Additional Requirements
B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design
Designers explore a variety of visual communication design topics dealing with diverse messages and audiences. Students interested in pursuing a career in design, including visual communication design, graphic design, motion graphics, animation, digital media, etc. may apply into the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design. Students planning to graduate in four years with a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design should complete their Foundation Core in their Freshman year and take the appropriate Studio Core classes in their sophomore year. As a Professional Degree, the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design does not include the A&S Outside Major credit requirement.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses taken to satisfy department requirements. Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade. To obtain a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design degree in the Department of Visual Arts students must have a minimum 3.00 overall UW-total institutional GPA, and a 3.25 GPA in all major courses at the time of graduation.
The Visual Communication Design degree provides students with a human-centered approach to making and thinking as designers. Students learn through digital and hands-on-making design challenges to develop critical narrative skills and refine their ability to think conceptually. Individual projects and research prepare each student to think flexibly in an international community that is continually being influenced by new ideas, tools, and technologies. The Visual Arts Building, design computer classroom, and design and fabrication studio facilities offer undergraduate students ample research, design, and production space with access to cutting-edge technology, and open-source, industry standard software and tools for design exploration.
Application
Formal application is made to the program for acceptance into the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design degree program. Applications must be submitted at least three semesters prior to the applicant’s anticipated graduation. Favorable faculty reviews of the application materials are required before a student is declared a candidate for the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design degree. Applicants must have achieved the following at the time of application to the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design:
- C or better in all major classes
- 3.25 GPA or above within major classes
- 3.00 or above overall UW total institutional GPA
- Successful completion of ART 2000: Portfolio Review
Undergraduate majors proceed with meeting the USP requirements for the B.A. in Studio Art and balance with foundation, art history, and studio core requirements in the major until formally accepted as a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design candidate. Students should apply at least three semesters before graduation. Application does not automatically guarantee acceptance into the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design program.
Final Year
During their final year and in conjunction with the spring B.F.A. exhibition, students enroll in two sequential capstone courses: BFA Capstone I (fall) and II (spring). The courses outline the deadline and requirements for the B.F.A. exhibition as well as coordinating mentoring of B.F.A. candidates. If faculty deem their work insufficient, they reserve the right to exclude the work from the exhibition and withhold the B.F.A. degree. Students transferring to the Department of Visual Arts who have completed their foundation core and successfully passed portfolio review are eligible to apply for a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design after one semester in the Department of Visual Arts.