The Visual Communications Department (VisCom) is a small and intimate environment where students are challenged to blend conceptual and design skills using the latest technology. Because courses are taught by practicing professionals, the knowledge gained is practical and closely reflects the state of the industry. Our small instructor-to-student ratio guarantees a high level of individual attention from enrollment through graduation.

Our VisCom program prepares students for a range of careers—at entry level and above—with advertising and public relations agencies; graphic design firms; the printing industry; and book, magazine, and catalog publishers. Other opportunities include art direction, music-related marketing, multimedia and web design, and corporate identity design.

The curriculum is both forward-looking and grounded in tradition, encompassing a variety of time-honored print disciplines, as well as more contemporary and technology-driven territory like interactive, experience, and motion graphics. We encourage innovation while stressing strong technical and presentation skills. Students are taught to analyze communication problems and solve them in a creative and effective manner.

Fundamental design principles anchor our VisCom program, as do solid creative and conceptual skills, all of which are also applied toward a variety of more modern techniques and technology. Students design logos, packaging, posters, advertising campaigns, and publications, as well as multimedia/interactive applications and web pages. They also learn illustration techniques, photography, the printing process, industry business practices, and the history of graphic design while receiving thorough instruction in the Macintosh computer system and industry-standard software. All of this is then applied through a customized internship program that exposes our students to the industry—gives them practical, real-world experience—before they graduate.

Laptop Requirement: The approximate cost of $2,000 will be required for the purchase of a laptop and software, although not until a student's second semester. Students will be able to purchase all hardware and software using educational discounts, but they should also research and plan for other potential opportunities to save, such as Tennessee's Sales Tax Holiday.