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The Visual Communication and Digital Media Arts (VCDMA) enables and empowers students for a career in visual communication and media arts. Students who follow this concentration are introduced to opportunities in graphic design, digital filmmaking, animation, fashion design, digital art and imaging, and multimedia.
MAJOR/CONCENTRATION: By building upon foundation courses, students merge skills in art, marketing, technology, and communication. The new VCDMA (BS) major replaces the previous Computer Graphics Art concentration. The new VCDMA offers (5) five new concentrations in Advertising Design, Animation & Motion Graphics, Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, Digital Media Arts and Fashion Design.
The minimum number of semester hours required for the bachelor's of science degree is 120. Students who choose to concentrate in a particular area must consult with the VCDMA Program Coordinator. Additionally, students from other departments may seek to minor in VCDMA and should develop a track scheme with faculty in VCDMA and complete 24 credits in a specific VCDMA area of concentration. Transfer and prospective students must also submit a portfolio with their application. Learn more about VCDMA.
MINORS IN VCDMA: VCDMA also offers minors in the concentration areas. The minor consists of 24 credits (21 in studio and one in an approved art history course). Please refer to VCDMA MINOR guidelines (PDF) .
ADVISEMENT AND IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION
PLEASE READ: Please refer to also the complete VCDMA Program & Student Handbook. Students should also review and refer to the VCDMA Senior Thesis Requirements. Be sure to visit and get useful information and portfolio tips, as well as internships and careers on the VCDMA Resource page. For advisement please consult (download) and refer to the advisement sheets listed below and based on your area of concentration. Pay attention to portfolio, GPA and senior thesis requirements, as well as others such as internship, senior exhibition, etc.
Students must also download, read, complete and provide VCDMA faculty members (a min. of 3 full-time, tenured faculty members in VCDMA/ART must vote and approve your portfolio) including the VCDMA program coordinator. However, it may also include guidance, input and review by or from additional part-time and full-time faculty members.
Provide a completed VCDMA Portfolio Review Form to (3) full-time faculty members (see Program Coordinator for details). This form must be provided with each digital portfolio (saved as a PDF/PPT on a CD-R), physical portfolio as well as a link to students' online portfolio site. Please also refer to ART & PORTFOLIO TIPS and the RESOURCES for more help with portfolios.
CONCENTRATIONS, DESCRIPTIONS AND ADVISEMENT SHEETS UNDER THE VCDMA (BS) PROGRAM
ADVERTISING DESIGN: The new and revised concentration Advertising Design (replaces Computer Graphics Art) addresses the current demand and industry needs for artists, designers and problem solvers. The concentration focuses primarily on print, graphic and web design, and will include additional coursework in advertising design, business and marketing, and provide art students an overview of the business of art/design. The objectives of the concentration are as to prepare graduates to enter a career in visual communication (design) with a focus on print based advertising, graphics and media.
Students are empowered to continue their success and studies at the graduate level and beyond. Students will focus primarily on illustration and print design; and the integration of web design, multimedia and new media. Thus making graduates in this area more marketable and in demand. The Advertising Design concentration prepares students for careers in (but not limited to): graphic design, visual communication, advertising and print communications. Students also merge skills in traditional art with technology, marketing, business and design. Advertising Design (ADVD) Advisement Sheet
Expected student learning outcomes:
After successful completion of coursework, portfolio reviews, exhibitions, internships and senior thesis projects, students will be able to:
• Organize the advanced elements of the visual language creating harmonious and unique designs for advertisement and communication
• Demonstrate the organizational principles that underline the effective manipulation of the optical elements in 2D and 3D space
• Demonstrate a full command of a variety of software packages and develop creative and effective problem-solving skills
• Apply techniques and concepts in image and page layout, typography, elements and principles of design
• Create professional examples, comps/mock-ups in visual communication including web, print package and product design
• Apply research on target audience/demographics to design strategies
• Develop advertising and visual marketing campaigns and case studies in design
ANIMATION & MOTION GRAPHICS: The Animation & Motion Graphics concentration includes additional coursework in animation, communications (television/video production) and English (film studies and screenwriting), and provide art students an overview of the business of animation and motion graphics design. The concentration under the Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts, (BS) Major, allows students the opportunity to focus on a highly competitive and successful career option.
The objectives of the concentration are as to prepare graduates to enter a career in animation (2D or 3D), motion graphics, compositing, special effects and new media. They will also be empowered to continue their success and studies at the graduate level and beyond. Students will focus primarily on animation, sequential and time based art; including the integration of video and film production. The Animation & Motion Graphics concentration prepares students for careers in (but not limited to): 2D/3D animation, compositing, special effects, broadcast and motion graphics industries. Students also merge skills in illustration, art/design, new media and digital video/film production. Animation & Motion Graphics (ANIM) Advisement Sheet
Expected student learning outcomes
After successful completion of coursework, portfolio reviews, exhibitions/screenings, internships and senior thesis projects, students will be able to:
• Organize the advanced elements and principles of art, design and animation
• Demonstrate the organizational principles that underline the effective manipulation of the optical elements in 2D and 3D space with animation and video; character and text/typographic-based animation
• Demonstrate a full command of a variety of design/animation and digital video, audio editing, compositing software packages and develop creative and effective problem-solving skills
• Utilize animation, motion graphics and compositing software to create 2D and 3D animation and graphics
• Apply successful usage of principles of animation; physics, motion
• Examine and use vocabulary of animation terms and techniques
• Design and produce scripts, treatments, animatics & storyboards
• Develop concepts and narratives for animation
• Assemble an entry-level portfolio of short animation projects and examples
• Develop advertising and visual marketing campaigns using animation, motion graphics and other time-based media (film/video)
DIGITAL CINEMA & TIME-BASED MEDIA: The Digital Cinema & Time Based Media concentration focuses primarily digital (narrative) video/film production, video and time-based art and film. Students will be introduced to writing, producing, directing and editing/compositing for various new and time-based, digital media and web-based media and to cinema and independent filmmaking and production in general. Students will be introduced to writing, producing, directing and editing/compositing for various new media and digital media formats; and to the world of cinema and independent filmmaking in general. The objectives of the new concentration are as to prepare graduates to enter a career in visual communication with a focus on digital video, film and other time-based media. They will also be empowered to continue their success and studies at the graduate level and beyond. Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media (DCTM) Advisement Sheet
Expected student learning outcomes
After successful completion of coursework, portfolio reviews, exhibitions, internships and senior thesis projects, students will be able to:
• Organize the advanced elements of the visual language creating harmonious and unique designs for advertisement and communication
• Demonstrate the organizational principles that underline the effective manipulation of the optical elements over time in 2D and 3D space
• Demonstrate a full command of a variety of software packages and develop creative and effective problem-solving skills
• Apply techniques and concepts in cinema studies, video/film production, editing and compositing
• Apply typography, elements and principles of design to digital video/film projects
• Create projects using advanced cinema, narrative video and digital video/imaging techniques.
