Visual Communication Design, MVCD

There are two Master of Visual Communication Design (MVCD) programs available:

The MVCD 2-year program is a studio-based graduate degree program designed to provide specialized studio design opportunities for those students who do have an undergraduate degree in visual communication or graphic design.
The MVCD 3+ program (3 years plus one summer) is a studio–based graduate degree program designed to be a first professional degree for those students who do not have an undergraduate degree in visual communication or graphic design.

Both programs (2-year and 3+) offer the following:

Prepares students to be visual communicators, graphic designers, and digital media designers.
Graduates will be prepared to find employment as designers in corporate design offices or design consulting firms nationally and internationally.
Organizes the studio content sequentially from a local, national, and international focus and provides the opportunity for an international studio as a part of the first semester of the final year.
Opportunity for concurrent degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, interior design, the Master of Science in Design, the MBA in the W.P. Carey School of Business and others.
The program offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaborations with students in other programs in The Design School including architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, interior design, and urban design.

The MVCD is a studio-based degree program. Students in this program work on strategic visual communication design projects with a focus on the development of visual language systems firmly grounded on the principles of information design, typography and interaction design. Students engage in visual and theoretical research, ideation, visualization, prototyping and testing of creative solutions that address critical problems faced in the contemporary visual world.

Graduates of this program are adept in working with fundamental principles of visual communication design, emotional intelligence and systems thinking in problem identification and its appropriate contextual solutions. They pursue professional practice in visual communication and multimedia industry as well as in academia.

The 3+ program offers great opportunities for students; see what our students are saying

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How and when to apply

Program offered

Visual Communication Design, MVCD

Offered by
Herberger Institute for Design & the Arts

Location
Tempe

Plan of study

The Plan of study is the required curriculum to complete the program.

View Plan of Study

Admission

Application Procedures and Requirements

Application period

Online applications are open September 15 with a priority deadline of January 15 for the following programs: MArch 2-year; MArch 3+; MIA 2-year; MIA 3+; MID 2-year; MID 3+; MLA 2-year; MLA 3+; MS.Arch; MSD; MUD; MVCD 2-year; and MVCD 3+.

Summer Admission: MVCD 3+ programs only admit students to the summer term. We accept applications up until March 15th. Any applicant who would like to apply after these deadlines is welcome to contact designgrad@asu.edu.

Fall Admission: MVCD 2- year programs only admit students for the fall semester. We accept applications until June 15th.

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Paying for College

Teaching and Graduate Assistantships

Assistantships are appointed each term to a select number of graduate students who are excelling in The Design School. Learn more about teaching assistantships including eligibility and application details.

Financial Aid

Learn more about your financial aid options.

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)

Students who live outside of Arizona may be eligible for in-state tuition, find out if you qualify.

Program requirements

Required Core (43 credit hours)

Electives (6 credit hours)

Other Requirement (6 credit hours)
GRA 581 Internship in Teaching Design (3)
GRA 584 Internship (3)

Culminating Experience (5 credit hours)
GRA 622 Advanced Visual Communication Design Studio IV (5)

Additional Curriculum Information
The Master of Visual Communication Design program includes sequential studio courses. Requirements involve an average of 14 credit hours per semester. A summer internship is required during the summer prior to the final year.

The three-plus-year program adds the following requirement to the plan of study: deficiency courses (42 credit hours).

Download Program Curriculum

MVCD 2-year
MVCD 3+

Concurrent Degree Options / Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Students in their first year of the two-year program or second year of the 3+ program may apply to study two graduate programs concurrently. The curricula has been designed to allow for most of our programs to be taken simultaneously. Please note that MArch students have the opportunity to apply to the W.P. Carey School of Business to study for a Master of Business Administration concurrently with their MArch degree. We work to try to reduce the length of time for both degrees to save students a year of time and tuition fees. Students with two Master degrees have increased professional opportunities and great marketability. If the concurrent option is taken, this will extend the graduate program by a minimum of one year.

Global Engagement Studios

The graduate program curriculum encompasses a travel studio which is completed in the fall semester of the final year. Students travel all over the world to locations such as Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia among others. This offers students the opportunity to experience a foreign country for one week at the beginning of the fall semester. This trip is faculty led and the cost is inclusive within tuition fees. The benefit of this experience to our graduate students is invaluable. To hear what our students are saying about the Global Engagement Studios and their experience view this video.

Admission Requirements

Master of Visual Communication Design Two-year Program (MVCD)

Applicants must have completed a four–year Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Visual Communication Design or Graphic Design. The undergraduate degree must be granted by an institution that is recognized by ASU.
Applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirements as established by Graduate College. The last two years of applicant’s undergraduate GPA records will be reviewed.
Admission to the Master of Visual Communication Design program is selective and cannot be deferred. In most cases, students must enroll in the semester for which they are admitted. The MVCD program commences in the fall semester of each year.
There is no GRE requirement for the MVCD program.
A personal interview is not required; however, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting designgrad@asu.edu or 480-965-3536.
Applicants to The Design School graduate programs are required to complete a two-step application process. Applicants must submit the Graduate College application as well as The Design School SlideRoom application. For complete information on how to apply, please view the steps to apply on the admissions page

Master of Visual Communication Design Three-plus Program (MVCD3+)

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree in a field other than visual communication design or graphic design from a college or university recognized by ASU.
Admission to the Master of Visual Communication Design 3+ program is selective and cannot be deferred. In most cases students must enroll in the semester for which they are admitted. The MVCD3+ program commences in the summer session of each year.
There is no GRE requirement for the MVCD3+ program.
A personal interview is not required; however, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting designgrad@asu.edu.
Applicants to The Design School graduate programs are required to complete a two-step application process. Applicants must submit the Graduate College application as well as The Design School SlideRoom application. For complete information on how to apply, please view the steps to apply on the admissions page

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Internships

Students completing a 2–year or 3+ graduate degree program in the following studio based disciplines are required to complete a summer internship: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, and Visual Communication Design. The internship takes place during the last summer that precedes the final year of the graduate program.

Learn more about about internships.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations serve as the public face for their respective professions, providing information to the general public about disciplinary practice and its role in improving the well-being of communities, promoting design excellence through the recognition of notable professional achievements, supporting the exchange of ideas and information about best practices between professional members through the development of conferences and through the support of opportunities for continuing education.

Learn more about professional organizations.

Student Organizations

Joining a discipline-specific student organization is a great way to help your long-term career plans and goals. Membership can add to your academic experience by building a portfolio, making important connections, networking and engaging with local and national professional communities.

Learn more about student organizations.