Associate of Science degree in Graphic Arts and Design
An Associate of Science degree is considered a terminal degree. The decision on course transferability rests with the receiving institution.
The Graphic Arts and Design program at BSU builds upon interest in the visual arts, design, and communication to help students learn a variety of software applications and design principles in order to create successful design solutions. Graphic artists and designers influence how people see the world, where people shop, how people vote, how people learn, and what people remember.
Pre-requisites for the Graphic Arts and Design program include a desire to learn, a willingness to work, and an open mind. Whether you have no art experience, no computer experience, or have been playing in Photoshop since you were three, using state of the industry software and hardware, our graphic art and design program teaches you more than just how to make a great image, video, or web site. The Graphic Arts and Design program teaches you the skills to build a career out of doing what you love.
Graphic artists and designers may be employed by a wide variety of employers that could include: the US Government, the US Military, the FBI or CIA, state and local tourism councils, non-profit organizations, hospitals, pharmacies, drug manufacturers, advertising agencies, manufacturing firms, photography studios, video production houses, video game companies, motion picture studios, television stations, sports teams, print shops, tee-shirt shops, web design firms, churches, publishing firms, educational organizations design, political campaigns, newspapers, magazines, and more. If you saw it, read it, or played it, chances are someone got paid to design it.
Mission of the AS in Graphic Arts and Design
It is the mission of the Graphics Arts and Design Program at BSU to prepare students for successful careers in Graphic Arts, Graphic Design, and related fields, to help students acquire the necessary knowledge and practical application of design theory and processes to grow professionally and academically throughout their careers, and to become lifetime learners of their craft and contributing members of the design community.
Program Goals
- To prepare the student to enter the workforce prepared to perform the various roles called upon in the fields of graphic design, graphic arts, and related fields including page layout, advertising, video editing, web design, illustration, image editing, and other visual communication technologies.
- To teach the student to develop, coordinate, and execute successful design strategies through the use of best practices, applied theory, real world projects, and critique.
- To instruct and prepare the student to use a variety of software and hardware tools to create meaningful and marketable design solutions, to expand his or her creative vision, and to find a balance between individual expression and building a career.
- To provide the foundations in design theory and application that will allow the student to continually build upon his or her skill set and knowledge throughout his or her career.
Program Objectives
The following objectives are designed to meet BSU mission and its objectives.
Demonstrate knowledge of the processes needed for the development, coordination, and execution of design strategies
Apply a knowledge of history, theory, and criticism to create audience-based, print and digital communications
Produce design solutions in a variety of state of the industry mediums: print, online, and video
Critique the work of others in terms of technical, social, and historical value
Use typography as both a design element and a communication tool
Apply an understanding of the importance of self-promotion in the development of his or her own career.
Communicate visually, orally, and in writing at a professional level.
Program Outline
To receive an Associate of Science degree in Graphic Arts and Design, students must earn 60.0 credit hours. Program requirements are as follows.
| Graphic Arts and Design Courses (36.0 credit hours) | |
| Introduction to Graphic Arts | 3.0 credit hours |
| Introduction to Marketing and Self-Promotion | 3.0 credit hours |
| Digital Illustration | 3.0 credit hours |
| Digital Image Editing | 3.0 credit hours |
| Digital Publishing | 3.0 credit hours |
| Principles of 3D Modeling and Animation | 3.0 credit hours |
| Digital Audio and Video Editing | 3.0 credit hours |
| Post Production | 3.0 credit hours |
| Web Design 1 – HTML & CSS | 3.0 credit hours |
| Web Design 2 – Layout & Interactivity | 3.0 credit hours |
| Web Design 3 – Content Management Systems | 3.0 credit hours |
| Graphic Design Portfolio – Professional Development | 3.0 credit hours |
Lower Division General Education Courses (24.0 credit hours) (pdf file)
To view the PDF file you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download a free copy of this software click here or go to the Adobe website at www.berkshireuniversity.us
An Associate of Science Degree is considered a terminal degree and is not transferable.
