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College of Information and Communications

Visual Communications

Were you an Instagram celebrity before it was cool? Are you that kid who films every birthday, every ballgame, every funny thing your cat does? Do you arrange your books by color instead of subject? If you see life through images, our visual communications department is the place to be, where we help you turn that passion into a career.

Careers

We shoot wars and fashion shows, design mobile news apps and striking billboards. We're on the sidelines of big-time college football and in the middle of the third world making a difference. A degree in visual communications can lead you to a career as a photojournalist, fashion photographer, videographer, graphic artist, illustrator and designer. Our graduates work for news organizations, advertising agencies, public relations firms, fashion houses, magazines, social media groups and themselves.

Capstone Experience

You'll have the most memorable resumé of any in the stack after your senior semester here, showcasing your work in three ways — a printed book, a website and a tablet-based portfolio. And you'll also stand out because your work will not only be beautiful, but will have something to say.

Internships

We'll get you on a project, part of a film crew, in a design house, behind the scenes to help you strengthen your ability to tell stories. Our students are highly sought after for internships with art, photo, design, social media and web departments at ad agencies, public relations firms, non-profits and news organizations. And these are just some of the many opportunities for our students.

Classes

You'll learn how to focus your passion into telling stories, then improve your skills to do so. You can tailor your major to your specific interests, taking classes to make you a smarter, better-prepared visual journalist. Learn more about the classes you will take as a visual communications student in the university's academic bulletin.

Advanced Study

The visual communications curriculum is a great foundation for graduate study.  You can gain an advanced understanding of journalism techniques and how communications is applied in different types of organizations through participation in our Accelerated Master of Mass Communication program.  Choose a specialization in either strategic communications management or multimedia journalism, and you can complete two degrees in as little as five years.

Faculty

You’ll study with talented faculty like Van Kornegay, who takes students on a yearly trek to Africa to teach them about the impact of storytelling in a digital world. And documentary filmmaker and photographer Keith Kenney, whose international connections lead students to far-flung places.

The Next Step

When you schedule a visit to USC, be sure to tell the Visitor Center that you want to visit us in our new building. Group visits to the School of Journalism and Mass Communications are on Monday and Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Apply today to become a Gamecock.