Commercial Art Associate in Arts Degree

Art:Commercial

Associate in Arts  

The Commercial Art Associate in Arts Degree will prepare students to work in the fields of graphic arts and illustration. Students will learn how to do design layouts in advertising,print, and digital media and will learn to produce illustrations with commercial applications, such as for books and graphic novels, magazines and the web and for advertising, editorial, and technical purposes. The degree also prepares students for transfer to a four year university to continue their studies toward earning a B.A. or B.F.A. in Commercial Art, Graphic Design, or Illustration.

Program Learning Outcomes: Students will use a variety of techniques in various media, to construct engaging and dynamic layouts and illustrations by applying the principles of design to the concept and components of the projects; apply a range of approaches to using typography in projects;  identify the elements of good storytelling and apply these elements to his/her illustrations and designs; describe,deconstruct, and evaluate contemporary and historical examples of illustrations and layouts for their purposes and use of visual language; create an original design or illustration for a specific client or audience by applying the creative process of research, brainstorm, refinement, critique, and finished project; assemble a portfolio of finished drawings, paintings, illustrations,digital media, and graphic designs that exhibit the technical skills and artistic vision necessary for entry-level work in illustration and graphic design.

CoreCourses (16 units required)

ART P103 - Fundamentals of Drawing                                              3units

ART P106 - 2-D Design                                                                           3units

ART P114 - Renaissance to Contemporary Art History               3units

CGRA P110 - Introduction to Digital Art                                           3units

CMRT P102 - Commercial Layout and Design                                 2units

CMRT P103 - Illustration                                                                        2units

Electives(5 units required)

ART P116 - Introduction to Painting                                                  3units

ART P117 - Advanced Drawing                                                            3units

ART P119 - Advanced Painting                                                            2units

ART P124 - Figure Drawing                                                                  3units

CGRA P111 - Digital Graphic Design                                                   3units

CGRA P112 - Digital Imaging                                                                 3units

PHOT P101 - Introduction to Photography                                     3 units

PHOT P103 - Advanced Photography                                                3units

Fora Required Total of 21 units for the Major

General Education: In addition to completing the major requirements, students must also complete one general education pattern:

1. PC General Education Pattern

2. CSU General Education Pattern  

3. IGETC Pattern

Electives as needed to complete the 60 minimum units for the degree.

The Commercial Art program has been growing with 13 majors in Fall 2013 to 45 majors in Fall 2017. Completers have been increasing as well with 0 completers in 2013-14 to5completers in 2017-18. I expect this growth trend in majors and completers to continue.

Program Goals and Objectives

The Commercial Art Associate in Arts Degree will prepare students to work in the fields of graphic design and illustration. Students will learn how to do design layouts in advertising,print, and digital media and will learn to produce illustrations with commercial applications, such as for books and graphic novels, magazines and the web and for advertising, editorial, and technical purposes. The degree also prepares students for transfer to a four year university to continue their studies toward earning a B.A. or B.F.A. in Commercial Art, Graphic Design, or Illustration.
 
Program Learning Outcomes:
1. Use a variety of techniques in various media to construct engaging and dynamic layouts and illustrations by applying the principles of design to the concept and components of the projects. 

2. Apply a range of approaches to using typography in projects. 
 
3. Identify the elements of good storytelling and apply these elements to his/her illustrations. 

4. Describe, deconstruct, and evaluate contemporary and historical examples of illustrations and layouts for their purposes and use of visual language. 
 
5. Create an original design or illustration for a specific client or audience by applying the creative process of research, brainstorm, refinement, critique,and finished project. 

6. Assemble a portfolio of finished drawings, paintings, illustrations, digital media, and graphic designs that exhibit the technical skills and artistic vision necessary for entry-level work in illustration and graphic design. 

Required Major Total                                                                              21 units

Completion of CSU-GE Breadth or IGETC pattern                              39 units

(Possible double counting:  3 units)

Transferable electives (as needed to reach 60units)

TOTAL UNITS                                                                                             60 units

Proposed Sequence: 

Year 1, Fall = 12 units 

Year 1, Spring = 14units

Year 1, Summer = 4 units

Year 2, Fall = 15 units

Year 2, Spring = 15 units

TOTAL UNITS: 60 units