Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Visual Communication, Digital and Media Arts (VCDMA) Advertising Design Concentration, BS

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The Advertising Design (ADVD) concentration 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 students an overview of the business of art/design. The objectives of the concentration are to prepare graduates to enter a career in visual communication (design) with a focus on print-based advertising, graphics, web/online 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.

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

General Education and Institutional Requirements

See the full list of University General Education and Institutional Requirements and BSU website/catalog for all options and any updates.

English Composition (6 semester hours)

Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours)

• ____ ___ Arts and Humanities Electives 3 Credits (Students in VCDMA will take VCDM 230)

• ____ ___ Arts and Humanities Electives 3 Credits (Students in VCDMA will take THEA 100/105

Science (7-8 semester hours; at least one of which shall be a laboratory course)

• ____ ___ Science Elective 3/4 Credits

• ____ ___ Science Elective w/laboratory course 4 Credits

Mathematics (3 semester hours)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 semester hours)

Technology (3 semester hours)

Free General Education Electives (9 Semester Hours)

Institutional Requirements (6 semester hours)

Total General Education Requirements:  46 semester hours

 All Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and VCDMA majors in the DFPA must pass all major courses (ART, ENGL, VCDM, THEA, COMM, MGMT, MKTG, MUSC & THEA as applicable) w/grade of “C” or better; maintain a 2.0 GPA in major

*Transfer students bringing in 12 credits or more can substitute the Freshman Seminar requirement with another (3) credit course not being used

DPFA Requirements

See the full list of University General Education and Institutional Requirements for all options.

Note:

All VCDMA majors must pass all major courses (ART, ENGL, VCDM, THEA, MGMT, MKTG, MUSC & THEA) w/grade of “C” or better; maintain a 2.0 GPA in major

VCDMA Foundation Requirements

VCDMA Portfolio Reviews, Internship and Senior Thesis Requirements

ART/VCDM History Requirements

Choose any (4) four courses, see where indicated for concentration; 12 credits total

ENGL (3rd) required course from LLC (200/300 level), 3 credits needed:

Suggested Additional Coursework (Not Required)

Advertising Design Concentration (ADVD)

Sample Program

Freshman Year

First Semester

Total: 15

Second Semester

Total: 15

Sophomore Year

First Semester

Total: 15

Second Semester

Total: 16

Note:

ADVANCE TO CANDIDACY

** VCDM 219 PORTFOLIO REVIEW & ASSESSMENT (1st Review): Students must submit a portfolio and successfully pass the 1st and 2nd portfolio review/assessment. In addition, they must submit a senior thesis proposal, min. 2 pages, typed with sketches, references, storyboards, etc. (as applicable to concentration/focus). See Advisor or Program Coordinator for details and portfolio review form. Must be reviewed by min. of (3) full-time, VCDMA faculty. * A successful portfolio is a requirement for graduation.

 

Junior Year

First Semester

Total: 15

IMPORTANT: Students must begin their senior thesis body of work (film, animation, fashion collection, installation, project, etc.)  in their junior year and after approval of senior thesis proposal and successfully passing the portfolio review (VCDM 219) and other courses in concentration and major. This work is due the semester before graduation and must be successfully completed, reviewed, and approved by faculty a min. of (1) one semester before a student will be allowed to take the VCDM 498 Senior Thesis Exhibition. Consult with advisor, coordinator, and faculty.

Second Semester

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

Total: 15

Second Semester

Total: 14 - 16

TOTAL CREDITS: 120

Note:

**VCDM 498 requires prior approval. Students must begin their senior thesis body of work in their junior year and after approval of the senior thesis proposal (VCDM 219) and completion of other required courses in concentration as well as all foundation courses. This work is due the semester before graduation. It must be successfully completed, reviewed, and approved by faculty a min. of (1) one semester before a student will be allowed to take VCDM 498 Senior Thesis Exhibition. See Senior Thesis requirements.

***Students must maintain and submit a final portfolio and successfully pass both the 1st and 2nd portfolio review/assessment (VCDM 219 & 419) in the VCDMA major. In addition, they must submit a senior thesis proposal, min. 2 pages, typed with sketches, references, storyboards, etc. See the Advisor or Program Coordinator for details and the portfolio review form. Must be reviewed and approved by the VCDMA coordinator and FT faculty (3 min.)

A successful portfolio is a requirement for graduation checklist, check off and complete for all concentrations (all must be completed) including courses and requirements above and/or successfully passed and approved by faculty advisor and/or Program Coordinator.

____ Completion of all foundation and lower-level ART/VCDM courses

____ Passing all major/concentration courses in sequence, with a “C” (2.0) GPA or better; last 30 credits at BSU

____ 1st Required Faculty Portfolio Review (VCDM 219 passed); Y | N When:

____ Senior thesis proposal and sketches, storyboards, etc. (typed and approved)

____ Senior thesis proposal (typed and approved) Y | N

____ Senior thesis proposal exhibition; passing of VCDM 498 Senior Thesis Exhibition course

____ 2nd Required Faculty Portfolio Review (VCDM 419 passed); Y | N When:

____ Internship/Apprenticeship (s) and VCDM 491 Internship course. Where/When:  

 

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