Dec 26, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  ACADEMIC PROGRAMS A-Z
  COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
  College of Arts and Sciences
  School of Education
  School of Health and Human Services
  School of Management
  Introduction to Nazareth
  Admissions
  Academic Policies and Procedures
  Financial Information
  Overview of People, Services, Campus
  Alumni Association
  Course Codes
  Undergraduate Catalog Directory
  Academic Calendar 2017-2018
  My Portfolio
HELP
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art - Visual Communication Design - Major (BS)

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: ACADEMIC PROGRAMS A-Z

The BS in Visual Communication Design program is an interdisciplinary program with a blend of professional and fine art studio courses and a liberal arts curriculum. Specific objectives are centered on professional preparation including technical competency, effective visual communication, and development of a professional portfolio. The program prepares students for careers in advertising, publishing, illustration, and design for print and digital media, or for entry into graduate school.

The BS program can accommodate a second liberal arts major, a minor, or a study abroad experience.

Students develop technical competence, informed aesthetic judgment, and skills for collaborative visual production on creative teams. They develop an understanding of branding and marketing concepts, and how visual design supports them. Students learn to develop meaningful visual solutions for problems in a global, competitive marketplace using both print and digital media. The liberal arts core enables students to develop the critical thinking and communication skills necessary for professional preparation.

Strong connections to local firms, professional organizations, and alumni working in the industry provide students with various internship, networking, and employment opportunities.

The Visual Communication Design program requires a 3.0 GPA in the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1.  Attain competency in studio practice / technical skills:

  • Attain competency in composing the elements of art with the principles of design
  • Develop technical skills in a range of mediums and design applications related to the visual communication design field

2.  Develop conceptual process in problem solving abilities for visual communication:

  • Acquire abilities to develop creative strategies to visual communication problems, understand message hierarchies, typography, aesthetics, composition and the construction of meaningful images
  • Understand and effectively use graphic design terminology
  • Develop an understanding of basic business practices, including the ability to organize design

3.  Analyze design with regard to cultural context:

  • Achieve a broad understanding of diverse issues and contexts for design
  • Understand and apply knowledge of significant historical and contemporary achievements in graphic design

Core Curriculum Requirements

All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Art Core

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

Required Courses for the BS in Visual Communication Design Major

BS in Visual Communication Design majors are required to take 9 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, 2 studio courses required at the 300 level, and 1 required design internship course at the 400 level.

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

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

BS in Visual Communication Design majors are required to take 3 Visual History liberal arts courses. These may include courses in Design History or Art History, or in related Visual Histories.

Free Elective Courses for the BS in Visual Communication Design Major

In addition to the credits listed above, BS-VCD students select 5 “free” elective courses that support their major studies. Alternatively students may use these 5 free electives toward a second major or minor. Students may choose to take free elective courses in studio courses or in other supportive areas (e.g. Art History, Communications, Web Design, 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 BS in Visual Communication Design Major

The senior capstone course in the BS in Visual Communication Design major explores the intersection of contemporary design practice and contemporary culture through lectures, readings, writing, and discussion.

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: 6
  • Liberal Arts Elective course Credits: 3
  • Studio Art Elective such as   Credits: 3
  • Studio or Free Elective courses Credits: 6

As well as:

Senior Year

As well as:

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: ACADEMIC PROGRAMS A-Z