
Contact Information
- School Director: Daniel Alenquer | vcd@kent.edu | 330-672-7856
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Fully Offered
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Examples of Possible Careers
- Graphic Designer
- Art/Creative Director
- UI/UX Designer
- Motion Designer/Animator
- Illustrator
- Exhibit/Wayfinding Designer
- Package Designer
Description
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design prepares students for design and illustration professions. Students develop technical proficiency and design expertise in the organization of imagery and typography to communicate information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms using interactive media, environments and motion design. Students produce work for print, video, screen and interactive experiences, as well as package design, exhibition design and environmental wayfinding.
This major leads to a professional degree and focuses on intensive work in the visual arts. The B.F.A. degree consists of approximately two-thirds of the coursework in the creation and study of the visual arts, with the remainder in liberal/general studies. Because of the greater emphasis on upper-level studio courses, the B.F.A. degree allows students an opportunity to build greater expertise in a given area of the field. The B.F.A. degree is for students planning to pursue a career in visual communication design and want to leave Kent State with a strong portfolio.
There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or coordinator of the college's International Study Programs.
Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Admission Requirements
Admission to this major is selective.1 The B.F.A. degree requires a minimum 2.700 major GPA and a 2.000 overall GPA calculated after the completion of VCD 33000.
The School of Visual Communication Design recognizes that competence in visual design as well as intellectual capacity are necessary qualities in students who plan to prepare for a career in visual communication design. Therefore, the right is reserved to require evidence of achievement in design and related areas from all students endeavoring to enroll for the first time in a a majors in the school. Early admission is recommended.
Each transfer student will be evaluated individually in terms of his or her ability to perform within the program. Transfer applicants' strengths and deficiencies will be considered, and their transfer credits will reflect that consideration. The director of the School of Visual Communication Design may impose additional requirements considered reasonable and necessary.
1 Effective spring 2023, admission to the program will no longer be selective.
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campus to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
- Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
- Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Destination Kent State: First Year Experience | 1 |
Course is not required for students with 25 transfer credits, excluding College Credit Plus, or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) | 2 courses |
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core. | |
Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 |
Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
Upper-Division Requirement | 39 |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 |
Kent Core Requirements
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
CCI 12001 | PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 13000 | VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | 3 |
VCD 13001 | INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO (min B- grade) | 3 |
VCD 20010 | INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN RESEARCH | 3 |
VCD 22000 | DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I | 3 |
VCD 22001 | DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES II | 3 |
VCD 23001 | TYPOGRAPHY I (min B- grade) | 3 |
VCD 25000 | DESIGN HISTORY AND THEORY | 3 |
VCD 33000 | GRAPHIC DESIGN I | 3 |
VCD 33001 | GRAPHIC DESIGN II | 3 |
VCD 34004 | VISUAL ETHICS | 3 |
VCD 34005 | INTRODUCTION TO 3D GRAPHIC DESIGN | 3 |
VCD 34006 | MOTION DESIGN | 3 |
VCD 40035 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO BFA DESIGN | 3 |
VCD 40182 | INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 |
VCD 40192 | INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 1 | 1 |
VCD 43001 | INTERACTION DESIGN I | 3 |
VCD 43002 | TYPOGRAPHY II | 3 |
VCD 43003 | IDENTITY SYSTEMS | 3 |
VCD 49198 | RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) (WIC) 2 | 2 |
VCD Specialization Electives, choose from the following: | 12 | |
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE | ||
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY | ||
SPECIAL TOPICS:GRAPHIC DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION | ||
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION | ||
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION | ||
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: THE HUMAN FIGURE | ||
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS | ||
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE | ||
PACKAGING, PROMOTION AND RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN | ||
TYPEFACE DESIGN | ||
INTERACTION DESIGN II | ||
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN | ||
TYPOGRAPHY III | ||
CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | ||
VCD Additional Electives, choose from the following: 3 | 6 | |
PHOTOGRAPHY II | ||
DIGITAL IMAGING I | ||
ILLUSTRATION I | ||
ILLUSTRATION II | ||
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE | ||
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY | ||
SPECIAL TOPICS:GRAPHIC DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION | ||
SELECTED TOPICS:GRAPHIC DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION | ||
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION | ||
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION | ||
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: THE HUMAN FIGURE | ||
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS | ||
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE | ||
STUDIO PRODUCTION | ||
PACKAGING, PROMOTION AND RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN | ||
TYPE HIGH PRESS 4 | ||
TYPEFACE DESIGN | ||
INTERACTION DESIGN II | ||
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN | ||
TYPOGRAPHY III | ||
CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) | ||
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 |
or MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
College of Communication and Information Core Electives | 6 | |
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 5 | ||
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) | ||
CREATIVE CODING | ||
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION | ||
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND | ||
MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 5 | ||
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN | ||
Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts | 9 | |
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6 | 6 | |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include a lab) | 6-7 | |
Kent Core Additional 6 | 3 | |
General Elective (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 7 | 3 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
- 1
Minimum 1 credit hour of VCD 40192 is required for the program. However, students can apply maximum 4 credit hours of the course toward their degree program.
