Program Overview

Communication Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Description

Communication Arts is the program of narrative illustration and entertainment design. Students in Communication Arts explore the powerful and timeless relationship between art and narrative through drawing. A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts will help to broaden your artistic skills and conceptual understandings while giving you the opportunity to explore and expand your interests in observational drawing, digital image making, concept design, comics and graphic novels, storyboarding, and mixed-media illustration.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts helps develop creative, flexible, and multidisciplinary artists who enjoy greater career possibilities in an increasingly competitive global job market. Our career markets span all opportunities involving narrative illustration and entertainment design including 3D modeling, storyboarding and comics, professional illustration, and visual effects.

Bachelor-level Job Titles

• 3D Environment/Character Artist
• Character Designer
• Comic Book Artist
• Concept Artist
• Game Designer
• Infographics Artist
• Motion Graphics Artist/Animator
• Scientific Illustrator
• Storyboard Artist
• Visual Effects Artist

Graduate and Professional Level Job Titles

• Consultant
• Director of Communications
• Editor
• Public Relations Manager

Degree Requirements

• Highest level of math required: Quantitative Foundations requirement only
• Science required: Natural Sciences requirement only
• Foreign language requirements: No
• Additional tuition/fees: Yes
• GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major): 2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate, 2.0+ major GPA to graduate

Program Structure

The program is designed to be completed with a combination of community college and VCU courses.

Community College Courses

Community college credits transferred to VCU: 32

VCU Courses

• Art Foundation Program: Students must complete the Art Foundation program at VCU or equivalent courses at another institution to be eligible for admission to the Communication Arts degree.
• ARTF 133: Space Research (ART 132 at community college will fulfill this requirement if admitted to VCU Arts) | 3 | Major (Ancillary)
• ARTF 134: Time Studio (ART 130 or ART 133 will fulfill this requirement if you are admitted to VCU Arts) | 3 | Major (Ancillary)
• ARTF 139 or ARTF 138: Project Studio or Project Seminar | 2 | Major (Ancillary)
• Communication Arts major requirements:
  • COAR 201: Drawing Studies: The Figure Observed | 3 | Major
  • COAR 202: Drawing Studies: The Figure in Context | 3 | Major
  • COAR 203: Digital 3D Studio | 3 | Major
  • COAR 300: Illustration: Drawing and Painting | 3 | Major
  • COAR 320: Concept Drawing | 3 | Major
  • COAR 321: Sequential Imaging | 3 | Major
  • COAR 352: History of Visual Communications I | 3 | Major
  • COAR 353: History of Visual Communications II | 3 | Major
  • COAR 464: Senior Portfolio | 3 | Major
  • CREA 350: Piloting the Enterprise | 3 | Major
  • COAR 210: Visual Studies: Design | 3 | Major
  • COAR 211: Fundamentals of Typography | 3 | Major
  • COAR 332 or COAR 432: Digital Drawing or 3D Image and Movement | 3 | Major
  • COAR upper-division electives | 18 | Major
  • Arts upper-division electives | 6 | Major (Ancillary)
  • Upper-division electives | 7 | Major (Ancillary)
  • Open elective | 10 | Elective
  • REAL: The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved "REAL" co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. Credits completed at VCU: 88 Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree: 120