Communication Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
The curriculum in the sophomore year builds a strong foundation for communication arts majors, with courses in communication theory, visual communications history, the figure, traditional drawing and painting media, typography, and basic communication arts software. The junior year concentrates on the specifics of concept development, photography, sequencing and traditional and digital illustration projects. The senior year offers the opportunity for students to select from a variety of interest areas within the major, including imagery for children, art direction, image and movement, and Web page design. All senior students are required to take a course in business practice and ethics and complete a comprehensive portfolio project.
Communication arts student portfolios and GPAs are reviewed at the end of the sophomore and junior years to determine if the student may continue in the program. The student should present a portfolio that demonstrates, at a minimum, evidence of sufficient progress, competence and potential. In addition, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the major is expected for continuance in the program. In order to take a course, students must pass all required prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of a C.
Degree requirements for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts
Communication arts curriculum
Credits |
|
| University core requirements | |
| ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II | 3 |
| UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
| Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 |
| Approved natural/physical sciences | 3 |
| Approved quantitative literacy | 3 |
| Approved social/behavioral sciences | 3 |
| Additional requirements | |
| Courses in humanities/fine arts, natural/physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences | 9 |
| Supportive credits | |
| ARTF 131 Drawing Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 132 Surface Research | 3 |
| ARTF 133 Space Research | 3 |
| ARTF 134 Time Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 139 Project | 2 |
| COAR 231 Basic Communication Arts Software | 3 |
| COAR 450 Business of Communication Arts | 3 |
| VCU arts electives – upper division | 6 |
| Art history | |
| ARTH 103 Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| ARTH 104 Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| COAR 352 History of Visual Communications I | 3 |
| COAR 353 History of Visual Communications II | 3 |
| Communication arts major requirements | |
| COAR 200 Visual Studies: Drawing | 3 |
| COAR 201 Drawing Studies: The Figure Observed | 3 |
| COAR 202 Drawing Studies: The Figure in Context | 3 |
| COAR 210 Visual Studies: Design | 3 |
| COAR 211 Fundamentals of Typography | 3 |
| COAR 300 Illustration: Drawing and Painting | 3 |
| COAR 320 Concept Drawing | 3 |
| COAR 321 Sequential Imaging | 3 |
| COAR 331 Photographic Principles in Visual Communications | 3 |
| COAR 332 Digital Drawing | 3 |
| COAR 464 Senior Portfolio | 6 |
| Communication arts electives – upper division | 9 |
| Open electives – upper division | 7 |
| Total credits | 120 |
Scientific and preparatory medical illustration curriculum
Credits |
|
| University core requirements | |
| ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II | 3 |
| UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
| Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 |
| Approved natural/physical sciences | 3 |
| Approved quantitative literacy | 3 |
| Approved social/behavioral sciences | 3 |
| Additional requirements | |
| BIOL 152 and BIOL 152L Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory II | 4 |
| BIOL 205 Basic Human Anatomy | 4 |
| CHEM 101 and CHEZ 101L General Chemistry and Laboratory I | 4 |
| Supportive credits | |
| ARTF 131 Drawing Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 132 Surface Research | 3 |
| ARTF 133 Space Research | 3 |
| ARTF 134 Time Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 139 Project | 2 |
| COAR 231 Basic Communication Arts Software | 3 |
| COAR 450 Business of Communication Arts | 3 |
| BIOL 151 and BIOL 151L Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory I | 4 |
| BIOL/PHIS 206 and BIOZ/PHIZ 206L Human Physiology and Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 218 Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 301 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 5 |
| CHEM 102 and CHEZ 102L General Chemistry and Laboratory II | 4 |
| Art history | |
| ARTH 103 Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| ARTH 104 Survey of Western Art | 3 |
| COAR 352 History of Visual Communications I | 3 |
| COAR 353 History of Visual Communications II | 3 |
| Communication arts major requirements | |
| COAR 201 Drawing Studies: The Figure Observed | 3 |
| COAR 202 Drawing Studies: The Figure in Context | 3 |
| COAR 300 Illustration: Drawing and Painting | 3 |
| COAR 320 Concept Drawing | 3 |
| COAR 321 Sequential Imaging | 3 |
| COAR 331 Photographic Principles in Visual Communications | 3 |
| COAR 332 Digital Drawing | 3 |
| COAR 341 Scientific Illustration | 3 |
| COAR 464 Senior Portfolio | 6 |
| Communication arts electives – upper division | 9 |
| Total credits | 124 |