Program of visual communications design

The program of visual communications design at Yunnan University -- located in Southwest China’s Yunnan province -- was approved by the Ministry of Education.

It is being hosted by YNU and Michigan Technological University, or MTU in the United States.

Officials said it aims to introduce international high-quality educational resources. The training plan is jointly formulated by YNU and MTU and teaching is conducted by teachers from both universities.

Training objectives: The program introduces advanced international teaching concepts, curriculum systems, and teaching methods from MTU, in order to cultivate innovative professionals who have a vision for international design culture, grasp the characteristics of Chinese and foreign design culture, have a systematic visual communication design theory and application ability, have design capabilities for print media and modern digital media, have media promotion and communications skills and master a foreign language.

Course length: four years. Degree: bachelor's degree.

Students who study at YNU for four years and pass all training programs and meet the graduation requirements of the school of international studies of YNU, will be allowed to graduate and be issued a bachelor's degree certificate. Some of these students’ classes will be offered by students from MTU.

After studying at YNU for the first two years, students can voluntarily choose to go to MTU for another two years of study. Students who meet the graduation requirements will receive a bachelor's degree from MTU. Students who have completed the prescribed content of YNU’s training program within the school's prescribed period of study -- and have passed the examinations and graduation requirements -- will be issued a bachelor's degree certificate.

Main courses: introduction to art design, introduction to technology communications, introduction to rhetoric, introduction to digital media, introduction to digital imaging, speech and multimedia, image and information design, introduction to film, technology and professional communications, media industry, visual media analysis, introduction to web design, media and globalization, new media theory, international technology communications, advanced topics in media studies, professional development of humanities, art appreciation, publishing and information management. Some courses are taught in both Chinese and English, and some courses are taught by teachers from MTU in English.

Employment direction: Graduates can engage in visual communications design, teaching, research and management in professional design institutions, enterprises, news media organizations, institutions of higher learning and research units.