2026-2027
Communication Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts
VCU
Community college:
AFA in Visual Arts (apply after year one) (Virginia Community College System)
Associate degree
Certificate of Fine Arts or Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts
To avoid excess credits at graduation from VCU, complete course recommendations listed below and apply in first year at community college. The community college ART classes listed under course recommendations will fulfil requirements for the Art Foundation program (the first year of all visual art majors) at VCU.
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.
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
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
- No guaranteed admission.
- Apply for admission during first year at community college.
- Review deadlines and portfolio requirements for transfer applicants here.
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 major map
2026-2027
Communication Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Virginia Community College System (AFA in Visual Arts (apply after year one))
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
- Enroll in the SDV student success course.
- Prepare a portfolio as part of your application to VCU.
- Complete your math and english requirements.
- Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
- Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Explore the School of the Arts website.
- Review application deadlines and portfolio requirements for visual arts applicants.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
- Volunteer for community service projects.
- Research housing options for next year.
- Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a VCUarts representative virtually or attend a National Portfolio Day for individualized feedback on your portfolio.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
- Create LinkedIn profile.
- Complete career assessments through the Virginia Education Wizard.
- Browse information about occupations and job titles associated with communication arts.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
- Create a weekly and monthly budget.
- Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
Experience
Recommended courses
2026-2027
Communication Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Virginia Community College System (AFA in Visual Arts (apply after year one))
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | UNIV 111 | 3 | General education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning (or any other approved MTH course) | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
| ART 101 | History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) | ARTH 103 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| ART 102 | History of Art: Renaissance to Modern (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) | ARTH 104 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| ART 121 | Foundations of Drawing (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 131). | ARTS 1XX OR ARTF 131 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| ART 131 | Two-Dimensional Design (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 132). | ARTS 1XX or ARTF 132 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| ART 132 | 3D Design (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this course will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 133). | ARTF 133 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| ART 130 or ART 133 | Introduction to Multimedia or Time Studio (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, these courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 134) | ARTF 134 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) |
| Select one of the following: ART 140, ART 141, ART 153, ART 160, ART 180, PHT 101, PHT 102, or PHT 164. | ARTF 138/139 | 3 | Major (Art Foundation) | |
| Community college credits transferred to VCU | 31 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete 21 credits (7 classes) of general education requirements (see VCU advisor for course options) | 21 | General education | |
| COAR 201 | Figure I: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 202 | Figure II: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 203 | 3D I: Digital 3D Sculpting | 3 | Major |
| COAR 210 | Concept I: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 300 | Illustration III : ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 301 | Figure III: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 311 | Type and Presentation | 3 | Major |
| COAR 321 | Illustration I: Sequential | 3 | Major |
| COAR 332 | Illustration II: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 352 | History of Visual Communications | 3 | Major |
| COAR 450 | Business of Art: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 464 | Senior Project I: ____ | 3 | Major |
| COAR 465 | Senior Project II | 3 | Major |
| COAR upper-division electives | 18 | Major | |
| Art history elective (Students may take COAR 355 or an ARTH course) | 3 | Major | |
| Upper-division electives | 10 | Major (Ancillary) | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 91 | ||
| Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree | 120 | ||