Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 University of Wyoming Catalog 
    
2021-2022 University of Wyoming Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Visual Communication Design, B.F.A.


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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.

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 and Literary 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 hand’s-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 and access to cutting-edge technology, and open-source and 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. Application must be submitted at least three semesters prior to the applicant’s anticipated graduation. Favorable faculty review 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

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 and Literary 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 Art and Art History Program.

 

Studio Core: 12 Hours


12 credits chosen from the below. At least one course must be from 2D and one from 3D.

3D Studio


Note: only one Ceramics class can count in the Studio Core

Art History and Design Theory Core: 9 Hours


Upper Division Art History: 6 Hours


* six hours of any upper division Art History courses

BFA Core: 12 Hours


Upper Division Studio Electives: 9 Hours


9 credits of any upper division studio art classes

Foreign Language: 8 Hours


* 8 credits in any foreign language:

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