College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog Progression Plans are for planning purposes
only; see the catalog for official details.

Visual Communication, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Progression Plan-Classic Graphic Design - Emphasis

Campus Availability

  • Flagstaff

Year 1

Year 1  Term 1: Fall
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 101 Communication Design 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 102 Introduction To Digital Graphics 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. ART 135 Drawing Fundamentals I 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
4. Visual Communication Major Elective 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
Notes: Students are strongly encouraged to complete COM 101 or COM 200 as their Major Elective as both are pre-requisites for upcoming required coursework: VC 343.
5. Foundation English 4
Year 1  Term 2: Spring
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 181 Portfolio Review 1
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. ART 150 Two-Dimensional Design Fundamentals 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
Notes: This course may also meet a Liberal Studies requirement: Aesthetic & Humanistic Inquiry.
3. VC 161 History Of Visual Communication 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
4. ART 136 Drawing Fundamentals II 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
5. Foundation Math 3
6. COM 101 Communication Analysis 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: This course is not required but it is a pre-requisite for VC 343. Course may be manually removed if no longer needed.

Year 2

Year 2  Term 1: Fall
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 201 Graphic Design I 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 202 Typography I 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. Graphic Design Emphasis Elective 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
4. Liberal Studies Lab Science Lecture 3
5. Liberal Studies Lab Science Lab 1
6. COM 200 Basic Communication Theory 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: This course is not required but it is a pre-requisite for VC 343. Course may be manually removed if no longer needed.
Year 2  Term 2: Spring
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 261 Graphic Design II 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 262 Typography II 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. ARH 142 Western Art Since 1400 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
Notes: This course may also meet a Liberal Studies requirement: Aesthetic & Humanistic Inquiry.
4. Liberal Studies and/or Diversity 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: Courses in US Ethnic and Global Diversity are required. Double dipping liberal studies and diversity is encouraged. See academic catalog for details.
5. General Elective Course 3

Year 3

Year 3  Term 1: Fall
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 343 Visual Communication Studios 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 303 Graphic Design III 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. ARH 141, 143, or 145 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
Notes: This course may also meet a Liberal Studies requirement: Aesthetic & Humanistic Inquiry or Cultural Understanding.
4. Liberal Studies Science and Applied Science 3
5. Liberal Studies and/or Diversity 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: Courses in US Ethnic and Global Diversity are required. Double dipping liberal studies and diversity is encouraged. See academic catalog for details.
Year 3  Term 2: Spring
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 363 Graphic Design IV 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 380, 343, or 408 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. Visual Comm Junior Level Writing 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
4. Liberal Studies and/or Diversity 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: Courses in US Ethnic and Global Diversity are required. Double dipping liberal studies and diversity is encouraged. See academic catalog for details.
5. General Elective Course 3

Year 4

Year 4  Term 1: Fall
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 453 Advanced Graphic Design Topics 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. VC 403 Graphic Design V 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
3. Art History elective 200-400 level 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
4. Liberal Studies and/or Diversity 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: Courses in US Ethnic and Global Diversity are required. Double dipping liberal studies and diversity is encouraged. See academic catalog for details.
5. General Elective Course 3 JACKSPLANNER Notes
Notes: Courses in US Ethnic and Global Diversity are required. Double dipping liberal studies and diversity is encouraged. See academic catalog for details.
Year 4  Term 2: Spring
Course Description Units Notes
1. VC 493C Graphic Design Senior Portfolio 3
Grade Required: GRADE OF "C" OR BETTER
2. General Elective Course 3
3. General Elective Course 3
4. General Elective Course 3

General Information

Progression Plans are intended to provide a general road map related to the sequencing of courses. The use of Progression Plans does not constitute a contract with the University. Progression Plans are a planning tool to help you define a pathway towards degree completion.

The NAU academic catalog is the official, authoritative source for all academic requirements and policies. Any discrepancies in curricular requirements from other sources will default to the academic catalog as the official, authoritative source. For a full description of degree requirements and course descriptions, refer to the Academic Catalog (link at the top of the page).

Some courses may have prerequisites and/or require an appropriate placement score (i.e. Mathematics and English). If you do not have the prerequisite course(s) or placement, you may have to take more courses than are presented on the Progression Plan.

If you are an NAU student, Jacks Planner (an interactive version of progression plans) may be available to you. To get to Jacks Planner, log into your Student Center in LOUIE and click on Jacks Planner.