Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Digital Media

Statement for New Program

The Graphic Design and Digital Media Program has introduced new course content to align the curriculum with the mission of the program which is to help students build a strong portfolio of work and an understanding of the digital trends and tools as they pertain to design. Through project work the students will learn history, underlying themes and best workflow practices to help them function in the design field.

The curriculum has been focused to teach a solid foundation in the tools of design then to move the student on to project work and then on to portfolio building and internship in the fourth year of studies.

Concentrations consisting of four-class clusters have been added for studies in photography, video/animation, and web design to complement the graphic design concentration. These areas have been identified by their relevancy in the graphic design field.

The new curriculum contains art studio electives, art and design history, and project courses to give the student a comprehensive, relevant and competitive design education.

The New Program

  • Year 1: Foundational courses in major areas of design. Image (PhotoShop), design (Illustrator), InDesign (typography), Drawing and Art History and Design Movements of the 20th Century. Pre-Requisites in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign are required for students to move to upper Division coursework.
  • Year 2: Upper Division course work.
  • Year 3: Concentration (Student must choose 12 units or one concentration) work including: Graphic Design, Photography, Video/Animation and Web Design.
  • Year 4: The Senior show, Ten, and internship class gives the senior time to prepare for future opportunities after graduation.

Traditional Program Requirements

Graphic Design and Digital Media Major (46 units) BA

Lower Division Requirements
GDM       110         Fundamental Design (Pre-requisite for all upper Division courses)
GDM       120         Fundamental Typography (Pre-requisite for all upper Division courses)
GDM       130         Fundamental Image (Pre-requisite for all upper Division courses)
GDM       140         Design Movements of the 20th Century
ART        204         Basic Drawing
ART        222         Art History II

Upper Division Requirements
GDM       310         Intermediate Design (Pre-requisite of GDM 101, 102, 103)
GDM       320         Intermediate Typography (Pre-requisite of GDM 101, 102, 103)
GDM       330         Intermediate Image (Pre-requisite of GDM 101, 102, 103)
ART        430         Art and the Bible
GDM       450         Internship (1 unit)
GDM       499         Senior Project (Student must be in the last year of studies)
12 units from concentrations below

Graphic Design Concentration (12 units)
GDM       311         Advanced Design (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       315         Advanced Typography (Pre-requisite of GDM 302)
GDM       319         Advanced Image (Pre-requisite of GDM 303)
GDM       401         Web Design HTML and CSS (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)

Photography Concentration (12 units)
GDM       331         Studio Photography (Pre-requisite of GDM 303)
GDM       335         On-Location Photography (Pre-requisite of GDM 303)
GDM       339         Assignment Photography (online) (Pre-requisite of GDM 303)
GDM       401         Web Design HTML and CSS (Pre-requisite of GDM 303)

Video and Animation Concentration (12 units)
GDM       323         Animation Design (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       325         Video Fundamentals (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       329         Advanced Video (Pre-requisite of GDM 301) 
GDM       401         Web Design HTML and CSS (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)

Web Design Concentration (12 units)
GDM       341         Wordpress and Advanced Blog Design (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       345         Flash and Actionscripting (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       349         MySQL and PHP Scripting (Pre-requisite of GDM 301)
GDM       401         Web Design HTML and CSS (Pre-requisite of GDM301

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