The BFA degree, building on the solid foundation in visual expression of the first two years, develops students’ abilities to frame, research, and solve increasingly complex visual communication problems. Students develop a professional portfolio that represents their talents and prepares them for employment upon graduation as art directors, graphic designers, illustrators, and web designers. They are also qualified to apply for masters programs in related communication design fields.

In recent years, graduates of the program have been employed by a range of creative agencies, design firms, and organizations including BBDO, J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Ogilvy, DDB, Google, Patients & Purpose, GLOW Digital agency, Victoria’s Secret, The Vyater Group, Mass Appeal Records, Ralph Lauren Advertising, The New York Times, New York Code + Design Academy, AT&T, Entertainment Group – DIRECTV, JP Morgan Chase, New York Life Insurance Company, and UNICEF USA.

Students take courses from three categories: Studio, Strategy, and Skills. In the required sequence of four Studio courses, students initiate and define the context for substantive projects. Selecting from an elective pool, each student takes three Strategy courses and four Skills courses. In Strategy courses, students research, plan, produce, and consider dissemination of visual communications. In Skills courses, students create solutions to communication design problems using a particular medium. Students may either sample a range of the communication design field or specialize in one of the following areas: advertising, graphic design, motion graphics, illustration or web design.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

Think critically to evaluate evidence and the perspectives of others before accepting or formulating an opinion.
Think creatively to combine or synthesize existing ideas or images in original ways.
Organize and interpret complex data.
Research and evaluate information sources.
Write to express ideas clearly and concisely.
Prepare and deliver oral communication that promotes knowledge and understanding.
Identify, evaluate and effectively respond to ethical issues as a citizen and a professional.
Solve problems by designing, evaluating and implementing a strategy to answer an open ended question.
Value cultural diversity and demonstrate the capacity

Admission Information

There are many ways a student can enter the bachelor of fine arts program in Communication Design. Students who enter the program as freshmen must meet the college standards. For more information on these guidelines, visit the Admissions Office website. Students who do not meet these guidelines may be admitted into the AAS degree program in Communication Design and apply to transfer into the BFA program after achieving CUNY proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics.

Students may also enter from other programs either here at City Tech or from other colleges. It is not necessary to have earned an associate degree at all. Transcripts and portfolios of entering students will be evaluated to determine the courses they must complete for the degree.

Advanced Standing Credit

Transfer students may request an application for advanced standing from the Office of the Registrar and file it during the announced filing period. Since there are differences in communication design courses offerings from one college to another, each application for advanced standing credits is reviewed individually. Credit is granted for courses taken at other colleges if the courses are considered equivalent to those offered at New York City College of Technology. Final determination of credits for advanced standing will be made by the registrar and the chair of the Communication Design Department.

Articulation Agreements

The department has articulation agreements with specific departments and programs at Borough of Manhattan, Bronx, and Kingsborough Community Colleges. Students from these colleges who complete all specific course requirements will not be required to take more than 60 credits to complete the BFA program. The full agreements are available on the college website. Please consult the department for further information.

Accreditation

New York City College of Technology is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Additional Costs

Textbooks                           $400
Professional Tools            $1200
Materials & Supplies       $1200

Advisement Information

All students have dedicated program advisors. Our dedicated advisement site informs student of department degree maps, faculty availability, internships, clubs and sophomore review. Visit https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/comd-advisement/ for more details information.

Additionally, students can reach us at CommunicationDesign@citytech.cuny.edu.

Explore the Communication Design Department on the City Tech website.

Advisory Commission

Shayne Alexander, Art Director, BBDO

Bonnie Blake, President, Bonnie Blake & Company, Inc.

Tony Di Spigna, Vice President, Thinstroke, LLC

Kori Dyer, Co-Founder/Creative Director, Dearest Creative

Ellen Faith Hurwitch, Director of Operations - The Americas, RedTie, Inc.

Jacklyn Landers, Creative Director, Freelance

Ethan R. McCarty, CEO, Team Integral

Nicholas Patrissi, President, Marketing Business Accelerations, Inc.

Jack Powers, President, Institute for Career and Technical Education

Bill Wadman, Photographer/Videographer, Bill Wadman Photography

Communication Design - BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts

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General

Requirements

Degree Maps