• Design and utilize projects incorporating sound processing, digital video, animation, motion graphics and editing software.
• Research, Critique and discuss the work by professional film/video makers, designers, visual artists, web artists, animators, and others who use digital video and technologies in their work.
• Apply basic digital video processing techniques.
• Apply file management and data storage options including import/export/publishing considerations and codec’s, file formats for video.
• Assemble a cumulative portfolio or demo reel, DVD and website
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS: The Digital Media Arts concentration prepares students for careers in (but not limited to): visual arts and exhibition, by combining digital arts and technology with traditional art making and research. Students may seek to integrate experimental design, drawing/illustration, painting, sculpture, video, photography with visual communication and new media. The Digital Media Arts concentration provides students who are interested as artist/designers, in combining or integrating traditional art/design with digital technology. The concentration focuses primarily on multimedia, experimental and integrated art/design, with an emphasis on gallery exhibition and installation.
This major is ideal for the student who may come from a background in painting for example, but also would like to combine this medium with digital art, new media, video, etc. This would also be ideal for a student that does not desire to enter a career in graphic design per se (print & web) but seek ways to conduct research balanced with art making, technology and exploration. The objectives of the new concentration are as to prepare graduates to enter a career as a professional visual artist, with an emphasis on digital media and gallery/exhibition.
They will also be empowered to continue their success and studies at the graduate level and beyond. Students will focus on the integration of research with digital art, installation and new media with traditional media. The objectives of the new concentration are as to prepare graduates to enter a career as a professional visual artist, with an emphasis on digital media and gallery/exhibition. They will also be empowered to continue their success and studies at the graduate level and beyond. Students will focus on the integration of research with digital art, installation and new media with traditional media. Digital Media Arts (DMA) Advisement Sheet
Expected student learning outcomes
After successful completion of coursework, portfolio reviews, exhibitions, internships and senior thesis projects, students will be able to:
• Organize the advanced elements of the visual language creating harmonious and unique designs for art, advertisement and communication
• Demonstrate the organizational principles that underline the effective manipulation of the optical elements in 2D and 3D space as well as interdisciplinary research and application
• Demonstrate a full command of a variety of software packages and develop creative and effective problem-solving skills in art/technology
• Combine elements of both traditional and digital art-making into a cohesive portfolio and senior exhibition/show
• Develop sound business practices and knowledge as a professional, exhibiting artist/designer/producer
• Produce a successful portfolio and resume for the professional art industry and/or graduate school
FASHION DESIGN: The Fashion Design concentration prepares students for careers in (but not limited to): fashionvdesign, product development, technical design, sourcing, production and fashion illustration. Studentsvalso merge skills in traditional art with technology, marketing/business and design. The new and Fashion Design concentration will provide students seeking with the opportunity to receive current, relevant, real world education to prepare them for a career in the fashion industry. Students are prepared to obtain entry-level positions in the industry requiring specific skills in design, sketching, CAD, product development and garment construction. The objectives of the concentration are to prepare graduates to enter a career in the fashion industry with a focus on design, pattern making/technical design, illustration, product development, sourcing and production. Students will focus primarily on design and development and garment construction, and the integration of computer aided design and product management. Thus making graduates in this area more marketable and in demand. Fashion Design (FASH) Advisement Sheet
Expected student learning outcomes
After successful completion of coursework, portfolio reviews, exhibitions, internships and senior thesis projects, students will be able to:
• Present and express ideas clearly with supporting materials such as mood boards, illustration boards, market research and a broad fashion vocabulary
• Develop fashion figures and technical flats, effectively rendering drape, fabrics, and weight of materials
• Create professional quality presentation boards with fashion sketches, flats and fabric swatches
• Demonstrate full working knowledge of draping and flat pattern techniques
• Demonstrate full working knowledge of garment construction techniques
• Compose flats and patterns with Computer aided design programs
• Construct three dimensional garment s from two dimensional sketches
• Identify all phases and processes of the apparel industry from concept to consumer
• Create a professional and cohesive collection of garments for portfolio
• Compose a professional portfolio demonstrating their sketching, pattern drafting and garment construction knowledge
Please refer to also the complete VCDMA Program & Student Handbook. Students should also review and refer to the VCDMA Senior Thesis Requirements. Be sure to visit and get useful information on portfolio tips here, as well as internships and careers on the VCDMA Resource page
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