This visual communication degree offers a comprehensive opportunity to investigate the intersection of graphic, interaction, and motion design. You will focus on conceptualizing and creating user-centered design wherever there is a screen or digital experience. This can include mobile phones, automotive instrument panels, medical devices, wearables, and more. This major reinforces the importance of user experience design by combining insight from all areas of design. Choose to focus your studies or combine course sequences from communication design, interaction design, motion design, and design studies. By combining historical, communication and aesthetic theory, principles, and creativity, your work will anticipate design evolution and lead innovation.

The MFA in visual communication design focuses on all areas of design, including graphic design, user experience/interaction design, design studies, motion graphics, and 3D digital design. The changing landscape of people’s everyday interactions has blurred the lines between respected design fields, giving designers new responsibilities to shape experiences. The MFA program embraces this new technology through its curriculum, which addresses these merging skill sets.In our visual communication design degree, you'll shape interactive experiences by integrating graphic design, user experience design, design studies, motion graphics, and 3D digital design into your work.

An Integrated Visual Communication Design Degree

The MFA in visual communication design provides a learning environment for the advancement in innovative research, user-centered design, and professional practice by focusing on the creative potentials of visual communication through a full spectrum of media. You will advance your design knowledge and technical skills by choosing an option in communication design, interaction design, or motion and 3D digital design.

The cross-disciplinary nature of the program offers a greater potential to foster innovation and creativity in visual communication design. The program reflects the current views and changes occurring in the professional design field. The skill sets required of graphic, interactive, and digital design have now crossed over and are interrelated.

Visual Communication Design, MFA degree, typical course sequence
Course    Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
VCDE-701    Design History Seminar    3
VCDE-706    3D Modeling and Motion    3
VCDE-707    Web and UI Design    3
VCDE-708    Typography    3
VCDE-709    Digital Design in Motion    3
VCDE-712    Design Studies Seminar    3
Choose one of the following:    
3
   VCDE-718       Project Design and Implementation     
   VCEE-722    
   Design Praxis I
 
     
Professional Electives
6
     
Open Elective
3
Second Year
VCDE-746    Professional Practices    3
VCDE-790    Thesis Research and Planning    3
VCDE-890    Thesis: Implementation and Evaluation    6
     
Professional Electives
9
     
Open Electives
9
Total Semester Credit Hours    
60
 

Professional Electives
Course
IGME-609    Programming for Designer
VCDE-617    Experimental Workshop
VCDE-621    Character Design and Rigging
VCDE-622    3D Environment Design
VCDE-626    Physical Interface Design
VCDE-627    Real Time Design
VCDE-628    3D Particles and Dynamics
VCDE-633    Hard Surface Modeling
VCDE-636    3D Motion Design
VCDE-702    
Material and Methods for Advanced Graphics
VCDE-717    Design Systems
VCDE-723    Interaction Design
VCDE-726    Design Praxis II
VCDE-728    Motion Graphics
VCDE-731    3D Visual Design
VCDE-732    Branding and Identity Design
VCDE-733    Digital Media Integration
VCDE-736    Design Systems Intensive
VCDE-737    UX Design Strategies
VCDE-741    Experiential Graphic Design
VCDE-742    Information Design
VCDE-799    Visual Communication Design Independent Study

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MFA program in visual communication design, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for information on application deadlines, entry terms, and more.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of recommendation are required. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
• Not all programs require the submission of scores from entrance exams (GMAT or GRE). Please refer to the Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements page for more information.
• Submit a portfolio. Refer to Graduate Portfolio Requirements for more information.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for additional information on English requirements. International applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver. Refer to Additional Requirements for International Applicants to review waiver eligibility.

Portfolio

The portfolio, along with written records of achievements and recommendations, serves to inform the faculty of the applicant’s readiness for advanced graduate study. It provides understanding into the applicant’s performance to date, ability to create advanced, self-directed work and his/her aesthetic development and maturity. Please visit the Graduate Portfolio Requirements page to learn more about portfolio requirements and submission information.

Visual Communication Design MFA: Portfolio Content

As part of the entrance requirements, applicants must demonstrate an understanding of design principles and visual computer skills using Adobe products. A portfolio of 10-15 examples must demonstrate a good sense of design, typography, and illustration in addition to the applicant’s interests in and aptitudes for advanced study and, specifically, potential for success at RIT. The examples can include a range of media, methods and subject matter. Applicants are encouraged to submit only their best original work. Applicants should not submit work copied from film, television, photographs, magazine/book illustrations or other sources.

Submission Details:

Applicants should submit their portfolio online using the SlideRoom website. Learn more about SlideRoom

No hard copy portfolios, DVDs, or any other materials sent through the mail will be considered. 

Please email Graduate Admissions if you are unable to upload your portfolio in SlideRoom.

Tuition fee-2 years1,06,000

Total fee-2 years1,44,000