussion and writing. Students also take AVCD 360: Senior Portfolio and Presentation course their senior year and may elect to take AVCD 475 Directed Studio Problems in Contemporary Design.

Sample Program


Freshman Year


  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Credits: 7

As well as:

Sophomore Year


As well as:

Junior Year


  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Credits: 6
  • Integrative Studies course Credits: 3
  • Major Area Elective course such as   Credits: 3

As well as:

Senior Year


As well as:

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