Visual Communications Scholarships
See What's Out There For You
What is not to be considered visual communications? Almost every sign, magazine, film or artistic work falls under the realm of visual communications. This is the expansive field of study that attempts to collate historical design and methods of communication with contemporary expression across a rapidly changing palette of technological tools.
Students in Visual Communications majors are usually either studying in the art and design environment or in the mass communications and journalism schools. Based on your choice of program, you may concentrate in anything from medical illustration to magazine design and layout.
Professionally graduates of visual communications programs may find jobs in almost any field, especially in positions where communications tools are necessary. You could be working in advertising, broadcast journalism, film and television, instructional, web or graphic design jobs.
Organizational
Visual Communications students whose focus is on the rapidly changing visual environment of the medical field, especially that of medical illustration, may already be familiar with the Vesalius Trust. The Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences is a professional organization whose roots lie in both the medical illustration and the health sciences communications professions. Practitioners of either specialty often share similar goals, especially in the fast-paced environment of ultra high-tech communications media as it applies to the health sciences. Scholarships include:
- For teacher/educators in the health sciences field there may be no better kudos than the Dr. Frank H. Netter Award. This award honors educators whose classroom materials have integrated visual communications media that have effectively enlightened and delivered persuasive education.
- Inez Demonet Scholarships go to students whose passion and talent lies in medical illustration. Awards are $2,000 and include additional funding that allows the recipient to be present at the annual conference.
- Alan W. Cole Scholarship Fund recognizes the most academically talented medical illustration student from the bunch of applicants.
- First year visual comm students whose emphasis is on medical illustration, may apply for the Charlotte S. Holt Fund.
- Medical Illustration professionals may apply to the Vesalius Trust for various travel scholarships and continuing education programs. Awards typically help fund costs associated with annual meetings and other professional events.
Specific Colleges
Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication is one of the best recognized in the Midwest. The program integrates an interdisciplinary curriculum that engages students in visual communications methods in photography, web design, and print and film media. Scholarships include, but are not limited to:
- Charles L. Scott Scholarships offer generous awards to a varying number of eligible applicants each year. Students must be majors in Visual Communications with both an aptitude for the field and a solid academic record overall.
- Minority students may be eligible for the Vern Utley Scholarships awarded also for academics and interest in Visual Communications.
- Madeline L. Utley Scholarships are reserved for those students in the major who not only show promise, but also exhibit unusual financial need.
- Diane K. Gentry Visual Communications Scholarships are designed for students whose interests and talents lie in photojournalism.
Students in the Visual Communications major at Truman State University in Missouri may qualify for the $200 Bob And Brenda Jones Visual Communications Scholarships. These modest awards reward talent and financial need.
The Department of Industrial, Interior, and Visual Communication Design at Ohio State University trains students in historical and cutting edge design and visual communication. Participants are familiar with print and type, design problems, 2-D and 3-D space, as well as the elements of industrial and interior design. Scholarships in the department include:
- Charles Wallschlaeger Scholarship Fund memorializes a former faculty member at the same time it provides generous scholarships for students in the department.
- Sara Jane Pyne Memorial Scholarships in the Visual Arts is awarded to academically talented students.
- Gim and Jan Jay Scholarships go to Asian-American students that excel in the department.
Visual communication scholarships at the University of Minnesota are sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication:
- Thomas F. Barnhart Memorial Scholarships are open to undergraduate or graduate students whose chief interest is visual communications, but who are also worthy of financial assistance.
- Anita Beck Memorial Scholarships are firstly awarded to students whose talent and passion are best demonstrated through photographic communication. Preference is given to those with economic need.
- David Donhowe Shippee Memorial Scholarships are given to upperclassmen who are concentrating on visual communications studies. Applicants with outstanding financial need are considered first.