Communication, BA, Concentration: Visual Communication Design

About the Program

We live in a visual society.  The concentration in Visual Communication gives students the opportunity to explore a visual world.  Visual Communicators combine words, images and ideas in original ways to convey information.  The concentration emphasizes real-world problem solving, contemporary creative thinking, design methodology, technique and skill development, industry standard computer technology, and practical ability.

Degree Requirements

• 120 Credit Hours
• Minimum grade of B required for the following courses: AD 10500, AD 10600, AD 11200, AD 11300, AD 22800, AD 22900, AD 30102, and AD 32800; Minimum grade of C required for Free Elective courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation
• Certain courses may only be available at one campus location

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)

• English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 - English Composition I  and ENGL 10500 - English Composition II  
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication  
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits):  Select from the Quantitative Reasoning Core List   
• Natural Sciences (3 Credits):  Select from the Natural Sciences Core List    
• Technology (3 Credits):  Select from the Technology Core List    
• Humanities (3 Credits):  Select from the Humanities Core List   
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): Select from the Social Sciences Core List   
• Additional Credits (3 Credits): Select from any Communications & Creative Arts General Education Core courses - select from Gen Ed Core List ​  
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): COM 10300 - The Freshman Seminar In Communication  

CHESS College Core (24 Credits)

• CHSS 10000 - Topics In Self & World (3 credits)
• CHSS 20000 - Topics In Knowledge (3 credits)
• CHSS 30000 - Topics In Individual & Society (3 credits)
• CHSS 40000 - Topics In Happiness (3 credits)
• World Language - Proficiency through Level IV in one world language (12 Credits)

Major Core (48 Credits)

• AD 10500 - Design I
• AD 10600 - Design II
• AD 11200 - Typography
• AD 11300 - Basic Drawing
• AD 22200 - Introduction to Photography
• AD 22800 - Visual Communication Design Computing I
• AD 22900 - Visual Communication Design Computing II
• AD 30102 - Color And Composition
• AD 32102 - Web Design
• AD 32800 - Visual Communication Design I
• AD 32900 - Visual Communication Design II
• AD 40300 - Portfolio Process And Presentation
• AD 41900 - Motion Graphics
• AD 44800 - Visual Communication Design III
• AD 44900 - Visual Communication Design IV
• COM 30900 - Visual Communication

Other Required Courses (18 Credits)

• Six (6) 30000-level AD, COM, or CGT Electives (18 Credits)

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Total 120 Credits Required

Degree Map

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply.