MCCCD Program Description

Major: 5983
Effective Term: 2025 Fall

Award: CCL
Total Credits: 34-35
CIP Code: 50.0401

Instructional Council: Art
GPA: 2.00

SOC Code: Upon completion of this certificate, students may pursue a career as:
27-1024.00 Graphic Designers
43-9031.00 Desktop Publishers
51-5111.00 Prepress Technicians and Workers

Upon completion of an associate`s degree, students may pursue a career as:
27-1024.00 Graphic Designers
43-9031.00 Desktop Publishers
51-5111.00 Prepress Technicians and Workers

Upon completion of a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as:
27-1011 Art Directors

Description: 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.

Learning Outcomes
1. Develop visual concepts in response to communication problems including visual organization of information hierarchy. (AVC100, AVC103, AVC104, AVC169, AVC177, AVC180AD, AVC180AE, AVC180AS, AVC181, AVC182, AVC215, AVC296WA) 2. Apply principles of design, history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives for effective visual communication. (AVC100, AVC181, AVC182) 3. Critique designs to evaluate their effectiveness. (AVC100, AVC103, AVC169, AVC177, AVC180AD, AVC180AE, AVC180AS, AVC181, AVC182, AVC215, AVC248) 4. Utilize industry standard software to produce effective solutions to client-based problems. (AVC100, AVC104, AVC169, AVC177, AVC180AD, AVC180AE, AVC180AS, AVC215 AVC296WA) 5. Demonstrate professional and collaborative practices including communication, presentation, time management, organization, and legal and ethical considerations in diverse settings as appropriate to the field. (AVC104, AVC248, AVC291, AVC296WA) 6. Communicate design ideas and solutions that recognize diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences. (AVC103, AVC104, AVC169, AVC177, AVC180AD, AVC180AE, AVC180AS, AVC181, AVC182, AVC215 AVC296WA) 7. Demonstrate the use of appropriate typography and font management. (AVC103, AVC104, AVC169, AVC177, AVC180AD, AVC180AE, AVC180AS, AVC181, AVC182, AVC215, AVC291) 8. Utilize calibration, characterization, definitions, and profiles of digital color to ensure color consistency across outputs. (AVC114, AVC177, AVC180AE AVC291) 9. Use digital prepress concepts and techniques to design, create, and evaluate electronic files for successful output to digital devices. (AVC114, AVC291, AVC296WA) 10. Apply the fundamentals of digital marketing tools and methods for complex segments as they relate to graphic design. (AVC104, AVC296WA) 11. Create a portfolio of work that reflects current industry practices. (AVC248, AVC215)

Program Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Admission Criteria
None

Required Courses

AVC100 Introduction to Digital Arts (1) OR
Permission of Department 0-1

+ AVC103 Typography in the Digital Age 3
AVC104 Cross-Media Marketing for Designers 3
AVC114 Digital Color 3
+ AVC169 2D Media Design 3
+ AVC177 Digital Photographic Imaging I 3
+ AVC180AD Designer`s Tools: Adobe Illustrator 1
+ AVC180AE Designer`s Tools: Adobe Photoshop 1
+ AVC180AS Designer`s Tools: Adobe InDesign 1
+ AVC181 Graphic Design I 3
+ AVC182 Graphic Design II 3
+ AVC215 Advanced Electronic Publishing 3
AVC248 Design Self Promotion 3
+ AVC291 Digital Prepress 3
+ AVC296WA Cooperative Education 1

Credits: 34-35

Restricted Electives
	Credits: 0

General Electives
	Credits: 0

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 25, 2025

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.