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: 54
• Certificate(s): 12-54

Additional Information

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

Associate Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1A	COMPOSITION & READING	5
ENGL 1AH	HONORS COMPOSITION & READING	5
ESLL 26	ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING	5
or equivalent
Ethnic Studies
Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC
Mathematics Proficiency
College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra

A minimum of 90 units is required¹ to include: 

• Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
• Core courses (34 units)
• Support courses (20 units)

¹

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

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
GID 1	HISTORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN	4
GID 31	GRAPHIC DESIGN DRAWING	4
GID 33	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I	4
GID 34	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO II	4
GID 36	TYPOGRAPHY	4
GID 55	USER EXPERIENCE (UI/UX) DESIGN	4
GID 56	WEBSITE DESIGN	4
GID 57	WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT II	4
GID 60	CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS	2
Support Courses
Select 20 units from the following:		20
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 35	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO III
Screen Printing in Graphic and Interactive Design
GID 46	SCREENPRINTING
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 58	WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT III
GID 77	ADVANCED WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
GID 78	RAPID WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
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 Units		54

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Graphic and Interactive Design

• Units: 54

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

Certificate of Achievement in Web Design

• Units: 16

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GID 55	USER EXPERIENCE (UI/UX) DESIGN	4
GID 56	WEBSITE DESIGN	4
GID 57	WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT II	4
GID 58	WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT III	4
Total Units		16

Certificate of Achievement in Game Design

• Units: 14

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GID 49	GAME ART & DESIGN	4
GID 60	CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS	2
GID 67	MOBILE GAME DESIGN	4
GID 68B	VIRTUAL REALITY GAME DESIGN	4
Total Units		14

Certificate of Achievement in Graphic Design

• Units: 14

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GID 33	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I	4
GID 34	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO II	4
GID 35	GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO III	4
GID 60	CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS	2
Total Units		14

Certificate of Achievement in Illustration

• Units: 14

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GID 31	GRAPHIC DESIGN DRAWING	4
GID 37	CARTOON & COMIC ILLUSTRATION I	4
GID 43	ILLUSTRATION & DIGITAL IMAGING	4
GID 60	CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS	2
Total Units		14

Garment Printing Skills Certificate

• Units: 12 [Non-Transcriptable]

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GID 53A	BEGINNING T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING	4
GID 53B	INTERMEDIATE T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING	4
GID 53C	ADVANCED T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING	4
Total Units		12