MFA in Visual Communication Design

The short version

A 60-hour terminal degree that can be finished in three years.
Concentrate in one area, such as web design or illustration, or build your own interdisciplinary mix.
You finish with a professional portfolio and a thesis exhibition, and you are qualified to teach at the university level.

The MFA in Visual Communication Design is a 60-hour terminal degree. You can concentrate in one discipline under the umbrella of visual communication design, such as web design or illustration, or build an interdisciplinary program of study. The program combines research and studio work, ends in a professional portfolio and a thesis exhibition, and prepares graduates to teach at the university level. It can be completed in three years.

Visual communication design includes graphic design for print and web, typography, art direction, motion and interactive design, illustration, and photomedia. Scholarships and teaching assistant positions are available to qualified applicants.

Program flow

Arrows follow the sequence described in the JSU Graduate Catalog.

FIRST FALLStart the core

ART 6100 Contemporary Media Communication Studio
ART 6701 Design Research Readings and Seminar

FIRST SPRINGContinue the core

ART 6101 Traditional Communication Studio
ART 6700 Graduate History of Graphic Design

Studio electives, academic courses, and electives27 hours of studio electives, one more art academic course, and 12 hours of electives. See the table below.

AFTER THE FIRST 30 HOURSCandidacy ReviewThe MFA Committee evaluates your work before you continue past 30 semester hours.

ART 6980 Design Studio Exhibition ResearchRequires Candidacy Review and approval of your Thesis Exhibition Proposal. You begin planning and research for the thesis exhibition and paper.

FINAL SEMESTERART 6981 Design Studio Exhibition Research IIPrerequisite: ART 6980. You produce and complete the MFA Thesis Exhibition and Paper. Pass/fail.

Requirements

Requirement	Hours
Required studio: ART 6100, ART 6101, ART 6980, ART 6981	12
Studio electives, including 6000-level special topics	27
Art academic: ART 6700, ART 6701, and one of ART 6702, 6720, 6750, 6870, or 6788	9
Art electives at the 6000 level	6
Non-art graduate electives, approved during advising	6
Total	60

At least 39 hours must be studio, and at least 30 of those in visual communication design studios. You need a 3.00 GPA overall. All MFA candidates present their work in a public exhibition.

Studio electives

ART 6190 Advanced Contemporary Media/Communication Studio (prerequisite: ART 6100)
ART 6500 Design Studio (repeatable up to 18 hours)
ART 6501 Graduate Typography Design Studio
ART 6502 Graduate Screen Printing Design Studio
ART 6503 Graduate Interactive Design Studio
ART 6520 Visiting Designer Artist Project
ART 6588 Special Topics in Graphic Design (permission of instructor)
ART 6950 Graduate Internship in Visual Communication Design (permission of MFA Coordinator)
ART 6879 Graduate Independent Study

How to apply

Deadlines: October 1 for spring admission. February 1 for fall and summer admission. Later applications may be considered if space allows, with preference for full-time students.
Application: the JSU Graduate Application and a $35 nonrefundable fee.
Transcripts: official transcripts from an institutionally accredited institution.
Statement of purpose.
Portfolio: 20 examples of current work in visual communication design, as a single PDF with titles, dates, media, and short project descriptions. Show that you can use industry-standard layout, illustration, and image-editing software.

You need an undergraduate major in art, graphic design, or the equivalent, and at least a 3.00 GPA over your last 60 semester hours. Faculty may identify coursework to make up before you start, which does not count toward the degree.

Questions: MFA Program Coordinator Sarah Ellis, scellis [at] jsu.edu.

Source: JSU Graduate Catalog 2026-2027, Visual Communication Design (Master of Fine Arts).