Visual Communications
Class of 2027 Major Requirements: Visual Communications
First and Second Year:
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| Grammar Competency (note 2)*Students must pass a grammar competency exam in order to graduate. Scroll down to notes section for more detail. | ||
| COM 107 | Communications and Society | 3 |
| COM 117 | Multimedia Storytelling | 3 |
| JNL 211
or TRF 211 |
Cross-Media News Writing
or Screenwriting |
3 |
| VIS 201 | Introduction to Photography for Multimedia (fall first year)A-K spring; L-Z fall |
3 |
| VIS 207 | Introduction to Graphic Design (spring first year)Spring first year |
3 |
TRACK: CHOOSE ONE
Cinematography • Commercial & Advertising Photography • Editorial Photography and Photojournalism • Design
Third and Fourth Years:
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| Newhouse Elective | 3 | |
| Global Experience (note 4)*The Global Experience may be fulfilled by studying abroad or by taking an approved class. A list of courses that fulfill this requirement can be found in the Newhouse Guidebook. If a student chooses to take a Newhouse class to fulfill this requirement, the additional Newhouse hours will be added to the 122 credits needed for graduation if the student has reached the 42 Newhouse-credit maximum. If you plan to study abroad, be advised that the fall of your FOURTH year is the designated semester for all VIS students. |
||
| PHI 293 | Ethics and the Media Professions (note 5)*PHI 293 is an Arts and Sciences class and may be taken in any semester. | |
| EEE 370 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (note 3)*EEE 370 is a Whitman School of Management course. It will not count as Arts and Science credits. If you choose a minor that is outside of Arts and Sciences and does not include this course, you will need a minimum of 124 credits to graduate.EEE 370 is a Whitman School of Management course. It will not count as Arts and Science credits. If you choose a minor that is outside of Arts and Sciences and does not include this course, you will need a minimum of 124 credits to graduate. | |
| DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT: CHOOSE 1 COURSE BELOW | ||
| COM 346
COM 348 COM 350 |
Race, Gender and the Media (prereq)*COM 107 Beauty and Diversity in Fashion Media Topics in Media, Diversity and Inclusion (prereq)*COM 107A-K in fall; L-Z in spring. |
3 |
Fourth Year:
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| COMMUNICATIONS LAW REQUIREMENT: CHOOSE 1 BELOW | ||
| COM 505
COM 506 COM 507 COM 509 |
Communications Law for Journalists (last name)*A-K fall; L-Z spring Senior StandingCommunications Law for Television, Radio, Film (last name)*A-K fall; L-Z spring Senior Standing Communications Law for Advertising and Public Relations (last name)* A-K fall; L-Z springCommunications Law for Public Communicators (senior standing)A-K fall; L-Z spring |
3 |
Total credits: 42
Notes
- Students graduating from Newhouse may devote no more than 42 of the 122 credits required for graduation to courses in the Newhouse School. Any courses above the 42-credit hour limit will increase the total hours required for
- Students must complete a grammar competency as part of their degree requirements. There will be two ways students can satisfy this competency:
- First, by passing a grammar competency exam during their first semester on campus. The exam will be given twice – once before the end of the first week of classes and a second time prior to registration the next semester. A passing grade on the exam will fulfill the competency requirement.
- Secondly, by passing COM 101, a 0-credit remedial grammar course which will be mandatory for students who fail the grammar competency exam. This course can be repeated until a passing grade is earned and the competency is met.
- EEE 370 is a Whitman School of Management course. It will not count as Arts and Science credits. If you choose a minor that is outside of Arts and Sciences and does not include this course, you will need a minimum of 124 credits to graduate.
- The Global Experience may be fulfilled by studying abroad or by taking an approved A list of courses that fulfill this requirement can be found in the Newhouse Guidebook. If a student chooses to take a Newhouse class to fulfill this requirement, the additional Newhouse hours will be added to the 122 credits needed for graduation if the student has reached the 42 Newhouse-credit maximum. If you plan to study abroad, be advised that the fall of your FOURTH year is the designated semester for all VIS students.
