Chris Ryan
"I value doing things that are meaningful ... I truly believe in the pursuit of passion."
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Graphic Design A.A.S.
Graphic Design A.A.S.
Department: Graphic Design
Total Credit Hours: 72 credits
What Is Graphic Design A.A.S.?
This associate degree program combines traditional art fundamentals with cutting-edge technology to prepare students for a variety of jobs, including interactive design, video editing, computer animation, print production, etc. This degree encompasses all current and near-future baseline skills required by graphic employers and includes information and techniques designed to maximize student’s employ-ability.
Graphic design graduates with an A.A.S. degree may enter fields ranging from graphic and interactive design, development and production, illustration and animation, advertising, and video.
Occupational Outlook
Employment of graphic designers is projected to show little or no change from 2014 to 2024. Graphic designers are expected to face strong competition for available positions.
Salary Outlook
In the state of Missouri, employees working in the graphic design field earn between $47,640 and $82,020 per year, depending on education, experience and employer.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, earnings increase significantly as a worker’s degree of education rises.
Graphic Design Careers
SCC graduates with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in graphic design are employed in a broad range of careers including, but not limited to:
| Design & Production | Interactive |
| graphic designer illustrator imaging specialist production artist set designer packaging designer infographics designer art/creative director video editor |
Web designer Web developer mobile designer user experience designer video producer interaction designer motion graphics animator |
Unlike other forms of employment, many graphic designers require very little on-the-job training to get started with their career.
Required Courses
| Subject | Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements (24 credits) | |||
| Mathematics | MAT 105 | Applied Math | 3 |
| Communication | ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 or | English Composition II or | 3 | |
| ENG 115 or | Technical Writing or | ||
| ENG 125 or | Business Writing or | ||
| SPE 101 | Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Social Science | HIS 101 or | U.S. History to 1877 or | 3 |
| HIS 102 or | U.S. History since 1877 or | ||
| HIS 115 or | U.S. History since 1945 or | ||
| HIS 270 or | History of Missouri or | ||
| POL 101 or | American Government or | ||
| POL 102 | State & Local Government | ||
| Natural Science | Any BIO or | Any Biology Course or | 3 |
| Any CHM or | Any Chemistry Course or | ||
| Any Physical Science Course | |||
| Humanities | ART 2100 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| Elective | ART 2700 | Intro to Printmaking | 3 |
| Core Course Requirements (48 credits) | |||
| ART 1400 | Drawing I | 3 | |
| ART 1405 | Drawing II | 3 | |
| ART 1500 or | Survey of Western Art History I or | 3 | |
| ART 1505 | Survey of Western Art History II | ||
| ART 1200 | 2-D Design | 3 | |
| ART 1205 | Color Theory | 3 | |
| ART 1105 | Digital Art Studio | 3 | |
| ART 1300 | 3-D Design | 3 | |
| ART 2110 | Page Layout | 3 | |
| ART 2120 | Typography | 3 | |
| ART 2130 | Digital Imaging & Illustration | 3 | |
| ART 2140 | Web Design | 3 | |
| ART 2160 | Motion Graphics | 3 | |
| ART 2170 | Video Production | 3 | |
| ART 2800 or | Black and White Photo I or | 3 | |
| ART 2810 | Digital Photo I | ||
| ART 2900 | Illustration I | 3 | |
| ART 2199 | Portfolio Design & Professional Practices (capstone) | 3 | |
| Total Required Hours: 72 credits | |||
Suggested Schedule Planning
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester (15 credits) | ||
| ART 1400 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 1200 | 2-D Design | 3 |
| ART 1500 or | Survey of Western Art History I or | 3 |
| ART 1505 | Survey of Western Art History II | |
| ART 1105 | Digital Art Studio | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| Second Semester (15 credits) | ||
| ART 1405 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 1205 | Color Theory | 3 |
| ENG 102 or | English Composition II or | 3 |
| ENG 115 | Technical Writing | |
| MAT 105 | Applied Math or higher | 3 |
| ART 2120 | Typography | 3 |
| Third Semester (15 credits) | ||
| ART 2900 | Illustration I | 3 |
| ART 2100 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 2110 | Page Layout | 3 |
| ART 2130 | Digital Imaging & Illustration | 3 |
| HIS 101 or | U.S. History to 1877 or | 3 |
| HIS 102 or | U.S. History since 1877 or | |
| HIS 115 or | U.S. History since 1945 or | |
| HIS 270 or | History of Missouri or | |
| POL 101 or | American Government or | |
| POL 102 | State & Local Government | |
| Fourth Semester (15 credits) | ||
| ART 1300 | 3-D Design | 3 |
| ART 2140 | Web Design | 3 |
| ART 2800 or | Black & White Photo I or | 3 |
| ART 2810 | Digital Photo | |
| ART 2700 | Intro to Printmaking | 3 |
| Any BIO or | Any Biology Course or | 3 |
| Any CHM or | Any Chemistry Course or | |
| Any Physical Science Course | ||
| Fifth Semester (12 credits) | ||
| ART 2160 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ART 2170 | Video Production | 3 |
| SPE 101 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| ART 2199 | Portfolio Design & Professional Practices (capstone) | 3 |
| Total Hours Required for Graduation: 72 credits | ||
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4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Cottleville, MO 63376
636-922-8000
