Graphic Design

Graphic Design Concentration Description

The Graphic Design Concentration equips students with the creative, technical, and professional skills needed to produce effective visual communications for print, web, and multimedia environments. Through hands-on projects and portfolio development, students learn to design, create, and deliver professional-quality visual solutions that meet client and industry needs.

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Curriculum

Digital Arts and Communication – 500401-AAS
Course No.	Course Title	Lecture	Lab	Total Credit Hrs
Semester 1
GART 1010 or GART 1015	Orientation to Graphic Communication or Orientation to Media Communication	1	1	2
GART 1030	Photography I	1	2	3
GART 1040	Vector Graphics	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	3	0	3
	English Composition I or Higher	3	0	3
				14
Semester 2
GART 1220	Advertising Theory	1	2	3
GART 1230	Design I	1	2	3
GART 1240	Raster Graphics I	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Natural Science	3	0	3
				15
Semester 3
GART 2110	Videography I	1	2	3
GART 2120	Animation	1	2	3
GART 2125	New Media Publishing	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Humanities	3	0	3
				15
Semester 4
GART 2500	Portfolio Presentation	0	1	1
MATH 1000 or Higher	Applied Algebra or Higher	3	0	3
	Social/Behavioral Science	3	0	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Graphic Design Approved Elective or Media Production Concentration Course	0-1	2-3	3
				16
	AAS - Digital Arts and Communications (60)			60
	Total Clock Hours			1350-1380

Graphic Design Concentration
Course No.	Course Title	Lecture	Lab	Total Credit Hrs
GART 1010	Orientation to Graphic Communication	1	1	2
GART 1020	Graphic Illustration	1	2	3
GART 1210	Desktop Publishing	1	2	3
GART 2130	Design II	1	2	3
GART 2140	Raster Graphics II	1	2	3
GART 2210	Web Site Design	1	2	3
	Approved Elective*	1	2	3
				20

*Approved Electives
Course No.	Course Title	Lecture	Lab	Total Credit Hrs
GART 1050	Audio Arts I	1	2	3
GART 2230	Photography II	1	2	3
GART 2240	Videography II	1	2	3
GART 2250	Agency	1	2	3
GART 2260	Special Projects	1	2	3
GART 2270	Introduction to Screen Printing	1	2	3
ARTS 2303	Color Theory	0	3	3

Students pursuing both concentrations are required to earn 20 unique credit hours in each concentration.

CTS - Graphic Assistant (17)
Course No.	Course Title	Lecture	Lab	Total Credit Hrs
GART 1010 or GART 1015	Orientation to Graphic Communication or Orientation to Media Communication	1	1	2
GART 1030	Photography I	1	2	3
GART 1040	Vector Graphics	1	2	3
GART 1220	Advertising Theory	1	2	3
GART 1230	Design I	1	2	3
GART 1240	Raster Graphics I	1	2	3
				17

TD - Digital Arts and Communications (45)
Course No.	Course Title	Lecture	Lab	Total Credit Hrs
The courses for the CTS - Graphic Assistant (17) are required.
GART 2110	Videography I	1	2	3
GART 2120	Animation	1	2	3
GART 2125	New Media Publishing	1	2	3
GART 2500	Portfolio Presentation	0	1	1
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Concentration Course	1	2	3
	Graphic Design Approved Elective or Media Production Concentration	0-1	2-3	3
	CIP Code: 500401			45
	Total Clock Hours			1080-1095

Program Information

CIP Code: 500401

Program Type: Associate of Applied Science

Program Length: 60 Semester Credit Hours

Program Resources

Technical Standards (PDF)

Program Learning Outcomes

Enrollment (Digital Arts and Communication)
Academic Year	Students Enrolled
2018-2019	103
2019-2020	116
2020-2021	90
2021-2022	83
2022-2023	87
2023-2024	117
2024-2025	118

Annual Completions (Digital Arts and Communication)
Academic Year	Associate's Degree	Technical Diploma	Certificate of Technical Studies	Total
2020-2021	1	—	—	1
2021-2022	15	—	—	15
2022-2023	4	—	—	4
2023-2024	10	—	—	10
2024-2025	10	—	—	10

Fall to Fall Retention Rates for All Enrolled Students in the Program (Digital Arts and Communication)
Academic Terms	Number Retained in Program/Total Enrolled	Retention Rate
Fall 2021 to Fall 2022	43/92	46.7%
Fall 2022 to Fall 2023	58/92	63.0%
Fall 2023 to Fall 2024	67/118	56.8%

Mean Grade Point Averages of the 2024-25 Graduating Class (Digital Arts and Communication)
Award	Mean GPA
AAS Digital Arts and Communication	3.44
TD Digital Arts and Communication	3.47
CTS Graphic Assistant	3.33

Average Years to Complete the Degree (Digital Arts and Communication)
Award	Average Years
AAS Digital Arts and Communication	2.9
TD Digital Arts and Communication	3.0
CTS Graphic Assistant	2.2

In 2024-2025, 156 Digital Arts and Communication students received an average of $4,938.58 in grants and scholarships.

Tuition Expenses to Complete the Entire Program/Option (Digital Arts and Communication)
Award	Estimated Tuition
AAS Digital Arts and Communication	$8,035.80
TD Digital Arts and Communication	$6,026.85
CTS Graphic Assistant	$2,276.81

Digital Arts & Communication Program GPA Data
Metric	Value
Total Months Enrolled to Grad Term	35.26
GPA of Students With Awards	3.374
All Students AY Mean GPA	2.04

Employment Data

Instructor surveys revealed that graduates from the Digital Arts and Communication program at SOWELA typically start as Graphic Designers, Videographers, Digital Marketing Coordinators, Print and Communications Managers, and Marketing Specialists. Beginning salary ranges tracked by faculty are from $36,500 - $55,000.

Contact Information

Erik Jessen

erik.jessen@sowela.edu

(337) 421-6990

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