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Visual Communications B.A.

Study visual communications from a multidimensional perspective, preparing for creative careers in a variety of visual, digital, print, motion, immersive and emerging fields.
A woman holds a camera to her eye as she takes photo on a farm with cows in the foreground and large red tractor parked in the background.
A student photographer shoots an image on a farm during the visual communications department's annual Alexia Fall Workshop.

About this Program

  • Choose from five tracks—cinematography, commercial and advertising photography, design, editorial photography and photojournalism, or emerging—and let your passions drive your path.
  • Start with required courses in graphic design and photography, then build your path with electives that may surprise you.
  • Learn how photography, videography, cinematography and design intersect and depend on each other in the professional world.
  • Build a foundation in entrepreneurship, business, communications law and ethics alongside your creative coursework.
  • Take part in immersive programs like the Alexia Fall Workshop and Pixels and Print, where industry professionals coach you through real design and storytelling challenges.
  • Develop your skills in professional settings through internships in Syracuse and across the world during the summer.
  • Build your career network with successful alumni who regularly visit campus to talk about the industry and share internship and job leads.
  • Gain practical experience at student-run media organizations, where you can design websites, shoot and edit photos and videos, or explore other creative storytelling.
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Program Information

Degree Type

Major

Outcome

B.S.

Modality

In-person

College or School

Related Pages

Entrance of Newhouse three with red flowers in the foreground

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

The Newhouse School is more than just the nation’s leading communications school. It's where passionate young minds go to discover what they can become—communicators, storytellers, leaders and innovators.
Explore the School

Curriculum

The Visual Communications curriculum combines photography, writing, graphic design and critical thinking skills with essential learning in ethics and communications law. You’ll graduate from our program with the ability to work and think on a big-picture level, as well as becoming proficient with the latest technology and developing your critical thinking skills.

Students will choose from five tracks that cater to their interests and career goals.

All students take foundational courses in:

  • Multimedia Storytelling
  • Introduction to Graphic Design
  • Introduction to Photography for Multimedia

Cinematography: Focuses on lighting, lensing, composition, movement, crew management, color science and photochemistry.

Commercial and advertising photography: Covers the areas of advertising, commercial, fashion, portraiture and illustration photography for print and digital publications.

Design: Emphasizes problem-solving, storytelling, design thinking and a human-centered approach to design.

Editorial photography and photojournalism: Focuses on documentary storytelling and visual journalism across all genres with an emphasis on building foundational, technical and creative skill sets.

Emerging: Focuses on multidisciplinary innovation and emerging media trends and technologies.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Experiential learning opportunity

The Alexia Fall Workshop

The Fall Workshop brings top professionals from around the world together with faculty and staff to challenge students to identify, observe and artfully communicate the core of who we are and the issues we face in everyday life. In the process, students learn to better use still photography, audio, video, motion graphics, design and words to become exceptional storytellers who engage the community.

Experiential learning opportunity

Pixels & Print

A workshop that gives visual communications students that the opportunity to create designs for social good. Participants see their work by designing for a deserving organization or business.

Students are separated into teams coached by industry professionals. During the 48-hour workshop, students design a logo and brand system, website, promotional material and social motion graphics, as well as book.

A student and a professor each look at their computers at a table as large monitor in the background shows drafts of a computer illustraiton of a red bird

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Learn more about this program

Visual Communications B.S.
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