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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2026-2027

Communication Arts

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):
Scientific Illustration
Program description

Communication Arts is the program of narrative illustration and entertainment design. Students in Communication Arts explore the powerful and timeless relationship between art and narrative through drawing. A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts will help to broaden your artistic skills and conceptual understandings while giving you the opportunity to explore and expand your interests in observational drawing, digital image making, concept design, comics and graphic novels, storyboarding, and mixed-media illustration.

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts helps develop creative, flexible, and multidisciplinary artists who enjoy greater career possibilities in an increasingly competitive global job market. Our career markets span all opportunities involving narrative illustration and entertainment design including 3D modeling, storyboarding and comics, professional illustration, and visual effects.

Change of major requirements

Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments.

Students are required to submit their application and required portfolio here.


Typical application deadlines are November 1 (for spring applicants) and April 1 (for fall applicants).

Bachelor-level job titles
  • 3D Environment/Character Artist
  • Character Designer
  • Comic Book Artist
  • Concept Artist
  • Game Designer
  • Infographics Artist
  • Motion Graphics Artist/Animator
  • Scientific Illustrator
  • Storyboard Artist
  • Visual Effects Artist
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Consultant
  • Director of Communications
  • Editor
  • Public Relations Manager
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate, 2.0+ major GPA to graduate
Transfer Maps

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Communication Arts
Contact name:
Claire Zitzow
Building/room location:
Franklin Terrace #201F, 812 Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Phone:
(804) 828-3658
Email:
commarts@vcu.edu
http://arts.vcu.edu/communicationarts/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Take advantage of the portfolio building and writing workshops offered by Art Foundation; details are found in ARTF101 in Canvas.
  • Research VCUArts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Learn the foundational and technical skills needed to master upper-level studio coursework.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Be involved with VCUarts service learning programs and courses, exhibition and community project opportunities, clubs and organizations, and the Dean’s Grants.
  • Attend student art exhibitions, Richmond’s First Fridays art walk, and other regional art events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Talk to your professors about what electives can help lead to your dream job: consider the skills you will need and choose classes to get the most out of your learning experience.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Research and experiment with your art projects to practice mindful learning.
  • Connect with programs, opportunities, and groups in which you are interested.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Design a community-engaged research project.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
  • Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
  • Secure any internship and independent study opportunities you have been considering.
  • Take advantage of opportunities like being published in our VCU magazines or having your work displayed in The Anderson.
  • Attend regional art events, faculty and student exhibitions, programs, and workshops.
  • Become a docent with a gallery in Richmond like the VMFA.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Discuss possible directions in the arts as they relate to your goals and courses.
  • Create a professional online resource of your work and arts endeavors.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Maximize your final year with every opportunity that is relevant to your postgraduate goal and discuss the best options with your advisor and faculty.
  • Discuss your senior projects with your professors & advisor. Consider ways you intend to display your work in our Communication Arts Senior Expo.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
  • Connect with organizations in your scope and career direction like the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI).
  • Take part in as many student clubs, professional organizations, and networking opportunities as you can in your senior year.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Communication Arts

School of the Arts

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Take advantage of the portfolio building and writing workshops offered by Art Foundation; details are found in ARTF101 in Canvas.
  • Research VCUArts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.
Experience Year 2
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Learn the foundational and technical skills needed to master upper-level studio coursework.
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Be involved with VCUarts service learning programs and courses, exhibition and community project opportunities, clubs and organizations, and the Dean’s Grants.
  • Attend student art exhibitions, Richmond’s First Fridays art walk, and other regional art events.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Talk to your professors about what electives can help lead to your dream job: consider the skills you will need and choose classes to get the most out of your learning experience.
Year 3
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Research and experiment with your art projects to practice mindful learning.
  • Connect with programs, opportunities, and groups in which you are interested.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Design a community-engaged research project.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
  • Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
  • Secure any internship and independent study opportunities you have been considering.
  • Take advantage of opportunities like being published in our VCU magazines or having your work displayed in The Anderson.
  • Attend regional art events, faculty and student exhibitions, programs, and workshops.
  • Become a docent with a gallery in Richmond like the VMFA.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Discuss possible directions in the arts as they relate to your goals and courses.
  • Create a professional online resource of your work and arts endeavors.
Excel Year 4
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Maximize your final year with every opportunity that is relevant to your postgraduate goal and discuss the best options with your advisor and faculty.
  • Discuss your senior projects with your professors & advisor. Consider ways you intend to display your work in our Communication Arts Senior Expo.
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
  • Connect with organizations in your scope and career direction like the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI).
  • Take part in as many student clubs, professional organizations, and networking opportunities as you can in your senior year.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.