Exploring the Current State of and Future Directions for Visual Communication Curriculum in the United States

A web-based survey of administrators (N = 59) and visual instructors (N = 60) was employed to examine the state of visual communication curricula among U.S. journalism and mass communication programs. Findings indicate courses were small, skills-based, and required for a limited number of students. Instructors had strong professional backgrounds, had strong opinions for expanding visual commu-nication education, and had less confidence than administrators did that their students would have competence upon landing a job.