Graphic Design and Digital Media


Certificate of Achievement

This multidisciplinary certificate program prepares the student to apply the principles and elements of design to create original graphic design work in digital media and web design. Students will create digital works using cutting-edge software, such as the Adobe Suite, including Dreamweaver, Animate (formerly Flash), Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Students receive training in a wide range of activities including typography, publication design, and computer-aided graphic design. Students will develop skills in clear and effective visual communication. Presentation of information (i.e., selection of colors, paper, and media) is also emphasized.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

  • Apply graphic design concepts to produce original digital works.
  • Utilize typography to design materials.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate color selection for print and non-print media.
  • Utilize website development tools to create and implement a website.
  • Demonstrate entry level skills in application software relevant to the graphic design field.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the graphic design field, including its employment opportunities and future direction.
Program Requirements:

Depending upon a student's placement or for transfer purposes, this program may have pre-requisite(s). See a pathway coordinator or student development specialist for advisement.

Certificate Requirements

Introduction to Graphic Design
Syllabus
Course Code:
GD 110
Course Description:

Cross listed as AR 110.

This course trains students to apply the principles and elements of design to create original work in advertising, editorial, and promotional print materials and presentations. Students will explore typography and how it relates to the layout and design of information, as well as portfolio presentation and preparing work for print. Students will use graphic design programs in the Adobe suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab / Studio: 0 Hours, Clinical / Fieldwork: 0 Hours
Prerequisites:

DE 010 - Academic English I
OR
ENR 107 - Advanced ELS Reading and Speaking II

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
GD 110
Introduction to Graphic Design
3
Website Design and Tools
Syllabus
Course Code:
GD 170
Course Description:

Cross listed as CIS 170.

This course provides a hands-on experience for students interested in learning how to develop websites. Students gain an understanding of terminology, web design, and web operation functions, and they explore a variety of methods available for building a website. Both HTML5 and CSS3 will be introduced. Students use a high-level, web-authoring tool to build web pages for a website that can utilize a database and is published onto a network server.

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab / Studio: 0 Hours, Clinical / Fieldwork: 0 Hours
Prerequisites:

CIS 101 - Computer Concepts and Applications
OR
CIS 107 - Information Technology Fundamentals and Applications

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
GD 170
Website Design and Tools
3
Typography
Syllabus
Course Code:
GD 205
Course Description:

This course provides an essential foundation for graphic design students to understand how to use type effectively to communicate information and ideas. Students are introduced to the history of written communication: from the earliest cave pictographs and the invention of movable type, to today’s digital creation of typefaces, logos, icons, and symbols that are part of the continued human desire to express ideas and describe the world. Typographic terms, classifications, and styles, as well as measurement systems, are discussed in order to explore the differences between legibility and readability. Creating a visual hierarchy with text formatting and basic layout is covered in lectures as well as lab assignments.

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites:

AR 110 - Introduction to Graphic Design
OR
GD 110 - Introduction to Graphic Design

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
GD 205
Typography
3
Layout and Publication Design
Syllabus
Course Code:
GD 210
Course Description:

Cross listed as AR 210.

This course trains the student to apply the principles and elements of design to create original work in digital media, advertising and promotional print materials. Students will explore how information flows through multi-page layouts to build original pages. The student will further explore software used by graphic designers including programs in the Adobe Suite, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

 

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites:

AR 110 - Introduction to Graphic Design
OR
GD 110 - Introduction to Graphic Design
 

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
GD 210
Layout and Publication Design
3
Advanced Design and Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Course Code:
GD 211
Course Description:

Cross listed as AR 211.

This course trains the student to apply the principles and elements of design along with typographic skills to create a variety of original print and media projects using Adobe Software. Topics on Branding, Advertising Campaign, Editorial Design and Motion graphics will be explored.Advanced software techniques will be used to help students create original portfolio artwork.

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites:

GD 205 - Typography

AR 210 - Layout and Publication Design
OR
GD 210 - Layout and Publication Design

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
GD 211
Advanced Design and Motion Graphics
3
User Experience Design
Syllabus
Course Code:
CIS 274
Course Description:

This course introduces students to the principals and practices of User Experience (UX) Design. It covers the design process, user research, prototyping, usability testing and user-centered design principal. Students will learn to create user-friendly digital interfaces for websites, applications, and digial products. Students will also be exposed to prototyping applications. 

Credit:
3
Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab / Studio: 0 Hours, Clinical / Fieldwork: 0 Hours
Prerequisites:

CIS 170 - Website Design & Tools

or

GD 170 - Website Design & Tools (Cross listed course)

Semesters Offered:

Fall, Spring

x
CIS 274
User Experience Design
3
Total Credits 18
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