Visual Communication and Musical Theatre approved as newest academic offerings at Luther College

The Digital Media Center is just one of the many tools students have access to within the Visual Communication program at Luther College

Luther College has added Visual Communication and Musical Theatre to their 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 Luther professor of art Richard Merritt. 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.

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.