- PHI 293 is an Arts and Sciences class and may be taken in any semester.
- Students that choose to go abroad can take VIS 490 Independent Study in place of VIS 439 with the advice and consent of the Department Chair.
- VIS 484: Commercial & Advertising Photo Capstone (Prereq: VIS 434) may also fulfill the capstone requirement if taken during spring of senior year. No petition required.
- Photography students are limited to three internship credits in communications out of the 122 credits required for graduation. Sophomores, juniors and seniors may receive credit for internship experiences with departmental approval. Singly enrolled Newhouse students are not permitted to enroll in non-communications experience credit without special petition.
Track One: Cinematography
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| CIN 313 | Cinematography I: Fundamentals (prereq)*TRF 205 or VIS 201 | 3 |
| CIN 323 | Cinematic Light & Lens (prereq)*CIN 313 | 3 |
| VIS 403 | Non-Fiction Video Storytelling (prereq)*TRF 205 or VIS 201 | 3 |
| CIN 433 | Cinematography II: Cinematic Storytelling (prereq)*CIN 313 | 3 |
| CHOOSE 3 CREDITS FROM THE LIST BELOW | ||
| CIN 510 | Topics in Cinematography:
-Cinematic Movement -Emerging Cinematography -Pre-Visualization |
3 |
| TRF 510 | Secialized Practice:
-Color Correction |
3
|
| CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT | ||
| CIN 483 | Cinematography Capstone (prereq)*CIN 433 | 3 |
Track Two: Commercial & Advertising Photography
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| VIS 301 | Video and Photography (prereq)*VIS 201 | 3 |
| VIS 324 | Light and Concept (Spring Only) (prereq)*VIS 301VIS 301 | 3 |
| VIS 405 | Photographic Storytelling (prereq)*VIS 304 or VIS 324 | 3 |
| VIS 439 | Advanced Projects (Fall Only) | 3 |
| VIS 434 | Commercial & Advertising Photography and Multimedia (Spring 3rd Year) (prereq)*VIS 304 or VIS 324 |
3 |
| CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT | ||
| VIS 489 | Photography and Multimedia Capstone (Spring Only) (note 7)*VIS 484: Commerical & Advertising Photo Capstone (prereq: VIS 434) may also fulfill the capstone requirement if taken during spring of senior year. No petition needed. (prereq)*VIS 425 or VIS 434 |
3 |
Track Three: Editorial Photography and Photojournalism
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| VIS 301 | Video and Photography (prereq)*VIS 201 | 3 |
| VIS 324 | Light and Concept (Spring Only) (prereq)*CIN 313 | 3 |
| VIS 405 | Photographic Storytelling (prereq)*VIS 304 or VIS 324 | 3 |
| VIS 439 | Advanced Projects (Fall Only) | 3 |
| VIS 425 | Visual Editing and Project Development (Spring 3rd Year) (prereq)*VIS 405 | 3 |
| CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT | ||
| VIS 489 | Photography and Multimedia Capstone (Spring Only) (note 7)*VIS 484: Commerical & Advertising Photo Capstone (prereq: VIS 434) may also fulfill the capstone requirement if taken during spring of senior year. No petition needed. (prereq)*VIS 425 or VIS 434 |
3 |
Track Four: Design
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| VIS 317 | Typographic Design (Fall Only) (prereq)*VIS 207 | 3 |
| VIS 327 | Type and Image Design (Spring Only) (prereq)*VIS 317 | 3 |
| VIS 447 | Motion Design (prereq)*VIS 327 | 3 |
| VIS 457 | User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design (Fall Only) (prereq)*VIS 327 |
3 |
| VIS 467 | Immersive Design (prereq)*VIS 447 or VIS 457 | 3 |
| CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT | ||
| VIS 487 | Graphic Design Capstone (Spring Only) (prereq)*VIS 467 | 3 |