Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement

Program Description:

This certificate program provides students with a strong foundation in the fundamental aspects of graphic design and digital media. Students develop creativity and ideation skills, learn to communicate their ideas effectively, and apply these skills to a wide range of design situations. The program is hands-on, integrating conceptual design studies with traditional and digital tools and production methods. The program goal is to provide the skills necessary to enter the field of graphic design, and related digital media occupations. Career titles in this field include the roles of Graphic Designer, Production Designer, UI/UX Designer, Visual Designer, Creative/Art Director, Multimedia/Marketing Designer, Web Designer, Multimedia Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Package Designer, Textile and Industrial Designer, and Exhibition Designer.

At the completion of the Graphic Design certificate program, students will be able to:

• Combine appropriate aesthetic form and content to create evocative and engaging work. 
• Create appropriate typographic solutions for a variety of design situations
• Demonstrate proficiency with computers, software and production processes 
• Select appropriate tools, materials and processes for different digital media projects.
• Work collaboratively within a team as well as independently.
• Critically evaluate creative content using design principles and industry-specific terminology
• Develop a professional portfolio of work.

Please see attached file included in the supplementary file. 

Enrollment Completer Projects start on page 12 and are organized into tables. 

Also included in the attached Narrative PDF with Table of Contents:  Program Goal is on page 2. 

Solano Community College’s Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement is a professional certificate in the area of graphic design. Our AA (revised) will have the exact same pathway as the CTE certificate, plus the GE requirements. 

New emphasis pathways are currently being developed within the area of graphic design, digital illustration, and animation. In accordance with the Solano College mission to help students achieve their educational, professional, and personalgoals, the graphic design certificate would allow students to transform their lives with career and technical education through a certificate program that targets employment opportunities within the creative workforce sector in Solano County and beyond. As the sole community college within our county, Solano College must grow the program to keep up with the needs of this rapidly changing industry.

This program also seeks to provide educational opportunities for underserved demographics within our community by providing affordable education that is applicable towards creative occupations. Many of our students currently attend private/for-profit institutions for creative educational needs. We see a need for this kind of education within Solano County to provide transferable skills at a local institution. 

Please see attached PDF. Program requirements are on pages 5-8 of the PDF under Item 3 - Program Requirements. 

Also Included within the attached Narrative Template.  Program requirements are on page 6-7. 

(NOTE: Certificate and AA requirements are the same).
Course	Course Name	Units
Required Courses (12 Units)
DMA 09	Introduction to Digital Design	3
DMA 20	Introduction to Digital Illustration	3
DMA 10	Graphic Design 1	3
DMA 15	Typography	3
ART & PHOTO ELECTIVES: Choose 6 Units from the below group:
ART 06	Design Principles in 2-Dimensions	3
ART 07	Design - Color	3
ART 14	Beginning Drawing	3
ART 15	Intermediate Drawing	3
PHOTO 29	Introduction to Photography	3
ART 038	Introduction to Printmaking	3
ART 04	Intro to Life Drawing	3
ART 05	Intermediate Life Drawing	3
DIGITAL MEDIA ELECTIVES: Choose 6 Units from the below group:
DMA 20	Introduction to Digital Illustration	3
DMA 21	Advanced Digital Illustration Techniques	3
DMA 015	Typography	3
DMA 031	Introduction to Animation	3
DMA 032	2D Animation	3
DMA 033	3D Animation and Modeling	3
DMA 040	Motion Graphics	3
DMA 060	Principles of User Experience Design	3
DMA 061	Principles of User Interface Design	3
DMA 062	UI/UX Design 1	3
DMA 063	UI/UX Design 2	3
DMA 090	Digital Media Projects	3
DMA 091	Digital Media Portfolio	3
DMA 092	Social Media for Professionals	3
DMA 101	Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp	1
DMA 102	Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp	1
DMA 110	Digital Illustration Bootcamp	1
DMA 103	Portfolio and Publication Bootcamp	1
DMA 120	Animation Bootcamp	1
DMA 100	Design Bootcamp	1
OCED 90	Occupational Work Experience	1
Total Units	24

The attachment includes the full program narrative as well as the LMI. Chapters are included for ease of use/info retrieval.

Joann Dennings - DVC. Discussed her decision to create more small scale stackable certificates in order to increase # of completers. Reached out to Napa College after connecting with Napa Board of Education and working to articulate our courses with two separate Napa high schools.