HELP [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Communication Arts B.F.A. Print-Friendly Page

Students seeking a major in Communication Arts will pursue a BFA degree. The BFA degree is a five-year program; the four BFA options are BFA in Art Direction; BFA in DesignCommunications; BFA in New Media; or BFA in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Copywriting or Illustration. Each of these areas has a common core of Foundation Art/Communication Arts courses and specific classes in the major or emphasis area. All programs require the student to complete University Studies courses. Students in the BFA major are not required to select a minor.

Entry into Communication Arts is by portfolio review. As a prerequisite to entering Communication Arts classes taught at the Universities Center at Dallas (UCD), students need to complete at least 24 hours of art foundation courses as prescribed in the undergraduate catalog and the student will have completed the University Studies requirements of A&M-Commerce. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and an art foundations GPA of at least 3.0. The following web site should be consulted for deadlines and specific requirements of portfolio contents. Students having completed University Studies and art foundation requirements, who fail to present work according to the stated guidelines, will not be considered for entry into Communication Arts classes at the UCD. Web site: http://newmedia.tamu-commerce.edu

All majors have an assessment system that students must pass in order to proceed in their major: a basic assessment will be administered after the third year and a concentration assessment will be administered after the fourth year. Students who do not pass their assessments will be required to correct deficiencies before continuing their program. Students will be advised of the most expedient way to correct deficiencies by faculty and may be required to repeat courses to strengthen and further develop their skills areas. All majors must pass their senior exit review prior to graduation. During the fourth and fifth years, all majors will be required to enter their work in various art shows. As with other university programs, students must pass their courses in their major with a minimum grade of “C.”

Texas A&M University-Commerce has established a 2-plus-3 program in Communication Arts with Department of Fine Arts, Brookhaven College, facilitating the evaluation of course credits and ease of transfer for students from that institution. Transfer work for students from other institutions may be accepted for courses that are not directly compatible with the common course numbering system; the faculty reserves the right to delay accepting these courses until reviewing the student’s portfolio. Portfolio reviews for transfer students will generally occur late in the spring semester for students wishing to enter the program during the fall semester and late during the fall semester for students wishing to enter the program during the spring semester.