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updated Jan 2020 jjagger
Whether your career goal is to start your own freelance business, to advance your career in an existing business, or to continue your education at a four-year institution, the Visual Communications program can be a stepping stone on your path to success.
Visual communications students learn to communicate messages, emotions, and ideas through the use of images and words. Students gain experience with computer illustration, design, interactivity and photography. Visual communications courses emphasize both the technical and aesthetic aspects of good design. Students also have the opportunity to participate in field study to experience first-hand the daily operations and organizations of a successful studio. Students also develop an exit portfolio which they present verbally to a jury.
credentials
credentials
Here is an overview of the certificates and degrees we award at Ivy Tech Community College. "Associate of Science" is a direct-transfer degree into a 4-year institution. Click on the credential to view the official statewide curriculum.
Technical Certificate
Technical Certificate
24 credit hours
Associate of Applied Science
Associate of Applied Science
60 credit hoursConcentration in: Graphic Design • Web Design • Web Development
Visual Communications - Photography
60 credit hoursAssociate of Science (Transfer)
Associate of Science (Transfer)
60 credit hours
coursework
coursework
Classes on the left are required coursework for our technical and associate degrees. Classes on the right are technical electives our students get the choose from. Complete and official curriculum guides can be found here.
Required Coursework
- Basic Photography
- Fundamentals of Design
- Video and Sound
- Interactive Design
- Typography
- Intro to Computer Graphics
- Electronic Imaging
- Portfolio Presentation
- Electronic Illustration
Sample Elective Set I - Choose 2 Courses (complete list here)
Web Site Development • Network Communications • Server-side Scripting Language and Tools • Intro to UX/UI • Mobile Apps I • Web Design I
Sample Elective Set II - Choose 3 Courses (complete list here)
UX/UI Design • Mobile Apps II • Web Design II • Advanced UX/UI • Internship • Digital Process and Workflow
First year students
First year students
PHOT 104: Basic Photography
Camera Basics • Camera skills • Exposure techniques: aperture and shutter speeds • Focal length • Incident and reflective light meter readings • Depth of field • Focal systems • Filters • ISO • Output/Finishing Techniques • Filters Special effects • Enlarging, cropping and resizing • Image processing • Lighting Direction and quality of light • Presentation: Matting • Mounting techniques • Archival processesVISC 101: Fundamentals of Design
Elements of design: line, shape, space, pattern/texture, motion, value & color • Principles of design: balance, unity, emphasis/focal point, rhythm, & scale/proportion • Color Theory • Composition • Concept development • Problem solving • Historical application to design • The importance of craft and execution • The creative process • CritiquesSDEV 120: Computing Logic
Algorithms and Algorithm Development • Logic Development • Math Concepts • Numbering Systems: Binary, Decimal, Hexadecimal • Basic Programming Control Structures • Flowcharting and Pseudocode • Relational and Logical Operators • Order of Precedence • Truth Tables and Decision Trees • Data Validation • Scripting • Work Ethic • Software Development Life Cycle • Deductive and Inductive Logic • Set Theory • Logic Structures • Fuzzy Logic and Ladder Logic • Logic Gate Theory • Puzzles and Games • Graphing • Unified Modeling LanguageVISC 105: Video and Sound
Creative skills--creating scripts and storyboards, directing the production • Technical skills--a broad range of cameras, lighting, sound, editing software, coordinating video shoot. • Students gain experience in studio and remote location techniques. • Post-production activities: voice-over narrative, distribution, social media.VISC 110: Interactive Design
Content Management Systems • Various social media platforms • SEO strategies • Domain names• User Experience/User Interface • Online Marketing SolutionsVISC 113: Typography
Typography definition, terms and history• Awareness/appreciation of typography’s importance/prevalence.• Hand comping (tracing, transferring, cutting) of letterforms, words, phrases, etc. with various media • Font terminology • Parts of letterforms • Relating typefaces to subject matter • Creating emphasis (italic, bold, scale, etc.) with typography • Fine tuning the look of type (words, word space, paragraphs, placement, etc.) • Proofreading marks • Basic typesetting using the computer (headlines, hanging punctuation, setting paragraphs, automated tools, justification, etc.) • Using greeking to estimate copy placementVISC 115: Intro to Computer Graphics
Computer competency • Computer operating system • Hardware components • Fundamental type formatting • File formats • Vector-based graphics• Tool operation • Color selection • Laying out a document • Transparency • Layers • Gradients• Paths• Text and paragraph styles • Master pagesSecond year students
Second year students
VISC 201: Electronic Imagining
Basic concepts • vector and raster images • resolution basics • interpolation methods • resizing • color modes • Monitor calibration issues • icc profiles • Scanner issues • calibrating a color and grayscale scan • Importing and exporting images • Selection methods • Using paths • Using the painting, editing tools • The text tool • illustrative effects • Color swatches, palettes, pickers • Filters • Image manipulation • Digital camerasVISC 207: Portfolio Preparation
Self-assessment • Interviewing techniques • Resume • package writing • Acceptable digital and hard copy • industry standards • Self-promotion and/or social media presence • Interviewing and professional presenceVISC 216: Electronic Illustration
Pen tool applications • Brush tool applications • Blends • Graphing techniques • Clipping masks • Opacity masks • Compound paths • Creating and editing shapes • Pattern brushes • Gradients
student body
student body
The most recent demographic data from our students. Note: This is only for the Indianapolis/Central Indiana campus and surrounding service sites of Avon, Lawrence, Noblesville, Greencastle, Mooresville, Franklin, and Shelbyville.
Total Students
258
(based on Spring 2019 data)258
Part Time Status
93%
(determined annually, <9 cr. hrs. each semester)93%
Retention
70%
(Fall-to-Spring semester enrollments)70%
Sophomore Standing
28%
(30+ credit hours completed in this program)28%
Last Semester's Awarded Credentials
13
13
Ready to Talk?
Ready to Talk?
Contact the School of IT Career Development Coach, Jessica Jagger, today via phone, LinkedIN, or email.
317.921.4972
/in/jessicadjagger
jjagger@ivytech.edu
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