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Visual Communications Core (VCC)

VCC 100  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to Visual Communication  

Introduces the concepts, vocabulary, and processes used in relation to visual communication. Includes various disciplines such as advertising, animation, audio, graphic design, multimedia, printing, production, and video. Identifies career paths and specific job skills within the visual communication field. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 106  (3 credit hours)  
Typography  

Explores the use of type as a major element of design. Emphasizes the selection of appropriate type styles and fonts for a variety of media and content. Includes using type as a creative tool to produce interesting, type-only designs. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 110  (3 credit hours)  
Design Concepts  

Explore the elements and principles of design to develop skills in producing creative design concepts for various media forms. Provides an opportunity to apply concepts in the process of design and project planning. Explores the graphic design disciplines, career competencies and expectations, and ethics to consider in graphic design. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 125  (3 credit hours)  
Computer Graphics I  

Introduces students to computer technologies that are specific to the visual communication industry and fulfills the digital literacy requirements. Develops primary skills using Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Attributes: Digital Literacy, Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 135  (3 credit hours)  
Photo Editing for Photography  

Explores Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop techniques needed to edit photographs. Emphasizes proper importing, photo management, and workflow for editing. Includes discussions on file formats and importance of shooting in Camera RAW for editing purposes. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCA 120 and VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 145  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to Sign & Graphic Production  

Introduces students to career opportunities that exist in the print, sign, and graphics industry. Covers a variety of topics, such as completing a job ticket, estimating, outsourcing and vendor partnerships, inventory control and ordering, and understanding workflow and production schedules. Introduces software, tools, and equipment used in the print, sign, and graphics industry. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 150  (3 credit hours)  
Mac Basics  

Introduces Apple/Mac computer technology. Emphasizes industry specific needs, including hardware and software. Presents basic uses of the Internet, email, file management and computer ethics. Includes an introduction to computer illustration, electronic publication, and digital imaging software. This course fulfills the computer/digital literacy requirement. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: RDG 20.
Attributes: Digital Literacy
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 166  (3 credit hours)  
Photoshop Basics  

Develops skills to correct, enhance, and manipulate digital photos, create image composites, and prepare images for the print and web using Adobe Photoshop. Introduces raster graphics and their use in the visual communication industry. Focuses on creating raster graphics from simple to increasingly complex images and designs. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 125 or VCC 150.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 200  (3 credit hours)  
Illustrator Basics  

Develops skills to create illustrations and vector graphics for a variety of media using Adobe Illustrator. Focuses on creating vector graphics from simple to increasingly complex designs. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 125 or VCC 150.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 210  (3 credit hours)  
Advanced Computer Illustration  

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. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 200.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 214  (3 credit hours)  
Promotional Design & Production  

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).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 216  (3 credit hours)  
Apparel Design & Production  

Introduces students to the technologies to produce t-shirts and other apparel. 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 for a variety of processes. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 218  (3 credit hours)  
Digital Printing & Production  

Provides foundational knowledge of the steps and procedures used to prepare, troubleshoot, and correct files for digital printing of collateral materials and booklets. Utilizes skills to create and utilize PDF files. Explores the importance of proper imposition and page-layout of various publications. Provides knowledge and training of various digital printing, finishing, and binding techniques used in the industry. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 220  (3 credit hours)  
InDesign Basics  

Develops skills in page design and layout using Adobe InDesign software. Applies concepts and mechanics to create a single- and multi-page documents. Integrates various file types to create a finished product in Adobe InDesign. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 125 or VCC 150.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 230  (3 credit hours)  
Advanced InDesign  

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).

Pre-requisite: VCC 220.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 235  (3 credit hours)  
Graphic Design I  

Explores the creative ideation process to develop a corporate identity and brand. Uses the creative brief process to research, design, and create corporate identities, logos, graphic standards, and other corporate designs. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 110 & VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 245  (3 credit hours)  
Graphic Design II  

Explores 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 and advertising. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 235.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 255  (3 credit hours)  
Emerging Media Design  

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).

Pre-requisite: VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 260  (3 credit hours)  
Computer Graphics II  

Provides advanced skills in computer graphics using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Focuses on creation of a variety of complex designs, vector graphics, and multi-page documents will be the focus of this course. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours)

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 110 and VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 265  (3 credit hours)  
Graphic Design III  

Explores advanced techniques in the creative ideation process to design professional corporate identities and packaging. Introduces concepts, theories, terminology, design, and production of hard and soft wall three-dimensional packaging and product labels. Emphasizes creative problem solving, specifications, and legal requirements for the packaging industry. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre- or co-requisite: VCC 235.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 266  (3 credit hours)  
Advanced Photoshop  

Develops advanced skills to digitally manipulate, enhance, and create composite photographs. Applies advanced principles, concepts, and techniques for graphic design and digital photography. Focuses on creation and manipulation of graphics for complex images and designs. Lecture/Lab: 3.0 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 166.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 270  (3 credit hours)  
Acrobat Basics  

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).

Attributes: Technical
Components: LEC: Lecture
VCC 275  (3 credit hours)  
Designing for Sign and Graphic Production  

Explores advanced techniques using Adobe and specialty software to create and prepare graphics for a variety of print, sign and graphic production. Focuses on gaining advanced skills in design concepts and preparing images that focuses on wide format printing. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 110 and VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 280  (3 credit hours)  
Printing & Workflow for Sign and Graphic Production  

Introduces concepts, vocabulary, and processes used to design and produce vehicle wraps, wall wraps, and other large format graphics and signage. Focuses on the operation of wide format printers and other specialty printers. Utilizes raster images processor (RIPs) and presents basic workflow processes. Explains the properties and use of cast vs. calendared vinyl and other specialty vinyl, perforated vinyl, and a variety of substrates for signage. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (135 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 110 and VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAB: Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 285  (3 credit hours)  
Finishing & Installation of Sign and Graphic Production  

Introduces materials, equipment, and processes used for finishing techniques of vehicle wraps, wall wraps, and other large format graphics and signage. Provides knowledge in the operation of a variety of laminators, cutters, and finishing machines. Covers tools and supplies for preparation and installation of printed graphics, and techniques used to install graphics. Integrated Lecture/Lab: 3 credits (90 contact hours).

Pre-requisite: VCC 110 and VCC 125.
Attributes: Technical
Components: LAI: Integrated Laboratory, LEI: Integrated Lecture
VCC 297  (3 credit hours)  
Internship  

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).

Pre-requisite: Permission of Instructor.
Attributes: Technical
Components: COP: Co-op
VCC 298  (3 credit hours)  
Practicum  

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).

Pre-requisite: Permission of Instructor.
Attributes: Technical
Components: PCM: Practicum