Program
Course Sequence
Graphic Design – Hawkeye Community College
Graphic Design Degree
The Graphic Design program courses are divided into three categories. Students will be awarded an Associate of Applied Arts (AAA) Degree upon completion of the following…
- Program Core courses:
Students must successfully complete 48 core course credits. - Program Elective courses:
Students must earn a minimum of 3 program elective course credits. - General Education courses:
Students must earn a minimum of 12 general education course credits.
Sequence of Study
The following list of courses is organized in the suggested sequence of study for a full-time student starting the program in the fall term. Spring start or part-time students should visit with a program advisor for a modified sequence of study.
| Course ID | Course Title | Category | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GRA105
This course provides students with the experience of creating hand drawn art using a variety of drawing mediums, tools and techniques. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of drawing, artistic expression, artistic perception, visual organization, and composition. Articulating viable design concepts and solutions for common graphic design problems through drawing will be presented. |
Drawing and Composition | Core | 4 |
|
GRA133
This course provides students with the experience of producing and preparing various types of page layout and design formats for print media. Emphasis is placed on building print ready publications using Adobe InDesign. Desktop computer setup, color management, project management, and printing technologies will be presented. |
Desktop Publishing  |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA196
This course provides students with the experience of designing single page layout formats for print media. Emphasis is placed on making effective design and layout decisions to visually communicate information to a targeted audience. An introduction to the Graphic Design profession, design process, elements of design, principles of design, and typography will be presented. |
Design and Layout I |
Core | 4 |
|
COM781
This course focuses on composition and editing of curriculum-specific technical and business-related writing projects. Instruction includes formatting, information gathering, document drafting, editing, and written employment strategies. ENG105
This course emphasizes fluency, thesis-driven organization, the use of supporting details, and research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies, drafting, revising, and editing. The course helps students shape writing to serve readers’ needs and define a sense of purpose in their writing. It also gives students strategies for reading college-level material. |
Written Communication in the Workplace -OR- Composition I |
Gen Ed | 3 |
| Mouse over or tap a course ID to view a course description. | Total Credits 15 | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Category | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GRA124
This course provides students with the experience of creating vector graphics for print media. Emphasis is placed on rendering digital artwork using Adobe Illustrator. Various 2D and 3D illustration drawing techniques along with creating intricate vector type and type effects will be presented. |
Electronic Illustration  |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA142
This course provides students with the experience of producing and preparing raster graphics for print media. Emphasis is placed on generating print quality photographic imagery using Adobe Photoshop. Image acquisition, color management, color correction, retouching, extracting, layering, compositing, and painting techniques along with creating raster type effects will be presented. |
Graphic Imaging  |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA197
This course provides students with the experience of designing single-page double-sided multi-panel print publications. Emphasis is placed on projects such as brochure, leaflet, pamphlet, folder, album cover, and/or dust jacket design and layout. An introduction to spot color, layout grids, folds, die cuts, single-page-multi-panel construction, and duplex printing will be presented. |
Design and Layout II |
Core | 4 |
|
MAT772
This course is designed to present basic facts of arithmetic including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, powers, roots, English and metric measurement, ratio-proportion, percents, introduction to algebra, and introduction to geometry. Instruction includes use of scientific hand-held calculators and emphasis placed on critical thinking, problem solving skills. MAT110
This is a one semester, liberal arts mathematics course that satisfies the minimum general education requirement for math. The course is designed to impart math skills which are helpful in everyday life as well as to expose students to areas of mathematics they may not have seen before. Topics include problem-solving skills, set theory, algebra, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics. Other topics may be included. |
Applied Math -OR- Math for Liberal Arts |
Gen Ed |
3 |
| Mouse over or tap a course ID to view a course description. | Total Credits 15 | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Category | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GRA162
This course provides students with the experience of producing and preparing raster and vector graphics for screen display. Emphasis is placed on generating quality website graphics using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and other emerging technologies. Incorporating, sizing, positioning, and styling responsive high-density web page graphics into a website will be presented. |
Web Page Graphics |
Core | 3 |
|
GRA205
This course provides students with the experience of designing brand identity elements and multi-page print publications. Emphasis is placed on projects such as logo, business card, letterhead, style guide, newsletter, magazine, and/or catalog design and layout. An introduction to signature construction, style sheets, auto page numbering, finishing, and binding will be presented. |
Design and Layout III |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA238
This course provides students with the experience of designing and developing a static Website. Emphasis is placed on making effective web design and layout decisions that comply with current web development standards. An introduction to the web design process, HTML and CSS programming languages, search engine optimization, and website hosting will be presented. |
