Visual Communication and Design
180 ECTS credits
Study programme
Are you attracted to design and visual media? Do you want to deepen your knowledge and skills in the field both practically and theoretically? Then the visual communication and design program is perfect for you.
As a student, you get a broad base in the subject of media and communication science while you immerse yourself in:
\- Designing
\- Digital and visual communication
\- Design
\- Design practice
\- Design process
\- Interactive media
Through the design process and its methods, you will develop skills in:
\- Design thinking
\- Co-creation
\- Participatory design
\- Social design
\- Inclusive design for visual media
As a student, you get a broad base in the subject of media and communication science while you immerse yourself in:
\- Designing
\- Digital and visual communication
\- Design
\- Design practice
\- Design process
\- Interactive media
Through the design process and its methods, you will develop skills in:
\- Design thinking
\- Co-creation
\- Participatory design
\- Social design
\- Inclusive design for visual media
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General requirements + Civics 1b or 1a1 + 1a2. Upper secondary English course 6.
While studying
Education
The education begins with a common theoretical semester for everyone studying media and communication science, where you as a student gain basic knowledge in media and communication science to understand and navigate today's media landscape. You then immerse yourself in design, visual, communicative and aesthetic theories while developing your skills in design process and media production.The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, workshops and group work, where we often work with real cases from real life. The education is based a lot on self-study and therefore requires you to invest a lot of energy in addition to the scheduled teaching. But it's worth it to get a 40-hour work week that you plan yourself.
Form of Instruction
The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, workshops, and group work. On average, you have scheduled classes two to three times a week, though it may vary depending on the course. The programme is greatly based on self-study and therefore requires you to invest a lot of time and energy in addition to the scheduled teaching. You should prepare for a 40-hour working week that you plan yourself.Examination
Examinations usually take place at the end of each course, part-course or module, and you also have the opportunity to study abroad during one semester of optional studies. The program has special exchange places at several universities and Karlstad University has cooperation agreements with a number of colleges and universities both in and outside Europe.Study Abroad
The elective 30 ECTS credits offers students the opportunity to study abroad. Karlstad University has exchange agreements with many universities around the world to which students at the university are eligible to apply.Professional Contact
Through our membership in Sweden's designers and Svensk Form, you get opportunities to network in tailor-made design networks during the training. You also have the opportunity to contact working life through the Meka network, which brings together companies and organizations within the media industry. During the education, we also invite lecturers from working life in our courses, which gives you a good idea of what your future work might look like, and also a good opportunity to network. So what are you waiting for? Apply to the program now and give your education an individual profile by choosing an internship at any company or organization in the media industry during your free semester.Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Media and Communication Studies (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Text, Communication and Organization (Obligatory) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Visual communication and design I (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Visual communication and design II (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Strategic digital communication (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Optional course (Optional) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Visual Communication and Design III (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
Please note - not all programmes offer elective or optional courses.
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Future prospects
Employment Market
There is an increasing demand for design expertise within a growing number of industries, greatly due to the societal challenges that we are facing, especially in terms of climate change, energy, and sustainability. A designer is well suited to lead the complex processes needed to meet these challenges, with the multidisciplinary, exploratory approach that is central in the design process. Your skills as a designer are in demand within, for example, the private and public sectors, innovation agencies, advertising and communication agencies, municipalities, administrations, and government agencies. You can work as a designer, visual strategist, visual communicator, or with various forms of media production, for example, film, web, apps, UX design, and social media, etc.Degree
Upon completion of this three-year, first cycle programme of 180 ECTS credits, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communication Studies.Further Studies
When you have completed the program, you are eligible to apply to a study for a master's degree or master's program in media and communication science. You can then move on to postgraduate studies, mainly in the subject of media and communication science and our Geomedia Master, which links media and communication science with place. You can read more about the Geomedia master here: [https://www.kau.se/medie-och-kommunikationsvetenskap/utbildning/program/masterprogram-i-geomediastudenter-medier]()Tuition fees
- Total fee: 288,000 SEK
- Per semester / First payment: 48,000 SEK
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are an exchange student or a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.