Visual Communication

Texas A&M University-Commerce has been a leader in the Visual Communication  for over three decades. The degrees in Visual Communication, Art Direction and Copywriting is known for having cultivated the creative talents of hundreds of students who now occupy positions of the highest importance in the advertising industry. The New York-based One Club for Art and Copy has bestowed upon the advertising program of Texas A&M University-Commerce more awards than any other program in the region, and the Dallas Society of Visual Communications has chosen us as "Best School" more times than all other regional colleges and universities combined. These and many other awards demonstrate that Texas A&M University-Commerce provides its students with a decided edge in the professional world.

Entry into Visual Communication Program is by portfolio review. As a prerequisite to entering Communication Arts classes taught at the Universities Center at Dallas (UCD), students need to complete at least 24 hours of art foundation courses as prescribed in the undergraduate catalog and the student will have completed the University Studies requirements of A&M-Commerce. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and an art foundations GPA of at least 3.0. Students having completed University Studies and art foundation requirements, who fail to present work according to the stated guidelines, will not be considered for entry into Communication Arts classes at the UCD.

  

All majors have an assessment system that students must pass in order to proceed in their major: a basic assessment will be administered after the third year and a concentration assessment will be administered after the fourth year. Students who do not pass their assessments will be required to correct deficiencies before continuing their program. Students will be advised of the most expedient way to correct deficiencies by faculty and may be required to repeat courses to strengthen and further develop their skills areas. All majors must pass their senior exit review prior to graduation. During the fourth and fifth years, all majors will be required to enter their work in various art shows. As with other university programs, students must pass their courses in their major with a minimum grade of "C".

Texas A&M University-Commerce established a 2-plus-3 program in Visual Communication, Department of Fine Arts, Brookhaven College, facilitating the evaluation of course credits and ease of transfer for students from that institution. Transfer work for students from other institutions may be accepted for courses that are not directly compatible with the common course numbering system; the faculty reserves the right to delay accepting these courses until reviewing the student's portfolio. Portfolio reviews for transfer students will generally occur late in the spring semester for students wishing to enter the program during the fall semester and late during the fall semester for students wishing to enter the program during the spring semester.

For more information contact Lee Whitmarsh

BFA in Visual Communication with
Emphasis in Art Direction

This emphasis in Art Direction prepares students for professional positions as creative team leaders who target specific market audiences and produce single ads or campaigns in printed, broadcast and interactive media. Courses in art direction and advertising emphasize the development of concepts from infancy through the finished product. The Art Direction student gains proficiency in creating headlines, copy, layout and storyboarding, as well as in directing the work of designers, photographers, illustrators and other contributors in single ads or campaigns.

BFA in Visual Communication with Emphasis in Illustration/Copywriting

This emphasis gives students a base in design courses before an emphasis in either illustration or copywriting is selected.

Copywriting majors combine art and writing in order to prepare themselves for positions as writers and creative directors who take advertising concepts and develop them through headlines and body copy in printed, broadcast and interactive media. Copywriting students take a select sequence of courses in the Department of Literature and Languages, where they focus on creative and technical writing. To augment this sequence, and to prepare them for collaboration with professionals in the visual arts, they also pursue a limited curriculum in art that stresses visual organization, typography, graphic design and art direction.

Illustration is a visual representation of written text with the intent to clarify complicated concepts or difficult objects. Illustration can also adorn advertisements, posters, CD covers, and annual reports, to name a few. This program incorporates both the traditional media and state-of-the-art equipment that permits one to express their ideas as a contemporary illustrator.

BFA in Visual Communication with Emphasis in Design

This emphasis prepares students choosing to pursue a career as a design professional. Instruction focuses on an applied conceptual skill set through the development and application of creative process, conceptual thinking and visual problem solving. Students are guided through a progressive 3-tier curriculum, each serving as a foundation for the next. Students learn through research and design methodologies how to author successful design solutions.

BFA in Visual Communication with Emphasis in New Media

New Media provides a visual education based in computer application with requirement of strong conceptual design. Upon completion of design, storyboarding and conceptual courses, students choose either an interactive or high-end animation track of study. Specialized courses in interactive design, advanced web application, or modeling, rigging, and animation complete the student's education and provide specialized skills in animation, visualization, interactive and multimedia design. Work from program alumni can be seen in feature films, professional studio demo reels, background design and complex website application.

MFA in Art with Emphasis in Visual Communication

The Advanced Texas A&M-Commerce Master of Fine Arts program in Communication Design centers on meeting the needs of practicing professionals in the expanding field of Visual Communication Design who aspire to achieve a higher level of proficiency in design innovation, design professional practice and/or to pursue a career in design education. The A&M-Commerce MFA program explores creative process innovation; design development; inter-disciplinary design-community initiatives; design-professional practice leadership, strategy, process and product; and design-teaching methodologies grounded in an historical perspective.

For more information please email Virgil Scott 

BFA in Visual Communication Degree with Emphasis in Photography

The new BFA is a Visual Communication Degree with Emphasis in Photography    was created to take advantage of the strengths of Photography Program and the program in Visual Communication. It also gives students a basis in general design skills and gives students the opportunity to receive intensive technical instruction in both design and photography. Students with this degree could pursue careers as "in house" graphics personnel, work in large design firms, or as freelancers.