Visual Communication: Design
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Visual Communication: Design is designed to prepare students for employment and upgrade the skills of those already employed in the graphic communications field. Coursework and hands-on experiences build knowledge and skills including design principles, typography, complex layout, digital color, industry-standard software, marketing tools and objectives and proper file creation for successful output to multimedia and variable devices. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, graphic design, publication design, branding, illustration, digital prepress, user experience/user interface 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: Design (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5983
Total credits required
39-40
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admissions criteria
None
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 (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.
- Utilize calibration, characterization, definitions, and profiles of digital color to ensure color consistency across outputs.
- Use digital prepress concepts and techniques to design, create, and evaluate electronic files for successful output to digital devices.
- Apply the fundamentals of digital marketing tools and methods for complex segments as they relate to graphic design.
- Create a portfolio of work that reflects current industry practices.
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.
Art Directors
$79,070 Show expanded career information for Art Directors
Desktop Publishers
$40,630 Show expanded career information for Desktop Publishers
Graphic Designers
$56,090 Show expanded career information for Graphic Designers
Prepress Technicians and Workers
$45,650 Show expanded career information for Prepress Technicians and Workers
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC100 | Introduction to Computer Graphic Art | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 | ||
| AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 | |||
| AVC114 | Digital Color | Critical course Offered at SCC Fall semester only. | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC103 | Typography in the Digital Age | 3 | |||
| ARH110 | History of Graphic Design | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC104 | Cross-Media Marketing for Designers | Offered at SCC Fall semester only. | 3 | ||
| AVC291 | Digital Prepress | Critical course | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | Critical course Offered at SCC Spring semester only. | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC289 | Computer Illustration | 3 | |||
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC143 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC/MMT190 | Art of Web Site Design | 3 | |||
| AVC201 | Variable Data Printing | 3 | |||
| AVC215 | Advanced Electronic Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC230 | Visual Brand Design | 3 | |||
| AVC270 | Digital Photographic Imaging II | 3 | |||
| AVC274 | Digital Photographic Imaging III | 3 | |||
| AVC281 | Graphic Design III | 3 | |||
| AVC286 | Graphic Design IV | 3 | |||
| AVC288 | PDF Portable Document Format | 3 | |||
| ART290AA | Studio Art | 1 | |||
| ART290AB | Studio Art | 2 | |||
| ART290AC | Studio Art | 3 | |||
| ART296++ | Any Cooperative Education course | 1–4 | |||
| ART298++ | Any Special Projects course | 1–4 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC100 | Introduction to Computer Graphic Art | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 | ||
| AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 | |||
| AVC114 | Digital Color | Critical course Offered at SCC Fall semester only. | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARH110 | History of Graphic Design | Gateway course | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC291 | Digital Prepress | Critical course | 3 | ||
| AVC104 | Cross-Media Marketing for Designers | Offered at SCC Fall semester only. | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | Critical course Offered at SCC Spring semester only. | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC289 | Computer Illustration | 3 | |||
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC143 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC/MMT190 | Art of Web Site Design | 3 | |||
| AVC201 | Variable Data Printing | 3 | |||
| AVC215 | Advanced Electronic Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC230 | Visual Brand Design | 3 | |||
| AVC270 | Digital Photographic Imaging II | 3 | |||
| AVC274 | Digital Photographic Imaging III | 3 | |||
| AVC281 | Graphic Design III | 3 | |||
| AVC286 | Graphic Design IV | 3 | |||
| AVC288 | PDF Portable Document Format | 3 | |||
| ART290AA | Studio Art | 1 | |||
| ART290AB | Studio Art | 2 | |||
| ART290AC | Studio Art | 3 | |||
| ART296++ | Any Cooperative Education course | 1–4 | |||
| ART298++ | Any Special Projects course | 1–4 |
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=180742).
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.