An MFA With an Emphasis in Visual Communication

Based in Dallas, the Master of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Visual Communication serves the practicing professional who aspires to greater proficiency in industry-related innovation and problem-solving, business strategies, ideation, marketing, entrepreneurship, or a career in design education. The capstone of the degree is a research project and accompanying exhibition on a topic incorporating business practices, design education, and social responsibility. This culminating exhibition will advance a premise that significantly expands the current boundaries of knowledge.

Please download our brochure for our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in
Visual Communication in PDF format.

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The Takeaway
How will I benefit from the MFA program?
Become a better problem solver through a deeper understanding of creative processes and innovation. Gain a broader knowledge of our cross-cultural world and sharpen your skills as a strategic thinker and entrepreneur. Study design education pedagogy and curriculum development to empower student learning and success.

Creative Process
Where do your ideas originate? Could you teach others the creative process?
Breaking down and understanding creative methodologies is the foundation of Visual Communication. Understanding one’s own methods of inventing and innovating is key to helping others maximize their creative potential.  A step-by-step analysis of the creative process is a key component of the MFA degree.

Pedagogy
The MFA prepares design educators for a robust job market where a terminal degree is either required or highly advantageous. 
The pedagogical component of the MFA explores multifaceted approaches to design education through pedagogical methods, content creation, role-play and programmatic curriculum development. The course includes the creation of syllabi, assignments and grading rubrics of individual courses to the construction of an entire college-level design curriculum measured by clearly defined educational outcomes.

Business Innovation
Empowering business innovation through organizational leadership, entrepreneurship, strategy, process, and product. 
Courses in business innovation center on creating value through ethnography, research, ideation, and strategy in a market environment. Student teams explore unconventional, creative methods to design new business models or generate interest in products or services that do not currently exist in the marketplace. These collaborative projects stress innovation through segmenting, brand positioning, target marketing, and the 4Ps (Product, Pricing, Promotion, and Place).