The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication is designed to produce graduates who are skilled in using art, design and technology to creatively communicate ideas and transform messages into visual communication. Through the rigorous coursework, students will develop skills in using aesthetic and conceptual judgment, color, type, symbols, digital images, multimedia, interactivity, animation, motion graphics, photography, and project management to produce messages that clearly inform, effectively communicate brand experience, and persuade viewers.
In the Visual Communication program, you will acquire strong foundational training in Art, Design, and Technology. Our degree program offers the opportunity to graduate with an emphasis in graphic design or animation. The emphases prepare students seeking a career in industries such as design, advertising, film, TV, game design, and entertainment. In our small, intimate studio classes, you will be guided by faculty members to foster your artistic voice while creating effective strategic approaches. Work on real-world projects in one of our experiential and professional learning opportunities at the VisualDESIGNlab and Advanced Media Lab.
Our wide range of studio classes will prepare you with in-demand skills and expand your abilities in a continually evolving field for years to come. You will graduate with a highly competitive and individualized portfolio that will help you integrate seamlessly into the job market. Our alumni have started successful independent design practices and work for some of the country's leading firms and agencies, including NBC Sports, Yahoo, Citigroup, Motorola, Abercrombie Finch, GoDaddy, Amazon Game Studios, Google, IBM, GAP, W.L. Gore, Nike, and L’Oreal.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | 2.5 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Emphasis Required | An emphasis is required for this major. |
Purpose Statement
The Visual Communications program develops the analytical skills and creative passion in our students to be designers, animators and professional artists who creatively, yet strategically, resolve challenging visual design problems across a variety of media in an artistic, visually compelling manner.
In our program, students begin by building a strong foundation in the elements, principles, and processes of design. They build upon this foundation across their studio classes by engaging in the creation of increasingly complex designs focused on solving real-world problems. As a student progresses through the program, they incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach by applying concepts from art history, communication theory, drawing, and their liberal studies requirements to issues of design. Cutting-edge software and technological applications are then integrated into their experience. Particularly, students learn to apply design principles to software in a manner that provides the skills to adapt to the newest technologies in expectation for the technologies which will emerge in the future.
To be effective in the world of design, our students learn to develop excellent relationships with clients, and work collaboratively to co-create projects in teams. By learning how to communicate effectively with clients and utilize the talents and strengths of design colleagues, our students learn how to creatively navigate relationships to develop the best design products.
Our faculty members know that the elements, principles, and processes of design, the software, the ability to collaborate; all of this is just the beginning. Our program is taught using small, studio-based courses, one-on-one faculty mentoring, and advanced facilities. Yet, the ever-changing world of design requires its practitioners to learn throughout their careers and constantly keep their skills up-to-date. Our program and faculty provide the strategic approaches to learning that will sustain our graduates’ abilities in a continually evolving field for years to come.
Overall, our integrative approach develops students who are capable of applying fundamentals to solve increasingly complex design problems in technologically innovative ways, and result in a portfolio of work designed to launch them in their career.
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Admission to the Visual Communication Major is contingent upon:
Approval of student portfolio submitted online through the VC 181 Portfolio Review class and reviewed by the Visual Communication faculty.
All VC courses at a 200-level or above are restricted to students who successfully complete the first year of Pre Major requirements and pass the Portfolio Review.
This major requires 70 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 70 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course. All courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5:
Visual Communication Common Course Requirements (27 units)
Emphasis Requirements - Select one (30 units)
All majors must earn the grade of "C" or better in their freshman composition required course and their foundation mathematics course.
Students in the Animation emphasis must complete ART 136, VC 161, VC 201, VC 202, VC 205, VC 265, and be assigned the Animation Milestone before enrolling in VC 305, and VC 345.
Students in the Graphic Design emphasis must complete ART 136, VC 161, VC 201, VC 202, VC 261, VC 262, and be assigned the Graphic Design Milestone before enrolling in VC 303, VC 343, and VC 380.
A dual emphasis BFA degree is available. Completing both Animation and Graphic Design emphases may take longer than 4 years. Please consult an advisor to develop a progression plan.
Please note that you must complete the last five of your emphasis courses at Northern Arizona University.
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.