Skip Navigation
*To search for student contact information, login to FlashLine and choose the "Directory" icon in the FlashLine masthead (blue bar).

Visual Communication Design - B.F.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.


I.
 DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Type
 Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II.
 MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (79 credits)  Courses count in major GPA 
Type Course Title Credits
  VCD 13000 Introduction to Visual Communication Design
 3
    13001 Introduction to Visual Communication Design Studio*
 3
    20009 VCD Sophomore Portfolio Review
 1
 
   20010 Introduction to Design Research 3
 
   22000 Design/Illustration Techniques I 3
    22001 Design/Illustration Techniques II 3
    23001 Introduction to Typography 3
    28000 Photography 3
    32000 Illustration I 3
 
   33000 Graphic Design I 3
    33001 Graphic Design II 3
    34004 Visual Ethics 3
    34005 Introduction to 3-D Graphic Design
 3
    34006 Kinetic and Sequential Graphic Design
 3
    40025 Professional Portfolio 2
ELR
  40092 Internship in Graphic Design/Illustration 1
ELR   40192 Internship II in Graphic Design/Illustration 3
WIC   45000 Graphic Design Perspectives** 3
    49199 Senior Capstone 3
  VCD Bachelor of Fine Arts Guided Electives ***
 27
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (46 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
KFA ARTH 22007 Art History II: Renaissance to Modern Art 3
KAD COMM 15000 Introduction to Human Communication 3
KSS JMC 20001 Media, Power and Culture 3
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3
  Upper-division Art History (ARTH)
 3
  Kent Core Additional (must be from two categories) 3
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Composition 6-8
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts
 6
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)
 3
  General Electives or Additional VCD BFA Guided Electives ****
 4
MINIMUM TOTAL  126

*A minimum grade of B (3.0) in VCD 13001 is required for VCD 23001.
**A minimum C (2.0) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
***Any VCD course taken is calculated in the major GPA.
****Number of credits required depends on meeting minimum 126 total credit hours and minimum 39 upper-division credit hours.

Special Requirements for All VCD Programs:

Special requirement 1:
VCD 23001 Introduction to Typography (3)
Admission to VCD 23001 requires students to receive a grade of B (3.00) or better in VCD 13001.     

Special requirement 2:
VCD 20009 VCD Sophomore Portfolio Review (1)
VCD 20009, the review of the creative ability and technical skills of students wishing to pursue courses or a major in visual communication design will be based on the quality of a portfolio of work selected from basic courses VCD 13000, 13001, 22000, 22001, 23001, 33000 and a daylong test of technical skills and aesthetic abilities.

 

VCD Bachelor of Fine Arts Guided Elective (27 credit hours), choose from the following:

VCD 28002 Photography II
 3 VCD 43000 Studio Production
 3
VCD 32001 Illustration II
 3 VCD 43001 Advanced Kinetic and Sequential Graphic Design
 3
VCD 38003 Photo Technology
 3 VCD 43002 Typographic/Photographic Graphic Design
 3
VCD 38004 Advanced Photography
 3 VCD 43003 Corporate Identity/Graphic Design
 3
VCD 40052 Graphic Design—Travel and Field Experience
 1-6 VCD 43004 Issues of Graphic Design Business
 3
VCD 40053 Graphic Design Studio—Glyphix
 1-6 VCD 43005 Packaging, Promotion and Retail Environments
 3
VCD 40095 Special Topics: Graphic Design/Illustration
 1-4 VCD 43006 Environmental Graphic Design
 3
VCD 42000 Advanced Illustration: Media
 3 VCD 43007 Information Graphics
 3
VCD 42002 Editorial Illustration
 3 VCD 43051 Type High Press
 3
VCD 42003 Advertising Illustration
 3 VCD 46003 Advanced Typography
 3