Transforming Visual Communication in Dallas

Achieve a higher level of proficiency in creative design innovation, problem-solving techniques, design business strategy, marketing and more. Or prepare for a career in design education. Based in Dallas, our facilities immerse you in one of the nation’s most vibrant areas for business and design. Work with award-winning faculty and industry leaders as you develop advanced skills in creative conceptualization, design process, and product and pedagogy development. Our program places special concentration on design criticism combined with courses in creative strategies or business practices, professional leadership, design history, and design education curriculum. Our MFA program is a terminal degree that prepares you to teach at the university level or to advance your design career.

A&M-Commerce By the numbers

#1

Fastest-Growing public

university in Texas

/

$10M

awarded annually

in scholarships

/

89%

alumni working full-

time within six months

/

15%

nationally for social mobility

/

20:1

student-to-faculty

Ratio

/

48

states

Represented

/

53

countries

Represented

Is This Program a Good Fit for You?

Visual Communication students are typically interested in:

  • Developing visual elements that represent and communicate the identity of a brand, including logos, color schemes and typography.
  • Capturing and editing images to convey messages, tell stories, and create visual impact.
  • Producing digital content, including videos, animations, and interactive media for various platforms like websites and social media.

Careers

  • Many of our graduates find employment as instructors at community colleges or universities. People looking for careers in marketing, web development, graphic design, education or nonprofits may benefit from a degree in visual communication.

Career Possibilities

College Instructor
$80,840
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
$138,730
Web Developers and Digital Designers
$80,730
Graphic Designers
$57,990

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022

See Yourself Succeed With a Degree in Visual Communication

VisCom faculty member speaking to group while pointing at a display board.

Dedicated Faculty

Engage with exceptional faculty who challenge your creativity and artistic ability. You'll work alongside award-winning professionals as you develop your conceptual and practical skills.

Creative Problem Solving

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 the pedagogy of design education and curriculum development to empower student learning and success.

Skyline view of the Dallas Site.

Our Facilities

A&M-Commerce is transforming visual communication in Dallas. Our program benefits from the expertise of industry leaders. Let the Dallas-Fort Worth cityscape awaken your creativity!

Instructor teaching course in dark class with projector.

Nationally Accredited

The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD). Accreditation ensures that the degrees, curriculum and faculty meet rigorous standards of breadth and quality.

Career Readiness

The MFA prepares design educators for a robust job market where a terminal degree is either required or highly advantageous. Achieve a higher level of proficiency in creative design innovation and problem-solving techniques, design business strategy, ideation and marketing, and prepare for a career in design education.

What You Will learn

An MFA in Art with an emphasis in Visual Communication will offer you the opportunity to:

  • Enhance your critical thinking and creative strategies
  • Learn innovative business practices, leadership in the workforce and product marketing
  • Study pedagogical theories and techniques to prepare you to teach at the college level
  • Complete a thesis exhibition that addresses an issue of social, educational, environmental or economic importance
5 students surrounding table in VisComm MFA classroom.

Course Delivery and Resources

Designed for current educators and working professionals, we offer courses in the evening to fit your schedule. First-semester students take courses two nights per week. Courses are offered at the new A&M-Commerce at Dallas location. 

Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times.  Locations and times are subject to change.

Graduate Program Cost

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.

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Admission

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “Art, MFA” as your “Major.”

Domestic Application Fee 395064

  • Pay the $50 application fee.
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Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Provisional Status

After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100

Your Graduate Coordinator

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Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.

  • We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you are applying for the MFA program.

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Provide the following material;

  • 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
    • Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com

Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Veronica Vaughan, Graduate Program Coordinator.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

  • Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
  • Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
  • Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Graduate Enrollment Specialist Jennifer Faunce

Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

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Deadlines

  • Fall admission consideration: May 10
  • Spring admission consideration: October 15
  • Summer admission consideration: March 15

Applicants must have a completed admissions file by May 10 for fall consideration.

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “Art, MFA” as your “Major.”

International Application Fee

  • Pay the $75 application fee
Back to menu

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100

Your Graduate Coordinator

Back to menu

  • Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
    Texas A&M University-Commerce

    Attn: Graduate School
    2600 S. Neal St.
    Commerce, Texas 75428

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce Texas 75428

Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you are applying for the MFA program.

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Provide the following material;

  • 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
    • Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com

Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Veronica Vaughan, Graduate Program Coordinator.

You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:

  • TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
  • IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
  • PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
  • Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)

*Scores must be less than two years old.

Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted

  • Official sponsor statement
  • Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

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