COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design is a professional program designed to prepare students for careers in design, illustration, and visual communication. The curriculum emphasizes the development of technical proficiency and creative expertise in organizing imagery, typography, and interactive media across two- and three-dimensional formats. Students gain experience producing work for print, video, screen, motion graphics, interactive experiences, exhibition design, environmental wayfinding, and package design. The B.F.A. program requires a significant portion of coursework in upper-level studio classes, which allows students to dedicate extensive time to developing professional portfolios that demonstrate their creative and technical abilities. Core courses cover visual design thinking, design research and methods, typography, interaction design, motion design, brand design, graphic narrative, and professional portfolio preparation. Students also complete internships to gain real-world experience in design, illustration, and photography. In addition, the program offers specialization and additional electives in areas such as responsive web design, illustration, editorial and advertising illustration, experimental typography, and advanced photography, allowing students to tailor their education to their career goals. Non-major requirements include communication, media, creative coding, human-computer interaction, and information fluency courses, along with Kent Core requirements in composition, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and basic sciences. College of Communication and Information core electives provide further opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, including international experiences, social media strategies, documentary filmmaking, and cultural studies. With a total minimum of 120 credit hours, the program balances intensive studio practice with liberal arts education, ensuring students develop both professional expertise and broad intellectual skills. Graduates of the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design leave with a strong, portfolio-ready body of work, prepared for careers in graphic design, interactive media, illustration, or for advanced studies in visual communication fields.