Visual Communications Core (VCC)

Introduces the concepts, vocabulary, and processes used in relation to visual communication. Includes various disciplines such as advertising and design, multimedia, and printing. Identifies career paths and specific job skills within the visual communication field. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Explores the use of type as a major element of design. Students become skilled in selecting appropriate type styles and fonts for a variety of media. Provides experience in using type as a creative tool to produce interesting, type-only designs. Applies elements and principles of design. Students must receive a final grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Explore the elements and principles of design to develop skills in producing creative ideas and designs for various media forms. Apply the design process to advertising and marketing strategies that includes legal issues, media strategies, and customer behavior. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Pre-requisite Or Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces advertising, promotion, creative and marketing concepts related to the visual communication field. Topics also include legal issues, media strategy, and consumer behavior. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces students to computer technologies that are specific to the visual communication industry and fulfills the digital literacy requirements. Develops primary skills using software applications for page layout, illustration, and digital imaging. Students must complete with a final grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Explores Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop techniques needed to edit photographs. Explore the differences and similarities of Lightroom and Photoshop and how you can use them together. Develop the skills needed as a photographer to edit photographs after sessions. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides an introduction to Apple/Mac computer technology. Emphasizes industry specific needs, including hardware and software. Presents basic uses of the Internet, email, file management and computer ethics. This course fulfills the computer/digital literacy requirement. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Basic keyboarding recommended. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Develop skills to correct, enhance, and manipulate digital photos, create image composites, and prepare images for the print and web using Adobe Photoshop. Introduce raster graphics and their use in the visual communication industry. Create raster graphics from simple to increasingly complex images and designs will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Develop skills to create illustrations and vector graphics for a variety of media using Adobe Illustrator. Introduce vector graphics and their use in the visual communication industry. Create vector graphics from simple to increasingly complex designs will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in computer illustration. Creation of vector graphics and complex designs will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Pre-requisite Or Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces concepts, vocabulary, and processes used in relation to the design and production of graphics for various media and promotional materials. Provides students with knowledge and training of various production equipment along with software applications used to design graphics. Students must receive a final grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces students to the technologies of pad printing and screen printing. Provides students with knowledge and training of various equipment and procedures to properly prepare graphics for these printing technologies. Provides students with training in appropriate software applications used to design and prepare graphics or a variety of substrates and promotional items. Students must receive a final grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Pre-requisite Or Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides basic knowledge of the steps and procedures used to prepare, troubleshoot, and correct files for digital printing. Provides students with the basic skills to produce and utilize PDF files. Provides knowledge in the importance of proper imposition and page-layout of various publications. Provides knowledge and training of various finishing and binding techniques used in the industry. Students must receive a final grade of "C" or better to Advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Develop skills in page design and layout using Adobe InDesign software. Apply concepts and mechanics of page layout to create a variety of publications from single page to multi-page documents. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides advanced skills in page design and layout using Adobe InDesign software. Design and creation of a variety of complex and multi-page documents will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Explores the use of elements and principles of design in the creative ideation process. Uses the creative brief process to research, design, and create corporate identities, logos, promotional items, collateral materials and advertising. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Explores advanced techniques in the creative ideation process to design professional corporate identities, product labels, promotional items, collateral materials, signage and advertising campaigns. Emphasizes the use of graphics standards for corporate branding. Defines industry standards and specifications for product labels. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Explores latest trends of new media technology related to the visual communication field. Topics will be specified by instructor according to latest trends in the region that could include social media, interactive media, advertising and marketing trends and a variety of media technologies. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides advanced skills in computer graphics using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Create a variety of complex designs and multi-page documents will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours)

Explores advanced techniques in the creative ideation process to design professional corporate identities, packaging, and advertising campaigns. Defines specifications, concepts, and terminology for the design and production of packaging and product labels. Emphasizes creative problem solving and legal requirements for the packaging industry. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Develops advanced skills to digitally manipulate, enhance, and create composite photographs. Applies advanced principles, concepts, and techniques for graphic design and digital photography. Creation and manipulation of graphics for complex images and designs will be the focus of this course. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides students with the basic skills using Adobe Acrobat to produce and utilize PDF documents. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces students to basic skills using Adobe Acrobat to create interactive PDF documents and prepare files for print production. Students will gain knowledge in pre-production operations such as color separations, preflight and proofing procedures, imposition for multi-page documents, and set-up for variable data printing. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better to advance in all Visual Communication courses. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Introduces concepts, vocabulary, and processes used in relation to design and produce vehicle wraps, wall wraps, and other large format graphics. Provides knowledge in the operation of wide format printers, laminators, and vinyl cutters. Covers substrates and laminates for various applications, tools and supplies for preparation and installation of printed graphics, and techniques used to install graphics. Provides students with knowledge and training in design and RIP software used to produce graphics. Students will troubleshoot files and production workflow. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Provides supervised on-the-job work experience related to the students educational objectives. Students participating in Internships do not receive compensation for their work. Co-Op/Internship: 3 credits (180 contact hours).

Provides supervised on-the-job work experience related to the student's educational objectives. Student participating in the Practicum do not receive compensation. Practicum/Internship: 3 credits (180 contact hours).