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Submitter's Information
Shannon Davis
Articulation Officer
South Central Coast
Oxnard College
CTE Dean
Isaac Rodriguez Lupercio
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Program Details
Graphic Design
New Program
Graphic Art and Design (103000)
08/01/25
The Associate in Science in Graphic Design degree at Oxnard College prepares students for entry-level work in the highly competitive and deadline-oriented field of graphic design. Graphic design is the art, discipline, and profession of visual communication. By combining images, words, and ideas, graphic designers focus information toward an audience to achieve a desired goal. Graphic designers blend artistic talent, typography, and computer knowledge to create advertisements, brochures, logos, identity systems, packaging, catalogs, web pages, magazines, and books. Students work with industry-standard Adobe design software (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, After Effects).
24 completers annually
Program Proposal Attributes
- Certificate of Achievement: 16 or greater semester (or 24 or greater quarter) units (C)
- A.S. Degree (S)
The Graphic Design program prepares students for freelance careers and entry-level positions in advertising agencies, printing and publishing firms, television and motion picture studios, and marketing advertising departments of large companies. Students learn and practice the design process to think creatively in both a digital and analog sense while meeting the expectations of art directors and clients.
The focus of the plan for an Associate of Science - Graphic Design degree at Oxnard College is to provide an opportunity for students, who are passionate about creating art and design, to pursue this passion in Ventura County, surrounded and nourished by Oxnard, CA culture. With this degree in place at Oxnard College, students can pursue their digital/design creativity closer to home.
The AS in Graphic Design (AS-GD) allows students to explore a comprehensive design curriculum that provides the foundation for lifelong learning, transfer to a 4-year institution, and professional practice. Students gain a thorough understanding of art elements, design principles, theories of communication, and strategies for visual problem-solving.
Graphic Design students work with industry-standard Adobe design software (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, After Effects). Faculty members assign projects covering everything from designing books, magazines, and posters to illustrations, websites, logo identities, and packaging.
The core curriculum in Graphic Design builds a range of analytical, formal, sensory, and technical design experiences. First year students begin by exploring visual principles of form, image, color, and typography. Conceptual thinking in areas such as communication theory and visual systems and information design forms the focus of the second year.
Program Goals
The Graphic Design program goals are to:
1. Provide students with an exemplary, excellent educational program in the areas of art and design to prepare them for lifelong learning, transfer to a 4-year institution, and professional practice.
2. Provide students with encouragement in their developing creativity and intellectual curiosity in graphic design.
3. Prepare students with strong foundational knowledge in art/design so they can contribute to the well-being of their communities and their own futures.
4. Provide students with a platform for creating designs that reflect their personal visions and cultural identities.
Program Student Learning Outcomes:
| Upon completion of this program a student will be able to: |
|---|
| Demonstrate technical proficiency in use of art media, tools, processes and technology to solve visual problems. |
| Demonstrate the ability to employ elements and principles of visual design to communicate and express ideas. |
| Demonstrate knowledge of historic and contemporary artistic creation of diverse global cultures. |
| Demonstrate creative thinking through the production of original designs. |
| Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the ability to clarify visual problems, develop conceptual ideas, and provide written critiques or oral presentations of their own and others’ artwork. |
Course Units and Hours
34-37
34-37
60-71
Course Report
Program Requirements.
Note: There are some courses pending GE approval, so there will likely be some courses that double-count between the major and GE for the A.S. degree.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| ART R169 | Design and Society | 3 |
| ART R175 | Introduction to Digital Art | 3 |
| ART R181 | Design History | 3 |
| ART R177A | Graphic Design I | 3 |
| ART R176 | Digital Illustration | 3 |
| ART R178 | Image Editing | 3 |
| ART R179A | Introduction to Typography | 3 |
| ART R177B | Graphic Design II | 3 |
| Choose two of the following elective courses: | 6 | |
| ART R173 | Introduction to Computer Graphics | 3 |
| ART R177C | Graphic Design III | 3 |
| ART R179B | Typography II | 3 |
| ART R188 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| ART R184 | Web Design | 3 |
| ART R185 | UI/UX Design | 3 |
| ART R186 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ART R189 | Design Business Practices | 3 |
| ART R160 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 |
| Complete the following Capstone Courses: | ||
| ART R182 | Design Portfolio | 3 |
| ART R191 | Work Experience Education in Art and Design | 1-4 |
| Total Required Major Units | 34-37 | |
| Oxnard College General Education Units | 24 | |
| Double-Counted Units | 0 | |
| Free Electives Required | 0-2 | |
| Total Units Required for AS Degree | 60-61 | |
| OR | ||
| Cal-GETC Units | 34 | |
| Double-Counted Units | 0 | |
| Free Electives Required | 0 | |
| Total required units for the A.S. Degree | 68-71 | |
| Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART R169 | Design and Society | 3 | YR 1/Fall |
| ART R175 | Introduction to Digital Art | 3 | YR 1/Fall |
| ART R177A | Graphic Design I | 3 | YR 1/Fall |
| ART R181 | Design History | 3 | YR 1/Spring |
| ART R176 | Digital Illustration | 3 | YR 1/Spring |
| ART R179A | Introduction to Typography | 3 | YR 1/Spring |
| ART R178 | Image Editing | 3 | YR 2/Fall |
| ART R177B | Graphic Design II | 3 | YR 2/Fall |
| Design Elective | See restricted electives list in major | 3 | YR 2/Fall |
| ART R182 | Design Portfolio | 3 | YR2/Spring |
| ART R191 | Work Experience in Art and Design | 1-4 | YR 2/Spring |
| Design Elective | See restricted electives list in major | 3 | YR 2/Spring |
Supporting Documents
South Central Coast Regional Questions
Submission Details
04/22/25 - 04:57 PM
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