Art and Design B.A. – Visual Communication Design Emphasis
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Lisa Stocker, Administrative Assistant
Location: Guggenheim 103
Telephone: 970.351.2143
Fax: 970.351.2299
Website: www.arts.unco.edu/artanddesign
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
Please note that in Art & Design, all classes are closed until a student is released by the professor to register for each Art course. That is accomplished by meeting with their major advisor on or by Advising Day (scheduled each semester).
Contact the Art office for more information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The Visual Communication Design emphasis offers programs of study designed to allow students to become effective conceptual thinkers and creative problem solvers as they expand their visual/technical communication skills. Course experiences are designed to allow students to investigate the complexities of commercial fields of art, such as computer graphics, graphic design, illustration, advertising, photography, publications, and other areas of visual communications. Two concentration areas are available: Graphic Design and Photographic Imaging.
Graphic Design Concentration . This program prepares students to work as visual thinkers and communicators using a variety of traditional print and emerging electronic media.
Photographic Imaging Concentration. Courses in photographic imaging have been designed to increase an understanding of the most universal language in the world today - that of photographic images. Courses are designed to provide experiences in the fundamentals of photographic imaging which will lead to the achievement of objectives. Traditional photographic techniques, as well as experimental, non-traditional, and digital imaging techniques, are included in the curriculum.
Program Admission Requirements:
Admission. Students planning to major or minor in Art & Design must apply and be accepted into the School of Art & Design. Interested students need to submit an application and an Entry Portfolio, consisting of artwork and essay. A written essay alone will be considered if no artwork is available. Application form and instructions are available in the School of Art & Design office, or on their webpage, www.arts.unco.edu/artanddesign. The deadline for applications is March 1 to attend the Fall Semester, and October 31 to attend the Spring Semester. Late applications may be accepted depending on availability of space in the program.
Declaring an Art & Design major or minor without applying does not assure admission to the program.
Students needing a resource in creating a portfolio may consider taking Art 121, Introduction to Art & Design Studies. The class serves as an exploration of Art studies and assists students in developing a portfolio.
Program Requirements:
- After successful acceptance of entry application, New Art & Design students must complete the Freshman Foundation requirements before they can begin their advanced art studies. The Freshman Foundation Courses include Art 181, Art 182, Art 183, Art 184, and Art 234 which must be completed with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students must also successfully complete the Foundation Portfolio.
- To graduate with a B.A. in Art & Design, all students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher in all courses in the major, and a 2.8 GPA or higher for overall university coursework.
- A Specialization Portfolio is required to continue in Graphic Design Concentration after completion of Art 370. Specialization Portfolio is required to continue in Photo Imaging Concentration at completion of Art 274.
- An Exit level Senior Portfolio assessment is required prior to graduation. The portfolio consists of work from the student's concentration area.
- Three hours of internship (Art 492) is required. Student mush have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Art and a 2.8 GPA for overall University coursework to apply for a Visual Communication Design internship.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
Degree Requirements
1. Required LAC — 34 credits
2. Required Major — 60 credits
Take all of the following courses:
Complete the following five Freshman Foundation Courses First
Complete the following courses:
| ART 171 | Introduction to Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| ART 185 | Neoclassic to Modern Art History | 3 |
| ART 231 | Painting I | 3 |
Choose at least one Advanced Art History Course (3 credits)
Choose one of the following courses:
Choose one of the following courses:
Choose one Concentration Area:
Graphic Design Concentration (27 semester credits)
Choose one of the following courses:
Photographic Imaging Concentration (27 semester credits)
| ART 253 | Intaglio Printmaking I | 3 |
| ART 271 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| ART 274 | Fundamentals of Black and White Photography | 3 |
| ART 373 | Digital Photography Manipulation | 3 |
| ART 472 | Photography Studio | 1 - 3 |
| ART 476 | Advanced Black and White Photography | 3 |
| ART 477 | Photographic Illustration and Lighting Techniques | 3 |
| ART 478 | Alternative Photographic Expression | 3 |
| ART 492 | Internship in Art | 1 - 5 |
3. University-Wide Credits — 26 credits
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 26 credits.