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Course Descriptions

Graphic Communications

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC116 Introduction to Digital Art and Design 3 Credits

Prerequisites: Basic Computer Skills Introduces students to the Adobe Creative Cloud Software (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and Acrobat). Students will explore design ideation, process, and effective design thinking and analysis as it relates to Graphic Design. Presents projects and design exercises that will increase student's technical fluency in industry-standards for Graphic Design software applications.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC175 Web Design I 3 Credits

Prerequisites: Basic computer skills. Recommended: GRC 103 and GRC 183.. Introduction to authoring for the World Wide Web using industry standard software applications. Topics covered include planning, designing and building a Web site, aesthetics, creating and optimizing computer graphics for Web, information architecture, navigation and interactivity, Web publishing, Web hosting and site management. Knowledge of the following basic computer skills required: saving, opening, and printing documents, opening and closing applications, creating and managing folders and subfolders, viewing the contents of disk drives and external storage devices, managing desktop items.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC200 Design Thinking and Methodologies 3 Credits

Prerequisites: GRC 116 Builds upon the skills and processes learned in GRC 116. Further investigation and advanced techniques of Adobe Creative Cloud Software (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and Acrobat). Course broadens techniques for design ideation, process, and effective design thinking and analysis. Class will present projects and design exercises that will increase student's technical fluency in industry-standards for Graphic Design software applications. Designed to increase conceptual thinking and improve technical skillsets.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC210 Typography I 3 Credits

Prerequisites: GRC 116 Introduces students to designing with type for graphic design. Offers readings that outline the historical context of letter forms, while studio-based projects focus on practical analysis, visual and conceptual interaction of type and image, and the creative exploration of type as a formal element.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC220 Graphic Design I 3 Credits

Prerequisites: GRC 116, GRC 200, GRC 210 Emphasizes principles and language of graphic design. Provides further development of an understanding of visual communications theories, processes and methods using current industry technologies. Focuses on advancing student's ability, using research and thumbnails, to devise and produce wide varieties of solutions to visual problems through assigned graphic design projects.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC275 Web Design II 3 Credits

Prerequisites: GRC175. Recommend GRC188. Offers advanced web page design using industry-standard applications. Topics include CCS layout, advanced site building features, site management, interactivity, and customization.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC282 Motion Graphics for Video 3 Credits

Prerequisites: None Offers principles of visual design and color, animation and sound design applied to motion graphic design. Emphasis on designing projects that combine text, graphics, animation, audio and video. Hands-on projects using multimedia authoring software.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC290 Internship in Graphic Communications 1-6 Credits

Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units of GRC classes and consent of instructor. Provides supervised work experience within a selected graphic communications business, dependent upon student's selected major emphasis. Designed to apply knowledge to real on-the-job situations in a program designed by a company official and a faculty advisor. Available to students entering their last semester of instruction for the Graphic Communications associate degree. Contact department advisor for application, screening and required skills evaluation.

Course # Course Title Credits
GRC294 Professional Portfolio 3 Credits

Prerequisites: minimum of 21 credits of GRC design/production classes or consent of instructor Focuses on the development of a portfolio for employment in the graphics communications field. Professional and legal requirements will be explored.