Ivy Tech School of Business, Logistics & Supply Chain
Visual Communications
Bring stories to life
What You'll Learn
Visual communication is everywhere—whether you’re walking past a storefront, watching a documentary, picking up a newspaper, or scrolling through your favorite app. This program arms you with the skills and tools needed to be an effective visual communicator.
Ivy Tech’s Visual Communications (VISC) program is a launching pad for students looking to work in graphic design, web and media arts, photography, and user experience design.
You’ll gain hands-on experience and graduate with a diverse portfolio of work to help you land a job. You can also take the skills you learn into a bachelor’s degree program to continue your studies.
Picturing yourself as a Visual Communications student at Ivy Tech? Get a snapshot of your life in the classroom. Here’s what you’ll do:
Use images and words to communicate messages, ideas, and emotions.
Learn the principles of graphic design, web design, digital illustration, publication design, social media marketing, photography, and video production.
Choose elective courses in user experience design, animation, motion graphics, print production, sequential art, public art, or others.
Use industry-standard software, tools, and equipment.
Develop an understanding of both the technical and aesthetic aspects of design.
Create a portfolio of work and self-promotion identity materials, which you’ll present to a jury at the end of the program.
Complete an optional field study so you can see first-hand how a successful media company operates.
Career Options
You can truly start in the VISC program and go anywhere in the realm of media! Many Ivy Tech Visual Communications graduates work in advertising, UX design, communications, journalism, social media, and marketing. Others choose to freelance or go into the event industry. Some graduates transfer to 4-year partner school to advance their career to another level.
As a Visual Communications graduate, you’ll be ready to take on the following career paths:
Graphic Designer
Illustrator
Photographer (Commercial, sports, wedding, studio/portrait, travel, scientific/forensic, real estate, freelance, or event)
Photojournalist
Videographer
UX Designer
Web/App Designer
Art Director
Creative Director
Editor
Visual Designer
Product Designer
Photo Retoucher
Printer
Social Media Blogger
If you transfer to a four-year university to continue your education in a specialty, you may also work as a:
3D artist
AR/VR developer
Digital illustrator
Digital marketer
Filmmaker
Full-stack developer
Mobile app designer
Game designer
Motion graphics artist
Social media strategist
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degrees – Career-Ready Degrees
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Short-Term Certificates
– known as Certificates (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Associate Degrees – Career-Ready Degrees
The AAS in Visual Communications is a customizable degree that allows you to choose courses based on your interests, whether you want to focus on photography, graphic design, UX design, digital illustration, social media marketing, or something else media-related. This path is for students wanting to start working in your chosen field after graduation.
The AAS in Visual Communications (Photography Concentration) curriculum centers on photography and design fundamentals, typography, vector graphics, journalistic and editorial photography, and so much more.
The Associate of Science in Visual Communications is designed for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. You can save upward of $10,000 by completing your first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring!
Talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your associate degree at Ivy Tech. You are also encouraged to contact the university to which you plan to transfer. Note that admission is not guaranteed just by enrolling in the Visual Communications program. You will need to be admitted to the institution you intend to transfer to.
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
The Visual Communications Technical Certificate (TC) gives students foundational knowledge and hands-on experience with design, photography, and other web and media skills.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
A recommended path to one of the associate degrees in Visual Communications is to complete the certificate program offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. Certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level visual communications careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 31 credit hours:
Short-Term Certificates
known as Certificates (CT)
The User Experience and User Interface Design certificate exposes students to the tools, methodology, processes, and design thinking required for effective user experience design. Establishes a comprehensive mindset in students for the end users’ needs. Through case studies of a variety of real-world projects, this certificate examines the practical application of user experience design.
The Visual Communications Certificate (CT) provides students with essential design, photography, and digital media skills. Through hands-on learning, students build a strong foundation in visual storytelling, web media, and creative communication.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
A recommended path to one of the associate degrees in Visual Communications is to complete the certificate program offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. Certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level visual communications careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 18 credit hours:
Visual communications can be an artistically fulfilling career for those who love to create and use their work to tell stories. Every industry benefits from the work of visual communicators. These careers can be a good fit for people who enjoy variety and want freedom and flexibility in their careers.
You can choose to work as a freelancer and work from home. Or, you can work for an agency, printer, newspaper, or on an in-house marketing team.
Successful visual communications professionals are often:
Creative
Detail-oriented
Curious
Communicative
Passionate
Able to take direction and constructive criticism
Adept at research
Strategic thinkers
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, visual communications may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
There are no prerequisites you must take prior to enrolling in the Visual Communications program.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least four weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Visual Communications Courses
Descriptions of Visual Communications courses can be found in our online course catalog.
View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific courses will be offered by searching our course list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the course in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Course Formats
Most Visual Communications courses are available via in-person, online, and hybrid formats. Photography concentration courses are not available online due to the hands-on nature of the curriculum.
Big Dreams? Go for Honors
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Visual Communications by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements
Graduating with a Visual Communications degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Recent Visual Communications Program Awards
Over the years, our students and graduates have won numerous prestigious industry awards. Below are a few of the most recent.
The Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Visual Communications program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD). NASAD is an organization of schools, colleges, and universities that offer art and design studies. Founded in 1944, it has approximately 315 institutional members. Accreditation with NASAD affords excellent transfer opportunities to four-year universities locally and across the country.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12:00pm Zoom Link
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
