Visual Communication, B.F.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120-130

Major Hours: 45

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 40


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Program Code: B067

Major Requirements

A grade of C or better is required in all courses taken within the School of Visual Arts.  Portfolio Review is required for admission to the program.

A minimum of 30 Upper-Division Hours are required in the major.

Core Curriculum - Core Courses (9 hours)
ART 1033Core Studio I: Surface3
ART 1043Core Studio II: Space and Time3
ART 3143Core III: Integrated Studio3
Area of Specialization (36 hours)
DES 2633Visual Communication I3
DES 2643Design Technology3
DES 2653Visual Communication II3
DES 2663Typography I3
DES 3633Visual Communication III3
DES 3663Typography II3
DES 3653Visual Communication IV3
DES 3643Integrated Technology3
DES 4643Visual Communication V3
DES 4653Typography III3
DES 4663Visual Communication VI3
DES 4673Professional Practice3
Total Credit Hours45

Major Support Requirements

A grade of C or better is required in all courses taken within the School of Visual Arts. 

Art History (13 hours)
A HI Lower Divison
A HI 1314Introduction to Art History4
A HI Elective, 2000-level course3
A HI Elective, Upper Division
A HI 3673History of Visual Communication3
Choose one A HI Upper Division Course 13
Additional Requirement (24 hours)
Choose one of the following (including 9 hours in upper-division courses):24
Additional OU School of Visual Arts Electives 2
Approved Concentration/Emphasis in Area of Study outside OUSoVA
Total Credit Hours37
1

A HI must be General Educ. approved selected from Core IV. 

2

OU School of Visual Arts electives may include courses offered under any of the following in the OUSoVA: A HI, ART, ARTC, ATC, and DES. At least 3 hours must be Upper-Division in ART, ARTC, ATC, or DES to meet the minimum upper division major requirements. A HI courses do not count towards the major GPA.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses designated as Core I, II, III, IV, or V are part of the General Education curriculum. Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of General Education courses, chosen from the approved list, including at least one upper-division Gen. Ed. course outside of the student's major. Courses graded S/U or P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language
This requirement is not mandatory if the student successfully completed 2 years of the same language in high school - 2 courses (Core I)0-10
Mathematics
Choose one course (Core I) 13
Core Area II: Natural Science
Choose two courses from different disciplines; one must include a laboratory7-8
Core Area III: Social Science
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms
Will be satisfied in Art History Requirements0
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course3
World Culture
Choose one course3
Core Area V: First-Year Experience
Choose one course3
Free Electives
Courses used to fulfill General Education and/or major requirements may not fulfill electives.3-4
Total Credit Hours38-48
1

MATH 1473 is recommended. 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

At least 30 hours of upper-division Art credit must be earned in residence as a declared major. This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement. Unless otherwise stated on the degree sheet, the College of Fine Arts does not permit coursework to fulfill more than one degree requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ART 1033 Core Studio I: Surface 3
ART 1043 Core Studio II: Space and Time 3
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition 3
Choose one of the following: 3
Social Science (Core III)
First-Year Experience (Core V)
Math (Core I) 1 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 0-5
 Credit Hours15-20
Second Semester
Major Support Elective 3
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition
or Expository Writing
3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government 3
Choose one of the following (not previously chosen): 3
Social Science (Core III)
First-Year Experience (Core V)
Western Culture (Core IV) 2 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 0-5
 Credit Hours15-20
Sophomore
First Semester
DES 2633 Visual Communication I 3
DES 2643 Design Technology 3
A HI 1314 Introduction to Art History 4
Major Support Elective 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3-4
 Credit Hours16-17
Second Semester
DES 2653 Visual Communication II 3
DES 2663 Typography I 3
A HI Elective, 2000-level course 3
Major Support Elective 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
DES 3633 Visual Communication III 3
DES 3663 Typography II 3
A HI Elective, upper-division 3 3
ART 3143 Core III: Integrated Studio 3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
DES 3653 Visual Communication IV 3
DES 3643 Integrated Technology 3
A HI 3673 History of Visual Communication 3
Major Support Elective 3
World Culture (Core IV) 2 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
DES 4643 Visual Communication V 3
DES 4653 Typography III 3
Major Support Elective 3
Major Support Elective, upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3-4
 Credit Hours15-16
Second Semester
DES 4663 Visual Communication VI 3
DES 4673 Professional Practice 3
Major Support Elective, upper-division 3
Major Support Elective, upper-division 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120-130
1

MATH 1473 is recommended.

2

The course taken to fulfill the upper-division General Education outside the major requirement may not be chosen from A HI, ARTC, or the crosslisted equivalent. 

3

A HI must be General Education approved selected from Core IV.

4

If a three-hour natural science course is completed, students must complete four hours of free elective to meet the required total of 120 hours for graduation.