Visual Communication: Creative Branding
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Visual Communication: Creative Branding is designed to prepare students for employment and upgrade the skills of those already employed in the marketing industry. Coursework and experiences include necessary training in creative branding, from both the graphic design and marketing perspectives. Students will learn how to develop effective brand strategies for complex campaigns that establish affinity through strong visual and verbal messaging. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, advertising, creative branding, social media, strategic marketing, graphic design, and creative direction. Students interested in continuing their studies may choose to pursue the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Visual Communication (3052) where these courses apply.
Details
Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Visual Communication: Creative Branding (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5992
Total credits required
39-40
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
What You'll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Develop visual concepts in response to communication problems including visual organization of information hierarchy.
- Apply principles of design, history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives for effective visual communication.
- Critique designs to evaluate their effectiveness.
- Utilize industry standard software to produce effective solutions to client-based problems.
- Demonstrate professional and collaborative practices in diverse settings as appropriate to the field (e.g., communication, presentation, time management, organization, and legal and ethical considerations).
- Communicate design ideas and solutions that recognize diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences.
- Demonstrate the use of appropriate typography and font management.
- Create effective marketing messages and campaigns to drive client-specific business goals.
- Design effective online and offline collateral to achieve business goals.
- Develop comprehensive brand standards and guidelines to maintain brand integrity.
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Advertising and Promotions Managers
$99,360 Show expanded career information for Advertising and Promotions Managers
Graphic Designers
$56,090 Show expanded career information for Graphic Designers
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 | |||
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
| AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 | ||
| AVC103 | Typography in the Digital Age | 3 | |||
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | Critical course Gateway course Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 | ||
| AVC/MMT190 | Art of Web Site Design | Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 | ||
| AVC230 | Visual Brand Design | Critical course Gateway course Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 | ||
| MKT110 | Marketing and Social Networking | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC204 | Creative Design for Advertising | Offered in Fall semester only at SCC | 3 | ||
| AVC104 | Cross-Media Marketing for Designers | Offered in Fall semester only at SCC | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC114 | Digital Color | 3 | |||
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC192 | Advanced Web Presentation Design | 3 | |||
| AVC201 | Variable Data Printing | 3 | |||
| AVC215 | Advanced Electronic Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC291 | Digital Prepress | 3 | |||
| ART296++ | Any Cooperative Education course | 1–4 | |||
| ART298++ | Any Special Projects course | 1–4 | |||
| MKT111 | Applied Marketing and Social Networking | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 | |||
| AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
| AVC103 | Typography in the Digital Age | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC104 | Cross-Media Marketing for Designers | Offered in Fall semester only at SCC | 3 | ||
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC/MMT190 | Art of Web Site Design | Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 | ||
| AVC230 | Visual Brand Design | Critical course Gateway course Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC204 | Creative Design for Advertising | Offered in Fall semester only at SCC | 3 | ||
| MKT110 | Marketing and Social Networking | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | Critical course Gateway course Offered at SCC Spring semester only | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC114 | Digital Color | 3 | |||
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC192 | Advanced Web Presentation Design | 3 | |||
| AVC201 | Variable Data Printing | 3 | |||
| AVC215 | Advanced Electronic Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC291 | Digital Prepress | 3 | |||
| ART296++ | Any Cooperative Education course | 1–4 | |||
| ART298++ | Any Special Projects course | 1–4 | |||
| MKT111 | Applied Marketing and Social Networking | 3 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=184894).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.