Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog Program: Visual Communication Technology, BST
This is for planning purposes only, please check with your advisor with questions about your degree progress

Visual Communication Technology, BST

The Visual Communication Technology major prepares students in the processes used to transmit ideas and concepts through visual technology media. The major offers theory and practice in the computer applications of cross media, including interactive media, print, video, and photography. With the help of a faculty advisor, each student selects an area for specialization from numerous career opportunities. The program proceeds through a framework of analyzing and applying the many methods of creating, reproducing, and distributing visual communication materials. Students ultimately combine concepts, theories, and principles with critical and creative technical problem-solving abilities to generate solutions for visual communication problems.

By developing the ability to solve visual communication technology problems, students will be prepared for such technological production and management positions as graphic coordinator, digital media specialist, video producer or editor, interactive media producer, print/video/photo sales representative, or printing/publishing plant manager. Supervised cooperative work experience provides students with “real world” experience in their area of interest.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in the visual communication technology major are expected to:

  • Demonstrate critical-thinking skills as they relate to solving visual technology problems;
  • Conceptualize and implement a visual technology solution in several media modes;
  • Demonstrate operational level skill ability in each of the visual media areas of VCT;
  • Research and produce an organized written rationale for using a specific medium to solve a specific visual technology problem;
  • Apply knowledge of industrial applications to visual communication related technologies.

BG Perspective (BGP) Requirements

Must complete at least 1 course in each of the following:

   English Composition and Oral Communication
   _____________________________    ________

   Quantitative Literacy
   _____________________________    ________

Must Complete at least 2 courses in each of the following:

   Humanities and the Arts
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________    

   Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                      

   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                        

Complete total required BGP credit hours by selecting courses from any of the above categories:

   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                    

University Requirements

Designated courses in Humanities and the Arts and the Social and Behavioral Sciences domains may be used to fulfill both the BGP requirement and one of the following university requirements:

Cultural Diversity in the US    ____________
International Perspective       ____________

Composition Requirement:
WRIT 1120                             

Total BGP Credits: Must be at least 36                      

Courses Required for Major

Cooperative Education

(2 Hours)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
TECH 3890 - Cooperative Education
TECH 4890 - Cooperative Education

Core

(24 Hours)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
VCT 1030 - Introduction to Visual Communication Technology %
VCT 1040 - Problem Solving for Visual Media %
VCT 2040 - Concepts of Visual Communication %
VCT 2080 - Digital Print Media
VCT 2660 - Front-End Web Development
VCT 2680 - Video Fundamentals
VCT 2820 - Introduction to Photography
VCT 4670 - Visual Communication Technology Synthesis *

Career Concentration

Cross-media Coursework

(15 Credits)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
VCT 3080 - Cross-Media Convergence
VCT 3090 - Digital File Integration for Print and Online Environments
VCT 3660 - Web and Mobile Interactivity
VCT 3690 - Intermediate Video Production
VCT 3820 - Advanced Photography

Concentration Electives

(15 Hours)

6 hours must be 3000-4000 level VCT courses. Additional 9 hours must be either VCT or TECH 3000-4000 level courses.

  • VCT
  • VCT
  • VCT/TECH
  • VCT/TECH
  • VCT/TECH

Total Hours: 30

Other Required Courses

General Electives

(8 Hours, up to 15 hours as needed to reach 122 hours)

Consider courses from ARTD, CS, ESHP, IS, MDIA, MUCT, MKT, TECH, THRM.

University Requirements

(19 Hours)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
CS 1010 - Introduction to Python Programming %

 

STAT 2000 - Using Statistics **

or

MATH 1150 - Introduction to Statistics **

 

COMM 1020 - Introduction to Public Speaking **

or

COMM 3060 - Interpersonal Communication for Non-Majors

 

TECH 3020 - Technology Systems in Societies **

 

ENG 3880 - Introductory Technical Writing

or

BA 2030 - Effective Business Communication

 

MATH 1190 - Real World Math Skills ** (or higher)

Business Requirements

(9 Hours)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ACCT 2000 - Accounting Concepts for Nonbusiness Students (or higher)
MKT 3000 - Principles of Marketing for Non-Business Majors **
MGMT 3050 - Principles of Organization and Management

Total Minimum Program Hours: 122

** These courses may be also used to meet BG Perspective requirements, but hours are counted only once.

* This course can only be taken during your last semester.

# See the Undergraduate Catalog

NOTES:

  • Career Concentration must be approved by your advisor.
  • Students must take 40 hours at 3000-4000 level.
  • Matriculation courses are shown with an %.
  • Students must take a minimum of 122 credit hours to graduate in VCT.

VCT Career Concentration

6 hours must be 3000-4000 level VCT courses. Additional 9 hours must be either VCT or TECH 3000-4000 level courses:

General Elective options may be selected in consultation with your advisor/faculty mentor.

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
VCT 3500 - User Experience
VCT 4040 - Research in Visual Communication Technology
VCT 4090 - Advanced Print and Packaging Technologies
VCT 4650 - Commercial Photography
VCT 4690 - Advanced Video Production
VCT 4820 - Advanced Concepts of Multimedia Production
VCT 4840 - Augmented and Virtual Reality Technologies
TECH 4890 - Cooperative Education (Students may choose an additional co-op as a career concentration course.)
TECH 3000 - Computer-Mediated Communication
TECH 3200 - Adult Learning in Technological Settings
TECH 4000 - Supervisory Practices in Technological Settings
TECH 4210 - Technology Forecasting: Emerging Technologies and Innovation
TECH 4230 - Digital Rights & Access Management
TECH 4240 - Media Usability Studies
TECH 4300 - Development of Training Programs
TECH 4400 - Project Management in Technological Settings

College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering General Information for all students in the College

In addition to completing all requirements, students are responsible for:

Matriculation

Full admittance to a major in a College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering program will become effective when a student has:

  1. Attained an overall BGSU grade point average of at least 2.25 for all courses taken prior to applying for matriculation and a 2.5 in courses in the major;
  2. Completed with a grade of “C” or better in all courses with %, as specified on program checksheets;
  3. Applied for matriculation. Applications are available from the Undergraduate Student Services Office.

The steps listed above must be completed before students will be permitted to register for 3000- and 4000-level courses in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering.

Co-op

All students in the College are required to complete 1 to 3 co-ops, depending on your major. THIS IS A COURSE. It carries credit and is graded. It is full time (40 hrs/week) for the entire semester or part-time (20 hrs/week) for two consecutive semesters, paid and must be directly related to your major. All students MUST complete the Co-op Orientation.

Email

Official University email accounts are required for all BGSU students. Official BGSU email addresses are in the form: BGSUusername@ bgsu.edu. At the time of admission or initial registration, all students will receive a bgsu.edu email account. Students may anticipate that official University correspondence will be sent to this email account and they should access BGSU email on a regular and timely basis. All correspondence from Undergradute Student Services will be sent to your BGSU email.

Checksheet

The checksheet should be used in conjunction with the degree audit and advising to track progress toward degree completion.

Notes: