Visual Communication and Musical Theatre new academic programs

Luther College has added Visual Communication and Musical Theatre to their 2019-20 academic lineup. Considered the fastest growing form of marketing communication, visual communication is expected to account for 84 percent of all marketing communication by the end of 2018. After unanimous approval from Luther's Board of Regents, Visual Communication has been added as a major and minor to the college's curriculum.

In addition, Musical Theatre, which has experienced a huge resurgence in popular culture, was unanimously approved as the college's newest minor.

"The Visual Communication program at Luther confronts the challenges and opportunities that arise in a world that uploads nearly two billion digital images to the internet every day," said Richard Merritt, Luther professor of art. Through learning how images influence and persuade, students in the program will become informed consumers and producers of visual media, enabling them to create and distribute effective visual communication strategies.

With more students preparing to enter careers in graphic design, web design and media production, Luther's Visual Communication program will offer a variety of courses across disciplines so students can direct their studies to pursue their own unique interests. The program will include faculty in Visual and Performing Arts, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Data Science, Management and English.

"Increasingly, fields like graphic design, advertising, media and film require a broad knowledge base. Studying the liberal arts at Luther College affords students the opportunity to be well grounded as they pursue their respective careers," said Merritt, adding that he is excited to see the ways students "find connections and innovate between their other areas of interest and study across the many disciplines we offer at Luther."

Musical theatre, a longtime staple of live entertainment, has recently recaptured the national spotlight, including at colleges and universities nationwide. Responding to this renewed interest, Luther College is finding the balance between traditional forms and new ones, diversifying the mediums in which musical theatre lives.