Visual Communication​ ​Certificate with Emphasis in Commercial Screenprinting

Visual communication provides students with entry level skills and work experience in the fields of graphic design and production. The graphic design curriculum is created to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for employment in the printing, publishing, packaging and related design based industries. Students will receive hands-on training in digital design, imaging technology, screen printing, emerging printing technologies as well as small business management. Graduates should qualify for career opportunities within the graphic design, publishing and packaging industries. 

The number of students to earn the certificate in Visual Communications at Solano College has yet to be determined. 

Based on current enrollment, five to ten students are projected to earn this certificate annually.

Solano Community College’s Visual Communications Certificate is a professional certificate inthe area of commercial screenprinting. New emphasis pathways are currently being developedwithin the area of graphic design, digital illustration, and animation. In accordance with theSolano College mission to help students achieve their educational, professional, and personalgoals, the Visual Communication certificates would allow students to transform their lives withcareer and technical education through a certificate program that targets employmentopportunities within the creative workforce sector in Solano County and beyond. Thisprogram also seeks to provide educational opportunities for underserved demographics withinour community by providing affordable education that is applicable towards creative

occupations. Many of our students currently attend private/for-profit institutions for creativeeducational needs. We see a need for this kind of education within Solano Community College. 

Ensure the program requirements demonstrate how the required courses must be completedin sequence by term (semester or quarter), including prerequisite courses if applicable. Thesequence must be arranged so that a full-time student could complete a degree program in twoyears, except in the case of a high-unit technical or health occupation program where asequence longer than two years is necessary. Students who begin college in need ofdevelopmental courses in reading, writing, and/or mathematics may need more than two yearsto complete a two-year program. Ensure the general education requirement pattern(s)specified does not constrain students' individual general education choices unless specificgeneral education courses are recommended to enhance student preparation for a field ofstudy. The program requirements table may include the course sequence (as shown in the

sample below) or the course sequence may be shown separate from the program requirementstable, so long as both are addressed in item three of the narrative.

Suggested Course Sequence
Semester ONE
ART006	Design Principles in 2-Dimensions	3
ART007	Design-Color	3
ART 45A	Introduction to Digital Design (pre-requisite to Graphic Design 1)
ART038 OR	Introduction to Printmaking	3
Semester TWO
ART045A	Graphic Design 1	3
BUS148A	Small Business Project-Based Path for Entrepreneurs	3
ART042A OR	ART 42 Commercial Screenprinting	3
ART043 OR	Printmaking, Relief Printing, including Woodcut	3
Semester THREE
ART045B	Graphic Design 2	3
ART045C	Typography	3
ART 42	Screenprinting	3
ART064	Monotype/Monoprint	3
	Total Credits	36

Course #	Course Title	Credits
ART006	Design Principles in 2-Dimensions	3
ART007	Design-Color	3
ARTD 44	Introduction to Digital Design
ART045A	Graphic Design I	3
ART045B	Graphic Design II	3
BUS148A	Small Business Project-Based Path for Entrepreneurs	3
ART045C	Typography	3
ART046	Illustration I	3
ART042A OR	ART 42 Commercial Screenprinting	3
ART038 OR	Introduction to Printmaking	3
ART43 OR	Printmaking, Relief Printing, including Woodcut	3
ART 42	Screenprinting	3
ART064	Monotype/Monoprint	3
	Total Credits	36

The Visual Communication Certificate​ was originated by Jeanne Lorenz, full-time instructor in Printmaking, and Rachel Smith, full-time instructor of Solano Community College. The Visual Communication Certificate seeks to more closely align the Printmaking classes within the areas of Career Technical Education, by providing a professional certificate that supports both the Graphic Design and Printmaking departments. Students would take curriculum is Fine Art classes (for their core fundamentals) and take Commercial Screenprinting, printmaking and Graphic Design and Typography courses for professional training that they would then use to work in a professional screenprinting company, graphic design firm, and related professional fields.

Solano Community college is unique in offering a program that combines Graphic Design with Commercial Screen printing.