Listen: ‘Soldier’s Heart’ by Maj Ragain

artwork by David Steckel

Maj Ragain (1940-2018) was a beloved creative writing professor and mentor at Kent State University for more than 30 years. In addition to his role guiding and inspiring students and poets in the greater Kent community, he also spent roughly a decade leading the Warriors Journey Home Veterans Healing Circle in Northeast Ohio. Warriors Journey Home is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting veterans as they work to heal from “the unseen wounds of war and military service.” Ragain wrote the following poem, “Soldier’s Heart,” in honor of his experience with Warriors Journey Home. {"p...

EHHS Featured Faculty - Emily Baker

Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Emily Baker.

Emily Baker holds a B.S. in Nutrition from Kent State University and a M.S. in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University.  She has been a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist in Ohio since 1999, and is an active member in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as the Greater Akron Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Featured Faculty spotlights EHHS professors who share their background, experiences, interests, and advice for students. Q: What subject(s) do you teach? I teach nutrition classes for dietetic interns as well as the course “World Foods” ...

Vocal Students Place at NATS Student Audition
College of the Arts

Last month, vocal students from the Glauser School of Music performed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, placing in multiple categories. NATS is a national organization dedicated to students and teachers of singing. Each fall, NATS holds an audition for the state of Ohio at different universities across Ohio. This year, Kent State University sent nine students to compete at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, with five students placing in their respective categories: Drew Russell, 2nd place in Advanced Category Gabe Hunyor, 1st pla...

Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Focused on an intensive studio arts experience, this Visual Communication Design major is the “professional degree” that will take your design skills to the next level. You’ll hone your craft solving communication challenges, while building a strong professional portfolio as a visual communicator and storyteller, preparing you for a successful career in a range of design industries.

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Program Information for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full 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 dedicate more time to developing their portfolios. The B.F.A. degree is for students planning to pursue a career in visual communication design and graphic design.

Students may apply early to the following master's degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.

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.

Admissions for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

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 campuses 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. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CCI 12001PHOTOGRAPHY 3
VCD 13000VISUAL DESIGN THINKING 3
VCD 13001INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO (min B- grade)3
VCD 20010DESIGN RESEARCH AND METHODS 3
VCD 22000DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I 13
VCD 22001DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES II 3
VCD 23001TYPOGRAPHY I (min B- grade)3
VCD 25000DESIGN HISTORY AND THEORY 3
VCD 33000GRAPHIC DESIGN I 3
VCD 33001GRAPHIC DESIGN II 3
VCD 33101INTERACTION DESIGN I 3
VCD 34004VISUAL ETHICS 3
VCD 34005ELEMENTS OF BRAND DESIGN 3
VCD 40035PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO BFA DESIGN 3
VCD 40182INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY 2
VCD 40192INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 21
VCD 44006MOTION DESIGN I 3
VCD 43002TYPOGRAPHY II 3
VCD 43003IDENTITY SYSTEMS 3
VCD 49198WRITING FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (ELR) (WIC) 32
VCD Specialization Electives, choose from the following:12
EMAT 21000
INTRODUCTION TO WEB DESIGN
EMAT 41000
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN
VCD 40053
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY
VCD 40089
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
VCD 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 42002
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42003
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42005
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: THE HUMAN FIGURE
VCD 42006
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS
VCD 42007
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE
VCD 43005
INTEGRATED BRAND DESIGN
VCD 43006
BRAND EXPERIENCES
VCD 43007
INFORMATION DESIGN
VCD 43060
TYPEFACE DESIGN
VCD 43101
INTERACTION DESIGN II
VCD 46003
EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY
VCD Additional Electives, choose from the following: 46
EMAT 41000
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN
VCD 18002
PHOTOGRAPHY II
VCD 28003
DIGITAL IMAGING I
VCD 32000
ILLUSTRATION I
VCD 32001
ILLUSTRATION II
VCD 38004
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 40053
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY
VCD 40089
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
VCD 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 40195
SELECTED TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 42002
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42003
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42005
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: THE HUMAN FIGURE
VCD 42006
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS
VCD 42007
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE
VCD 43005
INTEGRATED BRAND DESIGN
VCD 43006
BRAND EXPERIENCES
VCD 43051
TYPE HIGH PRESS 5
VCD 43060
TYPEFACE DESIGN
VCD 43101
INTERACTION DESIGN II
VCD 46003
EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 63
or MDJ 20001 MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
College of Communication and Information Core Electives6
CCI 10095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40089
BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR ITALIAN LIFESTYLE (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40189
ITALIAN POP CULTURE (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 40289
ITALIAN CINEMA (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 40389
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 40489
MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 45089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (DIVG) (ELR)
CCI 46089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (DIVG) (ELR)
COMM 15000
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 6
COMM 35852
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG)
EMAT 25310
CREATIVE CODING
EMAT 33310
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
LIS 30010
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND
MDJ 20001
MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 6
MDJ 21008
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES
UXD 20001
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 76
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional 73
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 83
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students who have taken ARTS 14000 from another program may use it as a substitute for VCD 22000.

2

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.

3

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

4

Courses taken as VCD Specialization Electives may not also count toward VCD Additional Electives.

5

Maximum 6 credit hours of VCD 43051 may be applied toward the VCD Additional Electives.

6

Students can apply COMM 15000 or MDJ 20001 toward College of Communication and Information Core Electives if NOT already taken toward Additional Requirements.

7

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.

8

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

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!VCD 13000 VISUAL DESIGN THINKING 3
!VCD 13001 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
COMM 15000
or MDJ 20001
 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL)
or MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS)
3
VCD 20010 DESIGN RESEARCH AND METHODS 3
!VCD 22000 DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I 1 3
!VCD 23001 TYPOGRAPHY I 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!VCD 22001 DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES II 3
VCD 25000 DESIGN HISTORY AND THEORY 3
!VCD 33000 GRAPHIC DESIGN I 3
VCD 44006 MOTION DESIGN I 3
CCI Core Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
VCD 33001 GRAPHIC DESIGN II 3
VCD 33101 INTERACTION DESIGN I 3
!VCD 34005 ELEMENTS OF BRAND DESIGN 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
VCD 34004 VISUAL ETHICS 3
VCD 43003 IDENTITY SYSTEMS 3
VCD 43002 TYPOGRAPHY II 3
VCD Specialization Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
CCI 12001 PHOTOGRAPHY 3
VCD 40182 INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY 2
VCD Specialization Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Third Summer Term
VCD 40192 INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
 Credit Hours1
Semester Seven
VCD 49198 WRITING FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (ELR) (WIC) 2
CCI Core Elective 3
VCD Additional Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
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 Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Graphic Designer
  • Art/Creative Director
  • UI/UX Designer
  • Motion Designer/Animator
  • Illustrator
  • Exhibit/Wayfinding Designer
  • Package Designer

Glyphix

Glyphix Research Laboratory

Glyphix began as a full studio experience for students, and the student staffed studio was one of the first such programs in the U.S. and the prototype for many student work-study design groups now existing on university campuses. Now Glyphix is a Research Laboratory in the School of VCD. Students gain studio experience as they conduct research, develop concepts and produce design materials for clients and other stakeholders. 

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