The curriculum is broad-based, embracing the changing skills of the traditional graphic art sector, the new media and audiovisual subjects; in a process of increasing complexity, integration is achieved through the use of printing, photography, animation, audiovisual and computer science for communications. The teaching structure combines theoretical study with practical activity, which graduates will find useful, both in order to find appropriate employment and in order to pursue further specialist study.

SUPSI visual communicators know how to organise linguistic contents and graphic, plastic and audio elements; how to intervene in the creation of images (fixed, animated, drawn and 3D), and also how to create and refine, in a visual form, paper, multimedia, internet and intranet sites, CD-roms and DVDs; they know how to draw on their acquired understanding in order to design and evaluate products made by themselves or by third parties. They know how to translate the meaning of a text into visual form; they possess skills in the fields of composition and editing; they communicate by means of fixed and moving images; they can navigate around the various communication production sectors, quickly finding a niche in one of these sectors or operating in "cross-platform" structures; they know how to recognise and conjugate the various sign systems used to produce communication; they know how to acquire different languages in order to be able to apply them, study them in greater detail, view them in context, manage them, connect and evaluate them. They know how to work both alone and in a team, how to recognise the extent and the quality of the work executed in sectors related to their own, how to discuss projects with colleagues and sector specialists who are assigned to specific and complementary processes. They also know how to evaluate the quality of a product; once they have found employment, they know how to apply their skills to a production process in a balanced, competent and flexible manner.

As in the other Swiss SUP institutions in the arts and design sector, admission to the bachelor course is subject to passing an aptitude test aimed at evaluating the artistic and creative skills of applicants. Students with school leaving examination from an artistic (MPA) or technical (MPT) high school in a discipline related to the field of study, or with school leaving examination from an artistic grammar school or from a five-year artistic high school (Italy) are granted direct admittance to the aptitude test, while those with school leaving examination from a general secondary school or from other vocational secondary schools must first complete either one year of on-the-job experience, recognised by SUPSI, in a field related to the selected course of study, or a foundation year at a Swiss art college. Applicants aged more than 25 and who lack these qualifications may be admitted provided they have significant training and work experience.

Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication can fit easily into communication production or “cross platform” structures, and are also qualified to continue their studies in programmes conducted in Switzerland and abroad, in areas related to the communication and image sector. Visual communication education focuses on creative practice with more detailed study conducted in three professional areas that are fundamental to a broad-based and flexible professional profile: traditional graphic art, new technologies and audiovisual. Moreover, the teaching structure combines theoretical study with practical activity. During the project courses, in the ateliers and workshops, students collaborate actively with professional operators who work in the field of communication and imaging. Intensive workshops conducted by professors from all over the world are conducted twice a year.