Design and Visual Communications Degree

The essence of the Design and Visual Communications as a field of study is fusing art and business to arrive at creative art or visual art used for commercial purposes. With an eye for design and a creative spirit, the sky is the limit! Get more details below including other Virginia colleges that offer design and visual communications degrees.

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Germanna Community College (Mason)

4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA

Germanna Community College, located in Locust Grove, was founded in 1970. In addition to the Locust Grove Campus, the school maintains locations in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Culpeper. The school is a member of the Virginia Community College System, which operates 23 community colleges throughout the state.

GCC is named after a settlement that used to house German Miners near the Rapidian River at what is now called Germanna Ford. The school is a public two year institution that is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for residents of its service area, which includes the counties of Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Culpeper, Orange, Madison, and Stafford.

Academics

Germanna Community College has an enrollment of nearly 10,000 annually, and provides a large number of programs aimed at assisting them pursue academic transfer opportunities or careers through training programs. Students seeking academic transfer will complete a curriculum that mirrors the first two years of a four year education and upon completion will apply to colleges and universities.

If accepted, the student will complete the final two years and earn a bachelor's degree at their new college or university. Students applying to public state schools in Virginia will find agreements in place that ease transfer requirements if certain criteria are met. Private and out of state schools will have varying admissions requirements, and as such it is recommended students seek the aid of a counselor if they wish to transfer.

Career training programs assist individuals in pursuing long term employment through education and skill development in one of the many high demand fields available for study. Programs are taught by experienced and qualified faculty, many of whom have real world experience and supervise practical courses that give students the opportunity to train in simulated real world conditions while ensuring student safety.

Academic programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a degree or certificate that demonstrates competency and encourages employer confidence.
Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Computer Support
• Engineering
• Paralegal
• Liberal Arts

Admissions and Financial Aid

Any individual interested in attending Germanna Community College may do so if they are a high school graduate or 18 years of age or older as per the school's open enrollment policy. Individuals must submit an application and pay all associated fees, as well as supply transcripts and test scores if available.

Select students may be required to take a placement exam prior to registration. Students are encouraged to participate in new student orientation and to meet with a counselor to discuss program enrollment.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Data from the FAFSA will be utilized by GCC to determine need and financial aid eligibility.  Aid must be applied for prior to each academic year and it is recommended that the application be completed in a timely fashion.

Students Enrolled in the Design and Visual Communications Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Mason offers a less than two-year award program in design and visual communications.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Description

Develop and design manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, commercial and industrial designers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 2.0% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 110
  • Average Hourly Rate: $30.57
  • Average Annual Salary: $63580

Graphic Designers

Description

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, graphic designers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 1.4% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 4
  • Average Hourly Rate: $31.98
  • Average Annual Salary: $66530

Set and Exhibit Designers

Description

Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, set and exhibit designers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 6.8% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 350
  • Average Hourly Rate: $29.96
  • Average Annual Salary: $62320

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).