Mar 28, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 [Archived Catalog]

Visual Communication—Photojournalism Major (B.S.V.C.)


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Major code BS6922

Scripps College of Communication  
School of Visual Communication  
250 Schoonover Center
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4898
Fax: 740.593.0190
http://www.ohio.edu/viscom/
viscom@ohio.edu

Tim Goheen, Director
Rebecca Sell, Graduate Director

Program Overview

The School of Visual Communication offers an interdisciplinary visual communication degree with four specialized sequences. The school has been recognized twice as a Program of Excellence by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and is a proud component of the Scripps College of Communication recognized by the state as a Center of Excellence – the only college in the state to receive that distinction.

Graduates of the program earn a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication. The degree 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 publication design including data visualization and informational graphics, with preparation for careers in the magazine, newspaper, corporate and non-governmental organization (NGOs) communication fields; interactive design and UX for web and digital mobile platforms for careers in a wide range of communication settings; documentary photojournalism for newspapers, magazines, NGOs, and the Internet; and commercial photography with preparation for careers in the fashion, product, and corporate communication and advertising fields.

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 education media production units and cultural and scientific visual communicators
  3. to set high standards for visual integrity and communication ethics
  4. to foster and promote scholarly research and creative activities

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

The School of Visual Communication requires an informal interview for admission to the program. During this interview, we would like to learn more about your creative goals and review any examples of creative work you can provide. This is also an opportunity for you to learn about us. If you don’t have a portfolio or other examples of your work, we still want to talk to you. Don’t let that keep you from coming. For additional information about general admission guidelines please visit the Undergraduate Admissions page at https://www.ohio.edu/admissions.

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. It is highly recommended that all students in the school have their own computer for use in completing class assignments.

Photojournalism students entering VICO 2390 must own at least one professional-level 35mm DSLR camera (full frame sensor preferred), lenses, and necessary accessories. One lens should have a 24mm or wide focal length (or digital equivalent) with an f/2.8 or faster aperture. Another lens should be a 135mm of longer focal length (or digital equivalent) with an f/2.8 or faster aperture. Zoom lenses are also acceptable if they meet the focal length and aperture requirement of f/2.8. In addition, students must have a dedicated electronic flash outfit and a suitable professional tripod.

Transfer Admission

The School of Visual Communication will consider transfer students, both inside the school and from outside the school, twice a year, and only when openings are available. As a selective admission program, there are a limited number of seats available in each sequence. To accept a transfer student, an opening must become available. A very limited number of openings usually occur in each major sequence each academic year. School of Visual Communication major’s classes are sequenced and start the fall of the freshman year. Those seeking to transfer at other points (or starting on a regional campus) will generally not be able to complete the degree in four years. Students transferring with over 90 hours of credit will find it difficult to complete the School’s curriculum in two years.

All students seeking to transfer into the School of Visual Communication must be interviewed by school faculty. The requirements to be interviewed are as follows:

• You are expected to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of transfer. If your GPA is lower, please submit a letter of explanation to consider with your DARS.

• All transfer students are expected to attend a transfer information session held at 10 a.m. on the 4th Friday of each term in Schoonover 250.

• For Ohio University students, if there are openings in the sequence you are seeking, a sign-up sheet will be placed in the VisCom office, Schoonover 250, on the Monday of the 8th week of the term for interviews the following Friday.

• Students must bring a current copy of their DARS or transcript, a resume, a statement of intent letter addressed to VisCom faculty, and a portfolio to the interview.

 

Transfer sequence requirements for students inside VisCom:

Students changing majors might find it difficult to finish in four years. Interested students should discuss with their adviser and provide a written request to the school’s faculty. A request to change sequence will only be considered on the Wednesday of the 8th week of the term.

• Requests will be reviewed by all VisCom faculty. Available openings in the requested major sequence are considered before students will be allowed to change major. For more information about transferring, or the status of transfer openings, contact VisCom Director Tim Goheen.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Successful graduates find employment in photojournalism profession working for print publications including newspapers and magazine as well as online or start their own businesses as freelance visual communicators.

Requirements

Universitywide Graduation Requirements


To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements .

College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication


View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication .

VICO Professional Course Grade Requirement


Students must earn a C (2.0) in all professional courses. Professional courses are listed under the student’s major sequence requirement (examples include, but are not limited to, all VICO, JOUR, MDIA, COMS and ART classes). A grade of C- does not meet this standard. Failure to achieve a C or better in a required course (no other class can substitute) after the second attempt will result in the student being dismissed from the School of Visual Communication.

Liberal Arts Requirement - Visual Communication


Complete the following courses:

  • Tier II - History (HIST) and Political Science (POLS). Complete any two courses from one area and one course from the other, for a total of three courses. NOTE: Commercial Photography majors may take ECON 1030  as a substitute for either a HIST or POLS course.

Visual Communication Core Requirement


Complete the following courses. A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for any course listed below to meet a school requirement (see VICO professional course grade requirement above):

  • Select one elective College of Communication course outside of VisCom not already required.

Complete one of the following Communication Law courses:


Area of Specialization - Visual Communication


Complete a minimum of 12 hours of courses concentrated in an advisor approved area outside of the School of Visual Communication. A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for any ART, JOUR, MDIA, or VICO course. All but one of the courses for this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above. One course may be at the 1000-level. The intent of this requirement is for students to add an additional skill and knowledge set outside of their major. A minor in business or art are recommended for commercial photography students.

Photojournalism


Complete the following courses. A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for any ART, COMS, JOUR, MDIA, or VICO course (see VICO professional course grade requirement above):

Visual Communication Internship


One advisor-approved internship is required for the VisCom degree. Internships should be approximately 400 hours of paid supervised work in your field.

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