Academic Catalog

Graphic and Interactive Design

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

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ESLL 26ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING5
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

Core Courses
GID 1HISTORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN4
GID 31GRAPHIC DESIGN DRAWING4
GID 33GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO I4
GID 34GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO II4
GID 36TYPOGRAPHY4
GID 55USER EXPERIENCE (UI/UX) DESIGN4
GID 56WEBSITE DESIGN4
GID 57WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT II4
GID 60CAREERS IN THE VISUAL ARTS2
Support Courses
Select 20 units from the following:20
PORTFOLIO
Animation in Graphic and Interactive Design
FUNDAMENTALS OF 3-D ANIMATION
MOTION GRAPHICS
STORYBOARDING
Art in Graphic and Interactive Design
FUNDAMENTALS IN DRAWING
2-D FOUNDATIONS
DIGITAL PAINTING I
DIGITAL PAINTING II
COLOR THEORY
Game Design in Graphic and Interactive Design
GAME ART & DESIGN
MOBILE GAME DESIGN
INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL REALITY DESIGN
VIRTUAL REALITY GAME DESIGN
Graphic Design in Graphic and Interactive Design
DESIGN THINKING
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO III
Screen Printing in Graphic and Interactive Design
SCREENPRINTING
BEGINNING T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
INTERMEDIATE T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
ADVANCED T-SHIRT DESIGN & GARMENT PRINTING
Web Development in Graphic and Interactive Design
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT III
ADVANCED WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
RAPID WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
Visual Storytelling in Graphic and Interactive Design
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION FOR FILM & ANIMATION
CARTOON & COMIC ILLUSTRATION I
DIGITAL ART & GRAPHICS
ILLUSTRATION & DIGITAL IMAGING
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
Total Units54

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 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