Visual Communication: Design & Technology
Design & Technology emphasizes creative problem solving and insight into the mix of art, design and technical competence. This program includes a Graphic Design track, a Mixed Media track, and a Graphic & Print Production track, with a core of courses common to all. The core includes general education components essential to a collegiate education and technical courses giving students an introduction to design concepts and computer graphics. In addition to core courses, students will take specialty courses for their selected track.
The Graphic Design track emphasizes several aspects of graphic design and focuses on the development of creative skills and technical skills to design logos, advertising, packaging, and a wide variety of publication materials.
The Mixed Media track provides students with a mix of courses within the visual communication program or approved electives that serves the interests and skills of the student. These courses may include web design, animation, printing & graphics production, photography, and video production.
The Graphic & Print Production track provides students training in the operations of various printing and graphics production equipment, along with finishing and bindery equipment. Students will learn skills to design and produce a wide variety of printed materials, promotional items, and signage; in addition to proper prepress and file preparation procedures.
Students also have a variety of certificates they may earn in the process of completing their AAS degree. These certificates include: Design Assistant, Digital Photography, Graphic Design, Vinyl & Heat Transfer Processes, Mixed Media, Screen Printing, Vinyl Wraps & Sign Production, Print Production, Web Design, Video Production, and Entrepreneurial Certificate in Visual Communication.
Prospective employment opportunities are in communication and advertising agencies, news media, printing and signage companies, public relations departments, and other creative services departments and businesses, including web design and video production studios. Students also have many options if they desire to become an entrepreneur in the visual communication field.
All technical courses must be completed with a ‘C’ (2.0) or greater to advance in all Visual Communication programs.
Approved Technical Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| VCA 105 | Drawing Concepts | 3 |
| VCA 106 | Creative Typographical Design | 3 |
| VCA 108 | Digital Color Theory 1 | 3 |
| VCA 120 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| VCA 131 | Digital Photography II | 3 |
| VCA 132 | Illustration For Advertising | 3 |
| VCA 151 | Digital Filmmaking I | 3 |
| VCA 152 | Digital Filmmaking II | 3 |
| VCA 160 | Commercial Photography I | 3 |
| VCA 161 | Commercial Photography II | 3 |
| VCA 170 | Advertising Design I | 3 |
| VCA 171 | Advertising Design II | 3 |
| VCA 240 | 3 | |
| VCA 251 | Digital Filmmaking III | 3 |
| VCA 252 | Digital Filmmaking IV | 3 |
| VCA 260 | Commercial Photography III | 4 |
| VCA 261 | Commercial Photography IV | 4 |
| VCA 270 | Advertising Design III | 4 |
| VCA 271 | Advertising Design IV | 4 |
| VCA 280 | Professional Portfolio Development 1 | 3 |
| VCC 100 | Introduction to Visual Communication 1 | 3 |
| VCC 106 | Typography 1 | 3 |
| VCC 110 | Design Concepts 1 | 3 |
| VCC 115 | 3 | |
| VCC 125 | Computer Graphics I 1,2 | 3 |
| VCC 135 | Photo Editing for Photography | 3 |
| VCC 150 | Mac Basics 2 | 3 |
| VCC 166 | Photoshop Basics 1 | 3 |
| VCC 200 | Illustrator Basics 1 | 3 |
| VCC 210 | Advanced Computer Illustration | 3 |
| VCC 214 | Production Design I | 3 |
| VCC 216 | Production Design II | 3 |
| VCC 218 | Production Design III | 3 |
| VCC 220 | InDesign Basics 1 | 3 |
| VCC 230 | Advanced InDesign | 3 |
| VCC 235 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
| VCC 245 | Graphic Design II | 3 |
| VCC 255 | Emerging Media Design | 3 |
| VCC 260 | Computer Graphics II | 3 |
| VCC 265 | Graphic Design III | 3 |
| VCC 266 | Advanced Photoshop | 3 |
| VCC 270 | Acrobat Basics | 3 |
| VCC 275 | Digital Production | 3 |
| VCC 285 | Production Design IV | 3 |
| VCC 297 | Internship 1 | 3 |
| VCC 298 | Practicum | 3 |
| VCM 110 | Fundamentals of Animation | 3 |
| VCM 115 | 2-D Animation | 3 |
| VCM 125 | Foundations of Video Production | 3 |
| VCM 140 | Digital Video | 3 |
| VCM 150 | Audio Production I | 3 |
| VCM 205 | Introduction to HTML | 3 |
| VCM 210 | 3-D Animation | 3 |
| VCM 215 | After Effects | 3 |
| VCM 220 | Webpage Design | 3 |
| VCM 225 | Advanced 3-D Animation | 3 |
| VCM 230 | Advanced Webpage Design | 3 |
| VCM 240 | Advanced Digital Video | 3 |
| VCP 250 | 3 | |
| VCP 255 | Special Topics Lab | 3 |
| VCP 285 | Electronic Prepress | 3 |
| COE 199 | Cooperative Education: (Topic) | 3 |
| ART 110 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 112 | 2-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| IMD 133 | Beginning Web Design | 3 |
| IMD 180 | Intermediate Web Design | 3 |
| IMD 230 | Advanced Web Design | 3 |
| IMD 232 | Web Design with Adobe Dreamweaver | 3 |
| IMD 240 | Multimedia Development for the Web | 3 |
| IMD 250 | Digital Video Editing I | 3 |
| IMD 255 | Digital Video Editing II | 3 |
| IMD 258 | Visual Effects for Video | 3 |
| 1 | CORE courses |
| 2 | Approved for Digital Literacy |