Visual Communication
(Includes specialties in Graphic Design, Multimedia, Web Design, 3D Animation, Video & Post-Production, and Motion Graphics)
The Visual Communication program trains today's digital designer in the communication media of the future. This program provides students with skills needed for careers in commercial art and design, desktop publishing, web design, 3D animation, multimedia development, and video and post production. The demand for these skills comes from a variety of industries including advertising, consumer products, education, financial, entertainment, government, legal, manufacturing, medical, petroleum, publishing, transportation, and video production. Why such a broad raange industries? Why, because all companies want and need to communicate with clients, customers, and community. Nothing is more lasting than the emotional impact of visual imagery in printed publications, on the web, for broadcast, etc.
This degree has five areas of specialization: graphic design, multimedia, video and post-production, web design, or 3D animation. Students completing the degree or certificate are prepared for entry-level positions. Certificates are available within specialization areas in graphic design, motion graphics, video and post-production, multimedia design, 3D animation, and web design. These certificates provide an opportunity to acquire technical skills in two to three semesters.
The two-year Visual Communication Associate of Applied Science Degree is awarded for successful completion of at leaset 67 credit hours that include a combination of core academic courses and a selection of technical courses within the chosen specialization track. Students completing the degree are prepared for entry-level positions. This degree has five tracks of specializations from which a student can choose:
- Graphics Design- Graphic designers are experts at presenting information in a visual form in print for packaging, signs, publications, and advertising.
- Multimedia design-- Multimedia Designers use a mixture of graphics, text, video, sound, and animation to provide a rich media, interactive experience on CDs, DVDs, Kiosks, and the web.
- 3D Animation--Animators combine art and computer technology to create 3-dimensional objects, characters, or environments that can be animated for multimedia simulations which would otherwise be impossible to illustrate for medical, legal, petroleum, manfacturing, architectural, and gaming purposes.
- Video and Post- Production-- Video and post-production professionals work with cameras, lighting, editing video clips, introducing animation, graphics, text and audio to communicate a message or story based on a script.
- Web Design-- Web designers create the visual look of a website that provides a cohesive and a well-planned web site from the front-end but also possess a good understanding of the technical issues of the internet and the manner in which people use the web.
A selection of six certificates is available within the Visual Communication program. These certificates take a short time to complete, usually 3 semesters ranging from 37 to 45 credit hours each. The advantage of acquiring certificates is that they are fairly quick to complete so if you already have a degree, you are abe to upgrade you skills quickly within several different areas. Also, the courses within these six certificates can be applied to your specialty track for the Visual Communication degree enabling students to transition directly from a certificate to the degree.
Many of the academic core courses required within the degree will transfer to a variety of universities. Also, agreements have been made with several area universities so that most of the courses within the Visual Communication degree apply towards a bachelor degree. To learn about which universities have articulation agreements available to transferring students, please contact the department chair, faculty, or adviser in the Visual Communication department for more details.