Graphic Design

Effective: Fall 2022
Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description
The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement will give you a solid foundation in design, typography, layout, branding, and motion graphics. The certificate was made for self-starters like you, who want to acquire technical skills, aesthetic principles and design practice to start your design career.

What can I do with this major?
Once you complete this certificate, you can work as a freelancer, or look for an internship in the industry.

Learning and Career Pathway
  • Arts and Design

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

12 units

DIGM 2
Introduction to Graphic Design

3 units
Introduction to the essential visual elements of graphic design. Exploration of the principles, concepts, and protocols used for effective visual communication. Cultivation of the designer’s creative process and problem-solving skills. Emphasis on strong conceptual development and solid craftsmanship through design execution. Projects explore creative development of graphic design ideas from start to finish.
Course Details:

DIGM 4A
Digital Illustration

3 units
Introduction to the principles of illustration using digital tools. Through lectures, demos and assignments students are exposed to and practice digital illustration skills for design, editorial, and animation. Emphasis is placed on the use of vector-based tools for artistic drawing and graphic design. Students explore the relationship of digital illustration with the field of Graphic Design, Animation and Fine Art.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: ART 2A

DIGM 5
Typography

3 units
Typography explores the art, process, and technical approach to ideating and producing successful typography for visual communication and design. Students use vector based tools to create, modify, place and design compositions using typography as the main design element. Topics include the anatomy, classification, legibility, meaning, readability, history, and historical changes of typography.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 2
Terms Offered: Fall

Major Elective Course (see list below)

3 units
Choose 3 units from the Electives list below.
See the full list: (Click here)

Semester 2

9 units

Photoshop Course (Choose DIGM 6A or PHOT 6A))

3 units
Select DIGM 6A or PHOT 6A

DIGM 6A
Photoshop

3 units
Introduction to the use of Adobe Photoshop for retouching, editing, and compositing digital images. Students take their original photography and artistically adjust contrast, exposure, color balance, to create enhanced compositions. Students also take a number of images and composite images into an artistically balanced and well-designed composition.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
or

PHOT 6A
Photoshop

3 units
Introduction to the use of Adobe Photoshop for retouching, editing, and compositing digital images. Students take their original photography and artistically adjust contrast, exposure and color balance to create enhanced compositions. Students also take a number of photos and composite the images into an artistically balanced and well-designed composition.

DIGM 7
Design and Layout

3 units
Design and Layout focuses on digital and print layouts using design elements and principles. Students create layouts using Gestalt principles, creative concepts, color separation and typography. The course explores the history of layout in various media, digital vs print process, copyright issues, and working with various printers for final project output.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 2
Terms Offered: Spring

DIGM 8A
Graphic Design Studio

3 units
Graphic design studio focuses students on integrating principles of design, typography, art practice, and layout with digital tools to create design projects that are iteratively investigated, revised and artistically rendered. Students practice design creation using elements and principles of design. Students create, revise and present design projects using various digital tools and mediums.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 2
Terms Offered: Spring

Major Electives

Choose 3 units from the list of electives:

ART 25
Color Theory

3 units
A study of the principles, theories, and applications of additive and subtractive color in two dimensions. Topics will include major historical and contemporary color systems, production of projects in applied color, and the elements of design as they apply to color.

DIGM 8B
Graphic Design Studio II

3 units
Students are partnered with a volunteer client and work to ideate, create, revise and complete a graphic design project. Students experience the types of problems they would need to solve as professional graphic designers. Illustrates the needs that might be expressed by art directors, creative directors, and project leads, providing students with a process for meeting those needs.
Course Details:
  1. Prerequisite: DIGM 8A

DIGM 12A
Motion Graphics

3 units
Motion Graphics is an introductory course to motion graphics for students who have a strong foundation in typography and design. This course introduces the theories, techniques, and practices of motion graphics. Students use design elements and principles to create motion graphics that communicate a message or story. Vector graphics, photography, sound, video and animation are integrated together to design compelling motion graphics.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 11
  2. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 4A

DIGM 15
Web Design Fundamentals

3 units
Introduction to the basic design elements required to create a visually compelling website or user experience. Emphasis on design and layout, vector based graphics, and style consistency. Students learn to create a style guide to ensure continuity of design throughout the build process.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 2

DIGM 20
Digital Portfolio and Promotion

1.5 units
Development of an artist's/ designer's portfolio and strategies for self-promotion in the art and design industries. Students will work to revise existing projects, create advanced projects and select and organize projects for promotion. Includes use of effective techniques of presentation. Includes creation and revision of resume, business card, and template based website.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 8A
Total Units: 21 units
This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.