Houghton professor working with student in mac lab during media arts class.

Media Arts & Visual Communication Concentration

Explore the complex world of visual media-making.

The Media Arts and Visual Communication concentration combines media theory, critical analysis, cultural studies, and creative studio practice. Students develop skills in photography, animation, graphic design, video production, and digital media while exploring how visual communication shapes culture and society.

Students learn to create visual media that is effective, creative, ethical, and socially engaged. The concentration emphasizes critical thinking, cross-disciplinary connections, and informed approaches to visual media-making. Coursework also explores emerging forms of media creation, distribution, and audience engagement beyond traditional media structures, including video blogs, digital storytelling, interactive media, and other online platforms.

Areas of Study
Students in the Media Arts and Visual Communication concentration explore and apply their skills in areas such as:

Video production and digital filmmaking
Internet, interactive, and emerging media
Social and political visual communication
Graphic design and visual communication
Information design and infographics
Documentary media and personal storytelling
Visual storytelling and narrative
Photography, animation, and creative studio practice
Digital storytelling and online media
Visual communication for nonprofit and community organizations

Through this interdisciplinary approach, students develop the creative, technical, and critical skills needed to produce visual media for a changing media landscape.

Media Arts & Visual Communication Concentration - Degree Requirements

Course Highlights


COMM 243/ART 245 Graphic Design

This course introduces the theory and practice of graphic design communication. Learn the techniques needed to explore 2-D problems and how to interpret verbal language in visual form. You will also get to explore computer design.

COMM/ART 284 Introduction to Digital Imaging

This course introduces the tools and concepts of creating and manipulating images with digital technology. You'll spend time using Adobe Photoshop for projects and engage in class critiques. You will also learn to recognize digital equivalents of traditional art styles, techniques, and forms.

COMM 328 Digital Video II

This course builds on Digital Video I and expands your skills and advanced editing techniques. You'll be introduced to techniques such as multicamera production, compositing, green screen, and videoblogging. You'll be encouraged to prepare film festival submissions and you'll present an outline of cinematic communication history.