Web Design & Layout    |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA—
Students should try to complete a 3 credit elective course this term. Not all program electives will be offered this term. Students must earn a minimum of 3 elective course credits in order to graduate from the program. Program electives are listed within the corresponding tab. |
Graphic Design Elective | Elective | 3 |
|
PSY102
This course studies self and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and application of social science theories and research for the development of effective interpersonal and organizational relationships. PSY111
This course provides an introduction to the study of behavior with emphasis in the areas of learning, cognition, motivation, personality, behavioral disorder, therapy, and social influence. An understanding of the impact of both theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence on the formulation of the science of human behavior is also stressed. Psychological theories and principles are utilized to explain and predict behavior. SOC110
This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field |
Human and Work Relations -OR- Introduction to Psychology -OR- Introduction to Sociology |
Gen Ed |
3 |
| Mouse over or tap a course ID to view a course description. | Total Credits 17 | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Category | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GRA160
This course provides students with the experience of delivering dynamic content to a consumer. Emphasis is placed on producing interactive media via visual storytelling, personalized content, layered information, and/or two-way interaction platforms. An introduction to presentation, animation, dynamic pdf, data merge, e-mail newsletter, and augmented reality software will be presented. |
Interactive Multimedia  |
Core | 3 |
|
GRA206
This course provides students with the knowledge and experiences needed to design an effective advertisement used to promote a product, service, or event. Emphasis is placed on advertising and advertisement formats and design for print media. Digital visual advertising media will be discussed. |
Advanced Design and Layout |
Core | 4 |
|
GRA239
This course provides students with the experience of designing and developing a dynamic Website. Emphasis is placed on utilizing open source Web Content Management System (CMS) software to build a website. CMS installation, page and post construction, navigation deployment, plugins, widgets, theme design, and site administration will be presented. |
CMS Web Design  |
Core | 3 |
|
GRA290
This course provides students with the knowledge and experiences needed to find gainful employment in a graphic design and web design related occupation. Emphasis is placed on developing a quality resume, portfolio development, job search strategies, and interviewing skills. |
Portfolio Preparation | Core | 3 |
|
SPC101
This course presents elements of the oral communications process with emphasis in developing public speaking skill. Students will be involved in activities that provide opportunity for the understanding and improvement of their oral communication skills. |
Fundamentals of Oral Communication | Gen Ed | 3 |
| Mouse over or tap a course ID to view a course description. | Total Credits 16 | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Category | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GRA221
This course provides students with the experience of creating hand drawn illustration art using a variety of mediums, tools and techniques. Emphasis is placed on producing illustrations that will clarify, enhance, illuminate, or demonstrate the message of written text. Illustration approaches and Illustrating for various types of publications will be discussed. |
Principles of Illustration | Elective | 3 |
|
GRA231
This course provides students with the experience of directing a photographer during a commercial photo shoot. Emphasis is placed on communication between a graphic designer and commercial photographer. An introduction to the basics of digital photography, photography studio setup and lighting, digital camera operation, and still photography for advertising design will be presented. |
Photo Shoot Directing | Elective | 3 |
|
GRA924
This course involves in-depth independent research on an approved topic under supervision of a faculty member. Upon project’s completion, results will be shared with community of peers and faculty. This course can be repeated with different content for credit. |
Honors Project | Elective | 1-3 |
|
GRA928
This course provides students with an opportunity to pursue or investigate a topic of interest that does not fit within the framework of regular course offerings. An independent study self-directed learning agreement must be discussed with and submitted to a faculty advisor prior to registration. This course can be repeated with different content for credit. |
Independent Study | Elective | 1-3 |
|
GRA932
This course provides students with an opportunity to pursue career-related work experience. Internships are on-site and under the direction of an experienced professional. An internship learning agreement must be discussed with and submitted to a faculty advisor prior to registration. |
Internship Course | Elective | 1-3 |
|
GRA949
This course provides students with an opportunity to earn credit for specialized study or project under the supervision of a faculty member. The topic of study may not duplicate any topic listed within any active program course. This course can be repeated with different content for credit. |
Special Topics | Elective | 1-3 |
| Mouse over or tap a course ID to view a course description. | |||
Program Admission
Students must meet or exceed the minimum scores listed for the math, reading, and writing competencies in one of the following standardized tests. Note: The three competencies do not have to be met from the same standardize test.
ACT Assessment
Hawkeye Community College serves as a National Testing Center for the high school ACT test.- 14 – Math
- 16 – Reading
- 16 – English
- Students that do not fulfill the math, reading, and writing competencies may need to complete a corresponding college success course.
ACCUPLACER
The ACCUPLACER assessment is designed to identify your academic strengths and areas of need.- 40 – Arithmetic
- 62 – Reading
- 77 – Sentence Skills
- Students that do not fulfill the math, reading, and writing competencies may need to complete a corresponding college success course.
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