Academic Catalog

Graphic and Interactive Design

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Program Description

Become an agent for change in the world of design. As a student in the Graphic and Interactive Design program, you'll be immersed in courses that prepare you for employability in the ever evolving and innovative careers of graphic design, UI/UX design, web design, game design, and illustration. Students are taught and mentored by faculty members with years of professional graphic design experience while using the latest technologies and software to create a well-rounded portfolio that includes branding, web development, motion design, game design, visual storytelling, and print. You'll also receive a balance of instruction that includes visual arts, general education, and elective courses that are designed to produce a well-rounded, highly trained graduate who thinks critically about visual problem solving and communication.

Learn more about the program on the Graphic and Interactive Design website.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will understand the design process from sketching to final product.
  • Students will be able to create unique graphic designs that communicate ideas to others.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities include the following: graphic design, UI/UX design, web design, game design, advertising, marketing, publishing, illustration, T-shirt and garment printing, and digital art.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree
  • CA = Certificate of Achievement
  • SC = Skills Certificate [Non-Transcriptable]

Units Required

  • Major: 42
  • Certificate(s): 12-42

Additional Information

Note: Please see the Graphic and Interactive Design program website for recommended course sequence to assist with student success.

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:

  • Core and support courses for the major (42 units total)
  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
    • Foothill College General Education
    • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
    • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
    • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

2

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

3

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
GID 1HISTORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN4
GID 31GRAPHIC DESIGN DRAWING4
GID 33GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I4
GID 36TYPOGRAPHY4
GID 55USER EXPERIENCE (UI/UX) DESIGN4
GID 56WEBSITE DESIGN4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
Support Courses
Select 16 units from the following:16
GID 61
PORTFOLIO
Animation in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 44A
FUNDAMENTALS OF 3-D ANIMATION
GID 47
MOTION GRAPHICS
GID 71
STORYBOARDING
Art in Graphic and Interactive Design
ART 4A
FUNDAMENTALS IN DRAWING
ART 5A
2-D FOUNDATIONS
ART 15A
DIGITAL PAINTING I
ART 15B
DIGITAL PAINTING II
ART 20
COLOR THEORY
Game Design in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 49
GAME ART & DESIGN
GID 67
MOBILE GAME DESIGN
GID 68A
INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL REALITY DESIGN
GID 68B
VIRTUAL REALITY GAME DESIGN
Graphic Design in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 1A
DESIGN THINKING
GID 34
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO II
GID 35
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO III
Screen Printing in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 53A
BEGINNING T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
GID 53B
INTERMEDIATE T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
GID 53C
ADVANCED T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
Web Development in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 57
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT II
GID 58
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT III
Visual Storytelling in Graphic and Interactive Design
ART 15D
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION FOR FILM & ANIMATION
GID 37
CARTOON & COMIC ILLUSTRATION I
GID 41
DIGITAL ART & GRAPHICS
GID 43
ILLUSTRATION & DIGITAL IMAGING
PHOT 5
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
Total Units42

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Graphic and Interactive Design

  • Units: 42

The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core and support courses. General education courses are not required.

Certificate of Achievement in Visual Storytelling and Comic Arts

  • Units: 16
GID 37CARTOON & COMIC ILLUSTRATION I4
GID 44AFUNDAMENTALS OF 3-D ANIMATION4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
GID 61PORTFOLIO2
GID 71STORYBOARDING4
Total Units16

Certificate of Achievement in Web Design

  • Units: 16
GID 55USER EXPERIENCE (UI/UX) DESIGN4
GID 56WEBSITE DESIGN4
GID 57WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT II4
GID 58WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT III4
Total Units16

Certificate of Achievement in Game Design

  • Units: 14
GID 49GAME ART & DESIGN4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
GID 67MOBILE GAME DESIGN4
GID 68BVIRTUAL REALITY GAME DESIGN4
Total Units14

Certificate of Achievement in Graphic Design

  • Units: 14
GID 33GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I4
GID 34GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO II4
GID 35GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO III4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
Total Units14

Certificate of Achievement in Illustration

  • Units: 14
GID 31GRAPHIC DESIGN DRAWING4
GID 37CARTOON & COMIC ILLUSTRATION I4
GID 43ILLUSTRATION & DIGITAL IMAGING4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
Total Units14

Garment Printing Skills Certificate

  • Units: 12 [Non-Transcriptable]
GID 53ABEGINNING T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING4
GID 53BINTERMEDIATE T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING4
GID 53CADVANCED T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING4
Total Units12