Visual Communication (Bachelor of Fine Arts)
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication prepares students for careers in the world of communication arts. The program encompasses a series of art foundation and history courses that emphasize technical, theoretical, and intellectual skills. The development and maturation of the student progresses through an acquisition of skills focused within contemporary media practice and concludes with a choice of area concentrations in either Graphic Design or Photography.
Completion of 124 credit hours as follows:
A. Completion of the UM-Flint general education requirements.
B. Art History and Theory (13 credits) ARH 112, 411; ART 160; COM 241.
C. Visual Communication Foundation Courses (15 credits)
D. Studio Art Concentration (33 semester credit hours) either Graphic Design or Photography
E. Required Electives (12 semester credit hours, chosen from concentration pools)
F. Additional elective courses outside Art or Communications (9 semester credit hours).
G. At least 15 semester credit hours of Visual Communication at the University of Michigan-Flint,
H. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in B, C, D and E above taken at the University of Michigan-Flint.
I. Presentation and review of a design portfolio. Passage or failure of this portfolio presentation and review will be included in the Design Portfolio (ART 401) grade (3 credits).
Curriculum
A. Completion of the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements.
B. Art History and Theory (13 credits).
- ARH 112 Art Survey, Middle Ages – Modern Era (4 credits)
- ART 160 Introduction to Visual Communication Theory & Process – (3 credits)
- COM 200 Survey of Communication Theory – (3 credits)
- ARH 411 Contemporary Global Art – (3 credits)
C. Visual Communication Foundation Courses (15 credits)
- ART 113 - Drawing for Design I – (3 credits)
- ART 114 - Drawing for Design II – (3 credits)
- ART 126 - Introduction to Digital Photography – (3 credits)
- ART 152 - Color and Design – (3 credits)
- ART 252 - Introduction to Digital Design – (3 credits)
D. Studio Art Concentrations – Graphic Design or Photography (33 credits)
Graphic Design Concentration
- ARH 140 History of Graphic Design – (3 credits)
- ART 232 Typography I – (3 credits)
- CSC 263 Introduction to Web Design – (3 credits)
- ART 324 Introduction to Illustration – (3 credits)
- ART 329 Introduction to Digital Imaging – (3 credits)
- ART 330 Typography II – (3 credits)
- ART 335 Introduction to Web Graphics & Design – (3 credits)
- ART 342 Editorial Design – (3 credits)
- ART 347 Introduction to Motion Graphics – (3 credits)
- ART 401 Senior Design Portfolio – (3 credits)
- ART 406 Corporate ID/Business Graphics – (3 credits)
Photography Concentration
- ART 116 Introduction to Black And White Photography
- ART 214 Color Photography
- ART 215 Photography Survey
- ART 216 Advanced Black and White Photography
- ART 218 Alternative Photo-Processes
- COM 355 Photojournalism
- ART 302 Lighting Techniques
- ART 304 Medium and Large Format Photography
- ART 401 Senior Design Portfolio
- ART 402 Project Photography
- ART 404 Studio Photography I
E. Required Electives (12 credits, chosen from pool)
Graphic Design Concentration Elective Pool
ARH215 Photo Survey, ART328 Artist Bookmaking, ART398 Graphic Design Internship, ART322 Print Production Techniques, ART323 Business of Visual Communications (online), ART400 Advanced Illustration, ART407 Advanced Editorial Design, ART422 Image and Text, COM210 Intro to Public Speaking, COM226 Advertising, COM301 Ethical Issues, COM338 Communications in Business, COM361 -Introduction to Public Relations, COM381 Inter-cultural Communications, CSC293 Intermediate Web Design
Photography Concentration Elective Pool
ART 329 Intro Digital Imaging, ART 327 Photographic Printmaking, ART 328 Artist Bookmaking, ART 335 Introduction to Web Graphics & Design, ART 398 Internship, ART 405 Studio Photography II, ART323 Business of Visual Communications (online), COM 210 Intro to Public Speaking, COM 226 Advertising, COM 241 History & Crit of Mass COM, COM 301 ethical issues, COM 338 Communications in Business, COM 361 Intro to Public Relations, COM 381 Inter-cultural Communications, CSC293 Intermediate Web Design
F. Additional elective courses outside Art or Communications (9 credits).