- 2
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
- 3
Courses taken as VCD Specialization Electives may not also count toward VCD Additional Electives.
- 4
Maximum 6 credit hours of VCD 43051 may be applied toward the VCD Additional Electives.
- 5
Students can apply COMM 15000 or MDJ 20001 toward the Communication and Information Core Electives if NOT already taken toward Additional Requirements.
- 6
If MDJ 20001 is completed, then 3 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences and 6 credit hours of Kent Core Additional is required. If COMM 15000 is completed, then 6 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences and 3 credit hours of Kent Core Additional is required.
- 7
A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.
Progression Requirements
- Students must earn a minimum B- grade in VCD 13001 before enrolling in VCD 23001. VCD 13001 may be taken a maximum three times until a minimum B- grade is achieved.
- Students must earn a minimum B- grade in VCD 23001 before enrolling in VCD 33000.
- Students must maintain a 2.700 major GPA in order to continue taking VCD courses. Failure to do so at the end of one semester will result in a written warning with the option of repeating certain VCD courses in order to meet minimum grade and GPA requirements to continue. Failure to do so at the end of two consecutive semesters will result in not being permitted to enroll in VCD courses. Students in this situation will be contacted by an academic advisor to create an alternative plan of study with a new major.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.700 | 2.000 |
- A minimum B- grade may be required in some courses.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
! | VCD 13000 | VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | 3 |
! | VCD 13001 | INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO | 3 |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 16 | ||
Semester Two | |||
COMM 15000 or MDJ 20001 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) or MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 | |
! | VCD 22000 | DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I | 3 |
! | VCD 23001 | TYPOGRAPHY I | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Three | |||
! | VCD 20010 | INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN RESEARCH | 3 |
! | VCD 22001 | DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES II | 3 |
VCD 25000 | DESIGN HISTORY AND THEORY | 3 | |
! | VCD 33000 | GRAPHIC DESIGN I | 3 |
CCI Core Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Four | |||
VCD 33001 | GRAPHIC DESIGN II | 3 | |
! | VCD 34005 | INTRODUCTION TO 3D GRAPHIC DESIGN | 3 |
VCD 34006 | MOTION DESIGN | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Five | |||
VCD 34004 | VISUAL ETHICS | 3 | |
VCD 43001 | INTERACTION DESIGN I | 3 | |
VCD 43002 | TYPOGRAPHY II | 3 | |
VCD Specialization Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Six | |||
CCI 12001 | PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 | |
VCD 43003 | IDENTITY SYSTEMS | 3 | |
VCD 40182 | INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 | |
VCD Specialization Electives | 6 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Third Summer Term | |||
VCD 40192 | INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) | 1 | |
Credit Hours | 1 | ||
Semester Seven | |||
VCD 49198 | RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) (WIC) | 2 | |
CCI Core Elective | 3 | ||
VCD Additional Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Semester Eight | |||
VCD 40035 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO BFA DESIGN | 3 | |
VCD Specialization Elective | 3 | ||
VCD Additional Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
General Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |