Graphic Arts

The Certificate of Achievement in Graphic Arts is designed for those students who are not seeking to complete the Associate Degree in Graphic Arts but who wish to complete the major course requirements. The program emphasizes training in principles and techniques used in graphic art production for print and digital media, and students completing the program will be fluent in industry-standard software. This program differs from our Graphic Design Certificate Program in that it emphasizes software training while requiring fewer units of design-focused classes. However, graphic design principles are addressed in the core class in this program. NOTE: The classes in the core requirements should be taken in the general order in which they are listed.

10 -15

The Graphic Arts Certificate of Achievement will enable students to acquire relevant skills for immediate employment in one of several in-demand "middle skills" in the Graphics Arts and Design Field: commercial art, print production, web production, graphic arts production, as well as print and electronic publishing.

Core Curriculum Courses (Required) GDES 062 Introduction to Adobe Illustrator GDES 063 Introduction to Adobe InDesign GDES 064 Introduction to Adobe Photoshop GDES 066 Advanced Adobe GDES 067 Illustrator Advanced Adobe GDES 068 InDesign Advanced Adobe Photoshop GDES 085 Professional Portfolio and Design Plus an additional course(s) required from the following to bring your total to a minimum of 23 units: GDES 060 Page Layout and Typography GDES 035 Beginning Graphic Design GDES 011 The History of Modern Design GDES 055A Design Agency and Branding GDES 045 Web Design with HTML and CSS CA 046D Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint CA 046E Intermediate Microsoft PowerPoint GDES 056 Advanced Presentation Design ART 033A Basic Design: Two-Dimensional ART 033C Basic Design: Color GDES 070 User Experience, Interface, and Multimedia Design GDES 080 Packaging Design GDES 015 Photo-media and Social Change

This program is intended to help students interested in a career in graphics design earn a certificate quickly that will enable them to achieve work-based learning and experience so that they can make a more informed decision about pursuing a degree.

The following colleges in our service area all have programs in various areas of Graphics Design: Foothill, De Anza, Evergreen Valley, San Jose City, and West Valley. There are some 12 unit certificates in specific areas such as web design. None of the colleges have a 20-27 unit certificate of achievement that will prepare a student for immediate employment in the fields noted above, without additional certificates and courses.