Visual Communication
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Visual Communication is designed to prepare students for employment and upgrade the skills of those already employed in the visual communication industry. The program focuses on design principles, technical, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills needed to communicate and complete successful visual communication projects. Students will receive hands-on specialized training for the application of specific technology to meet the unique needs of various careers, including, but not limited to graphic design, publication design, branding, illustration, digital prepress, digital press operation, estimating, production, project management, customer service, marketing, social media, creative advertising, user experience/user interface and creative direction. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) in either graphic design, creative branding or digital process management is embedded in this degree. Students may also elect to pursue standalone Certificates of Completion or transfer to a university.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
This degree is designed for students seeking gainful, entry-level employment within the Visual Communication field. Graduates may apply courses within this program to Bachelor of Applied Science degrees at an Arizona public university.
See the AGEC Matrix course selections. See a university transfer specialist for details.
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year university who are seeking a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree can also choose to pursue the Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA) option.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
- Shared Outcomes.
- Develop visual concepts in response to communication problems including visual organization of information hierarchy.
- Apply principles of design, history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives for effective visual communication.
- Critique designs to evaluate their effectiveness, and provide critical feedback to guide improvement and success.
- Utilize industry standard software to produce effective solutions to client-based problems.
- Demonstrate professional and collaborative practices in diverse settings as appropriate to the field (e.g., communication, presentation, time management, organization, and legal and ethical considerations).
- Communicate design ideas and solutions that integrate diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences.
- Demonstrate the use of appropriate typography and font management.
- Visual Communication: Design CCL.
- Utilize calibration, characterization, definitions, and profiles of digital color to ensure color consistency across outputs.
- Use digital prepress concepts and techniques to design, create, and evaluate electronic files for successful output to digital devices.
- Apply the fundamentals of digital marketing tools and methods for complex segments as they relate to graphic design.
- Create a portfolio of work that reflects current industry practices.
- Visual Communication: Creative Branding CCL.
- Create effective marketing messages and campaigns for appropriate audiences to drive client-specific business goals.
- Design effective online and offline collateral to achieve business goals.
- Develop comprehensive brand standards and guidelines to maintain brand integrity.
- Visual Communication: Digital Process Management CCL.
- Estimate each function and process associated with a standard job ticket for printing using appropriate mathematical calculations for cost and time analysis.
- Map the unique digital workflows for projects through the completion process.
- Operate and troubleshoot the output of a file for prepress, press and post-press processes.
- Calibrate an output device for correct color.
- Demonstrate safe use and maintenance of equipment and consumables.
- Manage the project lifecycle for internal and external stakeholders.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Advertising and Promotions Managers
$99,360 Show expanded career information for Advertising and Promotions Managers
Art Directors
$79,070 Show expanded career information for Art Directors
Customer Service Representatives
$38,100 Show expanded career information for Customer Service Representatives
Desktop Publishers
$40,630 Show expanded career information for Desktop Publishers
Graphic Designers
$56,090 Show expanded career information for Graphic Designers
Prepress Technicians and Workers
$45,650 Show expanded career information for Prepress Technicians and Workers
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
$36,770 Show expanded career information for Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Printing Press Operators
$38,650 Show expanded career information for Printing Press Operators
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Critical course OR Any approved general education course from the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 | ||
AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 | |||
AVC103 | Typography in the Digital Age | Creative Branding Specialization | 0–3 | ||
AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 | |||
Specialization or Elective | Specialization Option or Elective | 2–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | COM225 recommended for students transferring to NAU to meet the Literacy [L] requirement | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Creative Branding and Digital Process Management Specialization | HU | 0–3 | |
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
Specialization or RE | Specialization or Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
Specialization or RE | Specialization Option or Restricted Elective | Students should select courses to complete the minimum total program credits required for this degree. | 3 | ||
RE | Restricted Elective | Students should select courses to complete the minimum total program credits required for this degree. | 2–3 | ||
RE | Restricted Elective | Students should select courses to complete the minimum total program credits required for this degree. | 0–3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
AVC100 | Introduction to Computer Graphic Art | OR Permission of Department | 0–1 | ||
FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVC175 | Electronic Publishing Design I | Gateway course | 3 | ||
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Critical course OR Any approved general education course from the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
AVC103 | Typography in the Digital Age | 3 | |||
AVC169 | 2D Media Design | 3 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialization | Specialization Option | 3 | |||
RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | COM225 recommended for students transferring to NAU to meet the Literacy [L] requirement | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | |
Specialization or RE | Specialization or Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
RE | Restricted Elective | 2 |
Term 10
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
Specialization or RE | Specialization Option or Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
RE | Restricted Elective | 0–3 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=180672).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.