Graphic Communications Courses

This course focuses on composition and editing of curriculum-specific technical and business-related writing projects. Instruction includes formatting, information gathering, document drafting, editing, and written employment strategies.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in ENG-060 or appropriate placement score.

Composition I emphasizes fluency, thesis-driven organization, the use of supporting details, and research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies, drafting, revising, and editing. The course helps students shape writing to serve readers' needs and define a sense of purpose in their writing. It also gives students strategies for reading college-level material.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement scores or equivalent.

This course introduces the student to a variety of art-making materials and media, provides a broad range of drawing experiences designed to expand the student's artistic perception, and enhances the student's ability to develop appropriate art-based solutions to common graphic design problems.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 64

An introduction to basic drawing. Working with still life props: line, form, values, perspective and composition will be explored, using various wet and dry mediums. Concentration will be on accurate visual drawing.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course concentrates on intermediate drawing problems: Gesture, contour, proportions, mapping techniques and values are studied through the use of props and clothed models. Creative interpretation with various media and approaches are stressed.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course introduces the student to computer generated layout and design production skills using electronic publishing software. Emphasis is a "hands-on" introduction to the leading page-layout application program utilized in the graphic communications industry.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 64

This course emphasizes the fundamentals of design and layout in visual communications. The course provides experience in the type selection process for design application.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 64

Pre/Co-requisite(s): A minimum grade of D- in GRA-133.

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to create vector artwork. Students will utilize the leading vector drawing software to develop essential vector art rendering techniques.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): GRA-133.

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to create raster graphics. Students will utilize the leading digital imaging software to develop essential image manipulation techniques.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): GRA-133.

This course applies the principles and methods of design and layout to creating solutions for design problems. The process involved with communicating a client's product, service or image to a specific or general audience is explored in project application.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-196 and GRA-133.

This course is designed to present basic facts of arithmetic including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, powers, roots, English and metric measurement, ratio-proportion, percents, introduction to algebra, and introduction to geometry. Instruction includes use of scientific hand-held calculators and emphasis placed on critical thinking, problem solving skills.

Lecture Hours: 48

This is a one semester, liberal arts mathematics course that satisfies the minimum general education requirement for math. The course is designed to impart math skills which are helpful in everyday life as well as to expose students to areas of mathematics they may not have seen before. Topics include problem-solving skills, set theory, algebra, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics. Other topics may be included.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D- in MAT-063 or appropriate placement score.

This course is a study of descriptive statistics including graphical representation, central tendency, correlation and regression, intuitive treatment of probability and inferential statistics including hypothesis testing.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): MAT-063.

This course expands the dimension of the process of design to include specific information and experiences pertaining to advertising design and other advanced design formats.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-124, GRA-197, and GRA-142.

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to design and layout a static Website. Students will utilize the leading Website design software and Web design formatting languages to develop skills in designing, building, publishing, and maintaining a static Website.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-124, GRA-142, and GRA-197.

Human Relations is the study of self and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and application of social science theories and research for the development of effective interpersonal and organizational relationships.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course provides an introduction to the study of behavior and mental processes with emphasis in such areas as learning, cognition, motivation, personality, behavioral disorder, therapy, and social influence. An understanding of the impact of both theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence on the formulation of the science of human behavior is also stressed. Psychological theories and principles are utilized to explain and predict behavior.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course expands the dimension of the process of design to include specific information and experiences pertaining to advertising design and other advanced design formats.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-133 and GRA-196.

Pre/Co-requisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-124, GRA-142, and GRA-197.

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to develop a dynamic Website. Students will utilize an open source Web Content Management System and leading Website design software to develop skills in implementing, administering, and designing a CMS based Website.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-238.

The course is intended to advance student knowledge in portfolio and resume construction and job search strategies.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Pre/Co-requisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-205.

