Become a Leader in Brand Development and Design

Step into a fulfilling position where you will gain the skills to produce client branding, single ads or campaigns in print, broadcast and interactive media by targeting specific marketing audiences. Engage in proficiencies such as layout and storyboarding, creating headlines and copywriting, and video and master the conceptual process from sketching a concept to finalizing a professionally produced product.

man speaking to two women with computer in gallery setting

Is this Program a Good Fit for You?

Visual communication students are typically interested in:

  • Graphic design and illustration
  • Art direction
  • New media
  • Advertising and promotion

See Yourself Succeed with a Degree In Visual Communication

Young adult squished into a subway train, but still enjoying their handheld video game system.

Award-winning Work

You will enter competitions and showcases to display your skills and potentially win awards. Students have won national and international competitions and earned awards from Adobe Achievement Awards, The One Show, American Advertising Federation and Graphis, among others.

Student smiling around many computers.

Creative Spaces

Our diverse and collaborative spaces offer multiple creative student outlets including state of the art computer labs, access to hi-end video equipment and alternative makers space equipment.

Mac computers showcasing digital media in a gallery.

Senior Exit Show

Upon graduation, you will participate in the Senior Exit Show, where your work will be displayed for professionals and alumni to view. In the past, students have received multiple job offers during the event.

Faculty of the art department in a gallery. Starting from the left Joshua Ege, Virgil Scott, Lee Hackett, Carlos Hernandez and Casey McGarr.

Career Readiness

Distinguished faculty and design professionals guide your development to help you acquire expertise, versatility and the experience needed to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world.

Male instructor pointing at whiteboard with students watching

Our Alumni

woman screen printing manually

What You Will Learn

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication with an Art Direction emphasis will offer you the opportunity to:

  • Cultivate your imagination and build a creative process
  • Learn from industry professionals and accomplished, recognized faculty
  • Access to computer labs and video equipment to produce your concepts
  • Apply conceptual thinking and visual problem-solving to acquire expertise
  • Participate in student competitions and internships
  • Build a dynamic portfolio

Careers

Courses in the Art Direction emphasis challenge you to become an effective communicator and work closely with designers and photographers. You will be well-prepared to step into the professional world with the confidence and skill set to work in industries such as advertising, brand development, interactive media, and art direction.

Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries

Creative Director
$126,637
Senior Art Director
$157,629
Media Director
$94,815
Storyboard Director
$133,015
Senior Copy Writer
$80,383

Data from Glassdoor/US DOL statistics

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A Degree in Visual Communication – Art Direction will offer you the opportunity to:

  • Focus on an applied conceptual skill set and develop conceptual thinking, visual problem-solving and an understanding of the creative process.
  • Learn to be a creative team leader and target specific market audiences to produce client branding, single ads and campaigns in the form of print, broadcast and interactive media.
  • Gain proficiency in creating headlines, copy, layout and storyboarding by partnering with copywriters, designers, photographers and illustrators.
  • Work on client-driven projects such as packaging, paper systems and visual branding development.
  • Pairs creative thinking and refined design skills with computer-based multimedia and motion design. Study how to create motion graphics, modeling, animation, video, gaming concepts, interactive web and mobile apps.
large group in art gallery with computer screens

Course Delivery and resources

Face-to-face classes are led by engaged faculty and industry professionals to provide instruction and mentorship to help find your point of difference.

First-year and Sophomore-level courses are taught on the Commerce campus. All upper-level Visual Communication courses are offered in Dallas where students are introduced to the dynamic design community of one of the nation's most vibrant cities. Shuttle service between the Commerce campus and Dallas allows students to reside in Commerce while attending classes in Dallas.

Undergraduate Program Costs

Program Costs

Tuition and fees for undergraduate students taking 12 credit hours are $4,212 for Texas residents and $9,108 for non-residents.

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  • 8750 N Central Expy.
  • Dallas, TX 75231

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