‘Bring Your Best Curious Self’

Tammy Clewell, Ph.D. receiving DTA 2023 award

After 24 years of teaching English, Tammy Clewell, Ph.D., has some advice for students: “Bring your most curious version of yourself to every class that you attend.”    Clewell, professor of English at Kent State University, creates discussion-based classes that give students the opportunity to learn and grow.   She said she puts her full personality on display in class, which brings a level of comfort for students.   “I bring my 100% to every class that I teach,” Clewell said. “Some of the material I have been teaching for a long time, so I try to find somethi...

Student Media

STUDENT MEDIA

In Student Media, students create content for our six print partners (five magazines and one newspaper) as well as for TV, radio, websites and social media. Together, they reach thousands of people every day, delivering original reporting, information, entertainment and advertising. 

Coping with Anxiety: What Triggers it and How to Get Treatment

Student sits on Kent State campus

In the realm of entertainment and news, trigger warnings are familiar reminders of potentially upsetting content. However, when discussing anxiety disorders, the concept of "triggers" takes on a different, more serious meaning. Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Kent State University and an expert in the field, emphasizes that triggers for anxiety disorders vary depending on the specific disorder. In an article for Psycom.net, Neal-Barnett explains that anxiety involves excessive worry and an apprehension that something bad is going to happen: “The perception is that ...

AIGA Kent State

AIGA Kent State

Meet other students studying visual communication design and all things graphic design as part of AIGA Kent State's student group. Network with area designers and businesses, be part of the monthly meetings with the Cleveland chapter and participate in extracurricular learning opportunities that can help you develop as a designer. 

Learn More

‘Israel, Palestine and Me:’ Reflection and Dialogue Event Planned

Candles form a peace sign.

Kent State University’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies and School of Communications Studies are collaborating on an event to bring students together to talk about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.  The event, “Israel, Palestine and Me: Students' Forum for Reflection and Dialogue,” will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 16, in the May 4 Reflection Gallery (Room 141) of Taylor Hall.  R. Neil Cooper, Ph.D., director of the School of Peace and Conflict Studies, said the purpose of the forum is to create a safe, welcoming space for currently enrolled Kent State student...

FLA Professor Mark Lyberger Featured in WalletHub

Mark Lyberger

Professor Mark R. Lyberger was featured in WalletHub's recent article about Best Baseball Cities. As baseball grows in popularity in the U.S. and abroad, so will the challenges for those in the industry. For insight into those issues, advice on enjoying the ballgame and more, WalletHub asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on a number of key questions, including the biggest issues facing MLB, the affect of fantasy sports on MLB, the best ways to enjoy a baseball game on a budget, and Lyberger's picks to win the World Series, MVP, and Cy Young Awards. ...

Visual Communication Design - B.A.

Unleash your creativity with the Visual Communication Design major. Experienced faculty will help you develop a portfolio of professional design work for print, motion, video and interactive media. With a focus on design and illustration, this degree offers the flexibility to succeed in a wide variety of career fields. Enroll now and turn your passion for graphic design into a successful future.

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Program Information for Visual Communication Design - B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design prepares students for the graphic design and illustration professions. Students develop technical understanding and design skills in the organization of imagery and typography to communicate information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. Students produce work for print, motion, video, screen displays and interactive experiences, as well as package design, exhibition design and environmental wayfinding.

This program focuses on design and illustration in the context of a broad liberal arts program, giving students the flexibility to choose 20 percent of their coursework (with guidance). This provides the opportunity for students to take a variety of courses to complement their design degree. Students learn at the intersections of communication, information, and technology. The B.A. degree program is for students planning to attend a graduate program or plan to pair their visual communication design degree with another field of study.

Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.

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.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

The director of the School of Visual Communication Design may impose additional requirements considered reasonable and necessary. Each transfer student will be evaluated individually in terms of his or her ability to perform within the program. A transfer applicant’s strengths and deficiencies will be considered and his or her transfer credits will reflect that consideration.

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)
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 34004VISUAL ETHICS 3
VCD 40182INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY 2
VCD 40192INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 21
VCD 44006MOTION DESIGN I 3
VCD 49198WRITING FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (ELR) (WIC) 32
VCD Bachelor of Arts Guided Electives, choose from the following:12
CCI 12001
PHOTOGRAPHY
CCI 46089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (DIVG) (ELR)
COMM 46091
SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR)
EMAT 21000
INTRODUCTION TO WEB DESIGN
EMAT 41000
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN
EMAT 40999
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS (ELR)
VCD 18002
PHOTOGRAPHY II
VCD 28003
DIGITAL IMAGING I
VCD 32000
ILLUSTRATION I
VCD 32001
ILLUSTRATION II
VCD 33101
INTERACTION DESIGN I
VCD 34005
ELEMENTS OF BRAND DESIGN
VCD 38004
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 40053
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY
VCD 40089
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
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 43002
TYPOGRAPHY II
VCD 43003
IDENTITY SYSTEMS
VCD 43005
INTEGRATED BRAND DESIGN
VCD 43006
BRAND EXPERIENCES
VCD 43007
INFORMATION DESIGN
VCD 43051
TYPE HIGH PRESS
VCD 43060
TYPEFACE DESIGN
VCD 43101
INTERACTION DESIGN II
VCD 44001
EXHIBITION DESIGN
VCD 46003
EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following:9
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) 4
COMM 15000
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL)
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)
MDJ 21008
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES
UXD 20001
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 524
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. Students may apply a maximum 4 credit hours of VCD 40192 toward their degree program.

3

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

4
May apply the course as a College of Communication and Information Core Elective if not already fulfilling a VCD Bachelor of Arts Guided Elective.
5

A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.

Progression Requirements
  • VCD 13001 may be taken a maximum three times until a minimum B- grade is achieved.
  • Students must maintain a 2.500 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
2.500 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
VCD 20010 DESIGN RESEARCH AND METHODS 3
!VCD 22000 DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I 1 3
!VCD 23001 TYPOGRAPHY I 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 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
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
VCD 44006 MOTION DESIGN I 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
VCD 33001 GRAPHIC DESIGN II 3
!VCD 34004 VISUAL ETHICS 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
VCD 40182 INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY 2
VCD 49198 WRITING FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (ELR) (WIC) 2
VCD Bachelor of Arts Guided Elective 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours15
Third Summer Term
VCD 40192 INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
 Credit Hours1
Semester Seven
VCD Bachelor of Arts Guided Elective 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
VCD Bachelor of Arts Guided Electives 6
General Electives 7
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

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

Accreditation for Visual Communication Design - B.A.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

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

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Graphic Designer
  • Art/Creative Director
  • UI/UX Designer
  • Motion Designer/Animator
  • Illustrator
  • Exhibit/Wayfinding Designer
  • Package Designer
Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance presents Dance ’23–One World December 1-3
College of the Arts

one world fall faculty dance concert

Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance continues its 2023-2024 production season with Dance ’23 – “One World.” The concert will be presented in E. Turner Stump Theatre Fri., December 1 through Sun., December 3, 2023. There will be a post-show discussion after the Saturday, December 2 performance. Ambre Emory-Maier, stager of the excerpts from “Murmurs of A Stream,” and the dancers will speak about how dance can be used as a tool of resistance and liberation. This concert features original choreography by Kent State University’s dance faculty members and guest cho...

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