Visual Communications

Visual Communication students are encouraged to be creative while emphasizing strong technical and presentation skills.

At the freshman and sophomore levels, students gain a background in design history, theory, and current visual communication practices. Students use this knowledge and understanding to experiment and develop their own design approaches as they design advertising campaigns, logos, other product packaging, posters, publications, web page layouts, and more. Visual communication students also develop skill sets to utilize the printing process, web design skills, and produce materials for their portfolios. Visual communication courses at Wade College are taught in a graphics laboratory/studio using the latest hardware and industry specific software, which is continually updated. Current Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are stressed. Typography as it relates to message, medium, product, and the impact on the marketplace is emphasized. Classroom facilities include iMac computers equipped with scanners, laser printers, and online access to databases and the Internet. Students improve their technical and conceptual skills while developing a personal creative vision. All graduating visual communication students at the associate-degree level express their design philosophies in a finished portfolio presented during the Wade College Professional Portfolio Critique. Additionally, students may showcase their work in various art contests and competitions and have the opportunity to gain experience during markets at Dallas Market Center during the year.

At the junior and senior level, students will be engaged in simulated real-world challenges and immersed in a focused curriculum of design thinking, design practice, and innovative technology. The program challenges students with issues pertaining to context, content, aesthetics, design constraints, social responsibility, and behavioral science. Brand identity, brand marketing, advertising, and web design are a focus. Upper division courses transform students into professionals who can design engaging and purposeful pieces that communicate effectively and strategically across diverse target audiences while incorporating a concern for the environment and society at large. The development of diverse skills such as critical thinking, professional procedures, professional practices, and communication skills that include verbal, written, and visual formats will empower students to attain significant positions in the workforce. Major courses address areas like advanced web design, design for small digital media, art direction, and advanced design methodologies. Upon completion of the visual communication degree, students should have the skill sets to secure employment opportunities within a visual communication or related field, communicate professionally using appropriate aesthetic and design principles for the business environment, and make significant contributions to the industry and community by supporting their peers and juniors in a mentoring role. Mastery of the field is demonstrated by all graduating baccalaureate-level students in a formal presentation at the Wade College Professional Portfolio Critique.

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Associate of Science Degree Program

General Education

AS	ARTS 1301	Art Appreciation I
AS	BCIS 1305	Business Computer Applications
AS	ENGL 1301	Composition I
AS	MATH 1332	Contemporary Mathematics I
AS	PSYC 2301	Psychology I
AS	SPCH 1311	Introduction to Communication

Core Curriculum

AS	ARTS 1311	Design I
AS	ARTS 1316	Drawing I
AS	BUSI 1301	Business Principles
AS	BUSI 2301	Business Law I
AS	MGMT 2370	Principles of Management
AS	MRKT 2370	Principles of Marketing
AS	SUCC 0095	Career & Life Planning
AS	SUCC 0099	Portfolio Design and Presentation

Major Courses

AS	ARTS 1370	Survey of Graphic Design
AS	ARTS 1371	Typography
AS	ARTS 2313	Digital Image Manipulation
AS	ARTS 2314	Computer Illustration
AS	ARTS 2370	Desktop Publishing
AS	GRPH 2377	Web Design Basics
AS	GRPH 2380	Visual Communications Studio
AS	MRKT 1371	Visual Branding and Store Planning I

Associate of Science in Merchandise Marketing and Management

This program is designed to be completed in 60 weeks.

This program will cost $33,525.00 if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $18,002.00 of debt.

The following States do not have licensure requirements for this profession: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Marshall Islands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Marianas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Direct-Entry Bachelor of Science Degree Program

General Education

AS	ARTS 1301	Art Appreciation I
AS	BCIS 1305	Business Computer Applications
AS	ENGL 1301	Composition I
AS	MATH 1332	Contemporary Mathematics I
AS	PSYC 2301	Psychology I
AS	SPCH 1311	Introduction to Communication
BS	ARTS 2303	Art Appreciation II
BS	ENGL 1302	Composition II
BS	MATH 1333	Contemporary Mathematics II
BS	PSYC 2303	Psychology II
BS	COMM 2315	Public Speaking

Core Curriculum

AS	ARTS 1311	Design I
AS	ARTS 1316	Drawing I
AS	BUSI 1301	Business Principles
AS	BUSI 2301	Business Law I
AS	MGMT 2370	Principles of Management
AS	MRKT 2370	Principles of Marketing
AS	SUCC 0095	Career & Life Planning
AS	SUCC 0099	Portfolio Design & Presentation I
BS	ARTS 1312	Design II
BS	ARTS 1317	Drawing II
BS	BUSI 2377	Global Business
BS	GRPH 2374	Advanced Design Methodologies
BS	GRPH 2375	Topics in Visual Communication
BS	MRKT 2377	Branding
BS	SUCC 0199	Portfolio Design & Presentation II

Major Courses

AS	ARTS 1370	Survey of Graphic Design
AS	ARTS 1371	Typography
AS	ARTS 2313	Digital Image Manipulation
AS	ARTS 2314	Computer Illustration
AS	ARTS 2370	Desktop Publishing
AS	GRPH 2377	Web Design Basics
AS	GRPH 2380	Visual Communications Studio
AS	MGMT 2378	Supply Chain Management
AS	MRKT 1371	Visual Branding and Store Planning I
BS	ARTS 2376	Photographic Applications
BS	ARTS 2377	Vector Graphics
BS	GRPH 2372	Art Direction
BS	GRPH 2376	Small Media Strategies
BS	GRPH 2378	Video Editing
BS	GRPH 2379	Advanced Web Design
BS	MRKT 2374	Digital Marketing
BS	MRKT 2375	Trend Forecasting
BS	MRKT 2376	Social Media Marketing
BS	MRKT 2378	Product Development and Manufacturing

Direct-Entry Bachelor of Science in Merchandise Marketing and Management

This program is designed to be completed in 120 weeks.

This program will cost $68,275.00 if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $N/A of debt. (There have been no graduates from this program as the first matriculating students into the program were admitted in the fall 2016 trimester.)

Post-Associate Bachelor of Science Degree Program

General Education

BS	ARTS 2303	Art Appreciation II
BS	COMM 2315	Public Speaking
BS	ENGL 1302	Composition II
BS	MATH 1333	Contemporary Mathematics II
BS	PSYC 2303	Psychology II

Core Curriculum

BS	ARTS 1312	Design II
BS	ARTS 1317	Drawing II
BS	BUSI 2377	Global Business
BS	GRPH 2374	Advanced Design Methodologies
BS	GRPH 2375	Topics in Visual Communication
BS	MRKT 2377	Branding
BS	SUCC 0199	Portfolio Design & Presentation II

Major Courses

BS	ARTS 2376	Photographic Applications
BS	ARTS 2377	Vector Graphics
BS	GRPH 2372	Art Direction
BS	GRPH 2376	Small Media Strategies
BS	GRPH 2379	Advanced Web Design
BS	MRKT 2374	Digital Marketing
BS	MRKT 2375	Trend Forecasting
BS	MRKT 2376	Social Media Marketing
BS	MRKT 2378	Product Development and Manufacturing

Post-Associate Bachelor of Science in Merchandise Marketing and Management

This program is designed to be completed in 120 weeks.

This program will cost $70,350.00 if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $27,112.00 of debt.