School of Visual Communication
301 Siegfred Hall
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701

Phone: 740-593-4898
FAX: 740-593-0190

Terry Eiler, Director

The College of Communication offers an interdisciplinary visual communication degree with four specialized sequences. The school has been twice recognized as a Program of Excellence by the Ohio Board of Regents. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication.

The program is designed to provide students with realistic and thorough broad-based professionally oriented training in visual communication while providing the necessary liberal arts and cultural background for a strong educational foundation.

Intensive training is offered in informational graphics/publication design, interactive multimedia, photojournalism for newspapers and magazines, and commercial photography.

Goals of the School

The goals of the School of Visual Communication are (1) to equip students with the necessary skills to be successful in the media, and the background and motivation to enable them to compete for leadership roles in the field; (2) to provide assistance and professional guidance in visual communication to working photographers, editors, and other personnel, newspapers, press services, magazines, industrial photographic departments, trade associations, multimedia and educational media production units, and cultural and scientific visual communicators; (3) to set high standards for visual integrity and communication ethics; and (4) to foster and promote scholarly research and creative activities.

Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication

Admission Requirements--B.S.V.C.

The School of Visual Communication admits a limited number of students and the selection process is very competitive. The school has an admission deadline of December 15. All application materials including an application essay must be received by that deadline. After your file has been reviewed, you will be notified if you have been selected for an admission interview, which will be scheduled in January of the year you wish to enter the school. The interview process includes a review of the applicant's portfolio.

Students usually rank in the top quarter of their high school class and/or have outstanding SAT or ACT scores. In addition, if you demonstrate notable talent or experience or are a member of a historically under-represented group, you will be given additional consideration for admission.

For this career-oriented professional program you will need professional equipment to complete assignments and eventually compete in the job market. Ensuring every opportunity for students to excel in a very competitive field, we require use of certain basic levels of equipment.

All students are required to have access to a 35mm SLR camera with a 35mm f/2 lens or a 50mm f/2 lens. The camera should permit full manual control over aperture, shutter speeds, film speed settings, and focus. An automatic "point and shoot" camera will not meet the requirements of any VICO photographic class. Please contact the school for current equipment recommendations.

It is highly recommended that all students in the school have their own computer for use in completing class assignments. Students majoring in Interactive Multimedia and Informational Graphics/ Publication Design are required to have access to a computer with appropriate software by the time they enter VICO 314. Please contact the school for current hardware and software recommendations.

Photojournalism students entering VICO 390 should have access to at least one professional-level 35mm SLR camera, two lenses, and necessary accessories. One lens should have a 35mm or wider focal length with an f/2.8 or faster aperture. The second lens should be in the 135 to 200mm f/2.8 range. Zoom lenses are also acceptable if they meet the fixed aperture requirement of f/2.8.

Commercial photography students entering VICO 321 should have access to a professional-level medium-format camera with interchangeable film backs, a Polaroid back, one wide-angle lens, one telephoto lens, and an electronic flash meter.

You can expect to spend approximately $300-$500 per photography course for materials.