Program Coordinator Andrew Carrington
The Graphic Design Program is an intensive immersion into digital design using traditional design concepts and principles as well as industry-standard software and technologies. It combines the fundamentals of computing, digital video and audio, graphics, layout, interactivity and web technology as well as general education courses to strengthen your marketability skills. You’ll receive hands-on experience in our cross-platform computer labs (PC and Mac) incorporating industry-current software with concept and design elements. Students are introduced to a variety of software and develop skills in digital illustration and image manipulation, page layout, electronic prepress, web page design and multimedia applications.
Program Learning Objectives
Demonstrate appropriate steps toward completing a design: research, choice of software, application of principles and concepts, and timely completion
Demonstrate good communication skills: written, oral, and listening
Demonstrate a willingness to try, show flexibility, and a willingness to change based on feedback
Recognize the importance of working as a team
Demonstrate critical thinking along with using appropriate design-related terminology in discussion of design in critiques
Graduation Requirements: To be eligible for graduation with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design, Certificate of Proficiency in Graphic Design, or to earn the Certificate of Completion in the area of specialty, a student must: 1.) Earn a grade of “C” or better in all required computer graphics courses (defined as courses with an ART, CGRD or WEB prefix), and 2.) Satisfy the requirements for an Associate in Applied Science degree, Certificate of Proficiency, or Certificate of Completion as outlined in this catalog.
30 and Out A.A.S. Degree Program Option: Anyone who has already earned an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design by completing 30 semester hours of approved Graphic Design courses. Students interested in this program option must contact the program coordinator to receive written approval detailing the specific courses required for this degree option.
Graphic Design - CGRD.AAS
Associate in Applied Science Degree
First Semester
ART 131 - Basic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 144 - Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
ENGL 131 - First-Year English I 3 credit hours
or
ENGL 137 - Technical Writing 3 credit hours
SPCH 131 - Public Speaking 3 credit hours
or
SPCH 145 - Public And Private Communication 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Second Semester
ART 132 - Basic Design II 3 credit hours
CGRD 161 - Graphic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 140 - Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 150 - Desktop Publishing Using InDesign 3 credit hours
MKTG 240 - Social Media Marketing 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Third Semester
ART 141 - History Of Art I 3 credit hours
or
ART 142 - History Of Art II 3 credit hours
CGRD 162 - Graphic Design II 3 credit hours
Computer Graphics Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
MATH 129 - Business Mathematics 3 credit hours
or
MATH 138 - General Education Mathematics 3 credit hours
PSYC 131 - General Psychology 3 credit hours
or
SOCI 131 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Fourth Semester
CGRD 262 - Graphic Design III 3 credit hours
CGRD 243 - Marketing Creative Portfolios 3 credit hours
CGRD 264 - Computer Graphics Cooperative 3 credit hours
Computer Graphics Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
Mathematics or Physical/Life Science Non-Lab Elective 3 credit hours*
*When using MATH 112 to meet the Mathematics/Physical/Life Science elective requirement, a student must earn a grade of C or better.
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Approved Graphic Design Electives List
Animation/Gaming Specialty
CGRD 110 - Videogame: Theory and Design 3 credit hours
CGRD 240 - 3D Modeling And Animation 3 credit hours
CGRD 260 - Advanced 3D Modeling And Animation 3 credit hours
WEB 245 - Web Animation 3 credit hours
Art Specialty
ART 133 - Drawing I 3 credit hours
ART 136 - Three-Dimensional Design 3 credit hours
ART 141 - History Of Art I 3 credit hours
ART 142 - History Of Art II 3 credit hours
CGRD 242 - Advanced Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 244 - Advanced Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
E-Commerce and Social Media Specialty
BUSN 161 - Issues in E-Commerce & Social Media 3 credit hours
Layout/Advertising Specialty
CGRD 250 - Advanced Adobe InDesign 3 credit hours
MCOM 160 - Introduction To Advertising 3 credit hours
Photography Specialty
ART 151 - Beginning Photography I 3 credit hours
ART 152 - Beginning Photography II 3 credit hours
CGRD 241 - Advanced Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 242 - Advanced Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
Video Production Specialty
MCOM 130 - Introduction To Video Production 3 credit hours
MUSI 125 - Music Video Production 3 credit hours
Web Publishing Specialty
WEB 101 - Intro To User Experience (UX) Design 3 credit hours
WEB 135 - Web Page Design Essentials 3 credit hours
WEB 150 - Dreamweaver 3 credit hours
WEB 190 - HTML and CSS 3 credit hours
WEB 191 - JavaScript and PHP 3 credit hours
WEB 201 - Interaction Design (IxD) 3 credit hours
WEB 245 - Web Animation 3 credit hours
Total credit hours required for A.A.S. in Graphic Design: 60
Graphic Design - CGRD.CP
Certificate of Proficiency
First Semester
ART 131 - Basic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 144 - Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
MKTG 240 - Social Media Marketing 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Second Semester
ART 132 - Basic Design II 3 credit hours
CGRD 161 - Graphic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 150 - Desktop Publishing Using InDesign 3 credit hours
Computer Graphics Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Third Semester
CGRD 162 - Graphic Design II 3 credit hours
CGRD 140 - Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 264 - Computer Graphics Cooperative 3 credit hours
Computer Graphics Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Total hours required for Certificate of Proficiency in Graphic Design: 36
Graphic Design - CGRD.CC
Certificate of Completion
First Semester
ART 131 - Basic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 144 - Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
MKTG 240 - Social Media Marketing 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Second Semester
CGRD 161 - Graphic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 140 - Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 150 - Desktop Publishing Using InDesign 3 credit hours
Computer Graphics Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Total hours required for Certificate of Completion in Graphic Design: 24
Animation - CGRD/ANIM.CC
Certificate of Completion
First Semester
CGRD 110 - Videogame: Theory and Design 3 credit hours
CGRD 144 - Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
CGRD 240 - 3D Modeling And Animation 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours
Second Semester
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 260 - Advanced 3D Modeling And Animation 3 credit hours
WEB 245 - Web Animation 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours
Total hours required for Certificate of Completion in Animation: 18
Digital Publishing - DGTL.CC
Certificate of Completion
First Semester
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
CGRD 144 - Adobe Illustrator 3 credit hours
WEB 135 - Web Page Design Essentials 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours
Second Semester
CGRD 161 - Graphic Design I 3 credit hours
CGRD 140 - Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 150 - Desktop Publishing Using InDesign 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours
Total hours required for Certificate of Proficiency in Digital Publishing: 18
Photography - PHOTO.CC
Certificate of Completion
First Semester
ART 151 - Beginning Photography I 3 credit hours
CGRD 140 - Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 142 - Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours
Second Semester
ART 152 - Beginning Photography II 3 credit hours
CGRD 241 - Advanced Digital Photography 3 credit hours
CGRD 242 - Advanced Adobe Photoshop 3 credit hours
Total: 9 Credit Hours