This course presents elements of the oral communications process with emphasis on developing interpersonal, small group, and public speaking skills. Students will be involved in activities that provide opportunity for the understanding and improvement of their oral communication skills.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course emphasizes designing interactive presentations using multimedia. Students will conceptualize, design and deliver interactive content.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-124, GRA-133, and GRA-142.

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to create Website graphics. Students will utilize digital imaging software and emerging Web technologies to develop skills in constructing and implementing Web page graphics.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-124 and GRA-142.

This course develops an understanding of illustration within the context of graphic communications. Students will have the opportunity to produce original illustrations using a variety of media, tools and techniques.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course provides students with the knowledge and experiences needed to direct a commercial photographer during a commercial photo shoot. Emphasis is placed on communication between a design director and commercial photographer. Studio procedures and equipment requirements will be discussed. An introduction to the basics of digital photography, digital camera operation, studio lighting, and still photography for advertising design will be presented.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Pre/Co-requisite(s): A minimum grade of D in GRA-142.

This course involves in-depth independent research on an approved topic under supervision of a faculty member. Upon project's completion, results will be shared with community of peers and faculty.

May be taken for up to 3 credits.

Lecture Hours: 16

This course, usually offered on a limited basis only, provides an in-depth study on a topic of general interest pertaining to this department.

May be taken for up to 3 credits.

Lecture Hours: 16

This course introduces students to the principles of design on the two-dimensional plane. Students are instructed in conceptual thinking, content and art practices, and exposed to design, color theory, and organizational principals. An introduction to materials and practice through the disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking and collage are part of the conceptualization process offered in this curriculum.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course is an introduction to painting in a variety of media. Color theory, design theory and media area applied to exercises, studies, and finished paintings. Concentration is on developing skills in handling materials and personal expression through painting.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course provides an introduction to the basics of digital photography, from camera selection to its use as an art form and aesthetic medium. Content includes camera types, lenses, exposure controls, elements of composition, editing fundamentals, and the storage, printing and sharing of photographic images. It will also examine the elements of photographic theory, history and ethics. Students will be able to check out digital cameras provided by the college, or may bring their own, approved photographic equipment. In this hands-on class, students will complete specific technique-based assignments and participate in class demonstrations, discussions and critiques. Text: required. Pre-requisite: None.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course is an introduction to the history of visual art and artists; prehistory through Gothic. All forms of media: painting, sculpture, drawing, architecture, ceramics, metal work, glass and others are considered in the context of time, society, and the human impulse to create.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course is an introduction to the history of visual art and artists; Renaissance to the present. All forms of media: painting, sculpture, drawing, architecture, ceramics, metal work, glass, photography, film, and others are considered in the context of time, society, and the human impulse to create.

Lecture Hours: 48

An overview of the processes, problems and activities associated with the planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course presents the fundamentals of advertising and visual merchandising as promotional tools. It incorporates the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) concept.

Lecture Hours: 48

Begins a two semester sequence to prepare students for the calculus sequence. The central theme is the concept of functions, their properties, graphs and applications. Functions studied include polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

Lecture Hours: 80

Prerequisite(s): MAT-102 or appropriate placement score.

This one-semester pre-calculus course is intended for the student with a solid algebra background who intends to take calculus. It is also beneficial (but not required) for the student to have a background in trigonometry. The course will emphasize functions using an analytical, numerical, and graphical approach. The student will study linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions along with their applications.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement scores.

The second course of a two-semester pre-calculus sequence. Topics include trigonometry and applications, vectors, analytic geometry, and polar and parametric equations.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): MAT-122 or equivalent placement score.

The first in a calculus sequence, this course covers topics including functions and their graphs, limits, derivatives, applications of the derivative, and integrals.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in MAT-134 or MAT-128 or appropriate placement scores.

A continuation of MAT-210, this course covers topics including integration techniques, applications of integration, infinite series, conic sections, parametric and polar equations.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in MAT-210.

This course covers topics including integration and differentiation techniques related to vectors, vector-valued functions, functions of several variables, multiple integration, and vector analysis.

Lecture Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): MAT-216.