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, videographer, illustrator, graphic designer, art director, social media marketer, user-interface / user-experience web designer, filmmaker or marketing specialist. The list goes on. 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 and Scott Farrand, who take students on yearly treks to Africa and Moscow to teach them about the impact of storytelling in a digital world. And typography enthusiast and head of the sequence Tara Mortensen, as well as Jason Porter, an award-winning animator and designer who has worked with some of the largest brands in the world, including Marvel, Sprint, Volkswagen, Target, Taco Bell, and Disney.
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.