Visual Communication Design Curriculum
The BFA in Design, Visual Communication Design program consists of a carefully-arranged sequence of courses that follow a four-year track from the fall semester of a student's year of admission.
VisCom class of 2026, the curriculum listed below is based on starting the program before Fall 2024. Each student's path to graduation is unique. Students should meet with their academic advisor at least once per semester to ensure proper enrollment and track to graduation. In Fall 2024 course numbers changed the old course numbers are in (_).
*Studio Credit Hours have changed from 3cr to 4cr please work with your advisor to see how that affects your Professional Studies Requirement, number of ADS 320 credits, or Concentration requirements. There is flexibility in the number of credits for professional studies/design electives, and concentration credits, please work closely with your advisor.
You must complete ADS 320 at least 3 times for 3 credits total. You must have 120 credit hours to graduate.
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| BDS 101: Think and Make I | 3 |
| BDS 103: Drawing for Design | 3 |
| ADS 325: Design Thinking and Research | 3 |
| KU Core: HA 150/160: Western Art History | 3 |
| KU Core: English 101: Composition | 3 |
| ADS 320: Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 200: Foundations in Typography | 3 |
| ILLU 200: Image Making | 3 |
| ADS 340: History & Philosophy of Design | 3 |
| KU Core: HA 151/161: Western Art History | 3 |
| KU Core: ENGL 102 or ENGL 105 | 3 |
| ADS 320: Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 202: Elements of Type | 3 |
| VISC 204: Principles in Visual Communication | 3 |
| ADS 401: Design Ethics | 3 |
| HA Elective (accreditation requirement) | 3 |
| KU Core: GE12 (Quantitative Literacy) | 3 |
| ADS 320: Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 302: Typographic Systems | 4 |
| VISC 304: Designing Understanding | 4 |
| ADS 300: Fundamentals in UX Design | 3 |
| KU Core: GE22 (Oral Communication) | 3 |
| ADS 320: Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 15cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 405: Branding | 4 |
| Studio Elective or IXD 402 (VISC 404) | 4 |
| Academic Concentration (or Elective) | 3 |
| KU Core: AE41 (Human Diversity) | 3 |
| ADS 320: Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 15cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 402: Design as Author | 4 |
| VISC 430: Portfolio (VISC 530) | 3* |
| Major Studio Elective | 4* |
| KU Core: GE3N (Natural Science) | 3 |
| Academic Concentration/Elective (filled by extra studio hours) | 0 |
| 14cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 465 (VISC 520) (Goal 6) | 4 |
| Major Studio Elective | 4* |
| KU Core: GE3S (Social Science) | 3 |
| ADS 450: Nav. Creative & Legal Landscape | 3 |
| Academic Concentration (filled by extra studio hours) | 0 |
| 14cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 470: Viscom Capstone (VISC 525) | 4 |
| Major Studio Elective | 4* |
| KU Core: ENGL 203, 205, 209, 210, or 211 | 3 |
| Academic Concentration (or Elective) | 3 |
| ADS 455: Senior Show Seminar | 1 |
| 15cr |