B.F.A. of Visual Communication Arts- Emphasis in Design
Students seeking a major in Communication Arts will pursue a BFA degree. The BFA degree is a five-year program; the four BFA options are BFA in Art Direction; BFA in DesignCommunications; BFA in New Media; or BFA in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Copywriting or Illustration. Each of these areas has a common core of Foundation Art/Communication Arts courses and specific classes in the major or emphasis area. All programs require the student to complete University Studies courses. Students in the BFA major are not required to select a minor.
Entry into Communication Arts 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. The following web site should be consulted for deadlines and specific requirements of portfolio contents. 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. Web site: http://newmedia.tamu-commerce.edu
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 has established a 2-plus-3 program in Communication Arts with 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.
University Studies Courses (43 sh)
See the University Studies Requirements http://catalog.tamu-commerce.acalog.com/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=415
Required Courses in the Major (74 sh)
Core Studio
Art Core/Sophomore Studio:
- ART 110 - Drawing I Hours: 3
- ART 111 - Two-Dimensional Design and Color Theory Hours: 3
- ART 140 - Three-Dimensional Design and Color Theory Hours: 3
- PHO 112 - Basic Photography I Hours: 3
- ART 211 - Introduction to Visual Communication Hours: 3
- ART 213 - Figure Drawing Hours: 3
Visual Communication Core:
- ART 300 - Typography Hours: 4
- ART 309 - Digital Imaging for Communication Art Hours: 4
- ART 310 - Electronic Media Hours: 4
- ART 365 - Design Communications I Hours: 4
- ART 466 - Design Communications II Hours: 4
- ART 472 - Art Direction Hours: 4
- ART 475 - Visual Communication Senior Studio Hours: 4
Required / Emphasis Studio
- ART 416 - Advanced Electronic Media Hours: 4
- ART 467 - Design Communications III Hours: 4
- ART 468 - Design Communications IV Hours: 4
12 Semester Hours From:
- ART 311 - Multimedia I Hours: 4
- ART 312 - Internet Development I Hours: 4
- ART 313 - Interactive Vector Graphics and Animation Hours: 4
- ART 411 - Multimedia II Hours: 4
- ART 412 - Internet Development II Hours: 4
- ART 414 - Motion Graphics Hours: 4
- ART 463 - Advanced Typography Hours: 4
- ART 464 - Advanced Processes Hours: 4
- ART 465 - Letterpress Hours: 4
- ART 467 - Design Communications III Hours: 4
- ART 468 - Design Communications IV Hours: 4
- ART 495 - Internship Hours: 4
- ART 497 - Special Topics Hours: 1-4
Total Studio or Related Areas 70 sh
Required Support Courses (12 sh)
Art / Design History
- ART 1303 - History of Art I Hours: 3
- ART 1304 - History of Art II Hours: 3
- ART 407 - History of Graphic Design Hours: 3
3 Hours From the following:
- ART 405 - History of Modern Art Hours: 3
- ART 408 - History of Advertising and Consumerism Hours: 3
- ART 409 - History of New Media Hours: 3
- PHO 379 - Survey of Photographic History Hours: 3-4
(125 Semester Hours)
