Graphic Design and Digital Media at NWFSC

A.A.S. in Graphic Arts Technology

Graphic Design Studio Graphic Design is a field that falls within what we broadly define as the "creative visual arts." It is in the same family with drawing, painting, and photography. If you were interested in art when you were going to school before college, then a degree in Graphic Design is well worth considering. Graphic Design is primarily a commercial form of art where visual communication of complex information is achieved through the development of a creative synergy between type, the written form of communication, and image, a visual form of communication.

Graphic Designers must be sensitive to and interested in the world around them. You must be interested in learning about what a client wants communicated, and driven to provide that communication in a clear, organized, and beautiful manner. Choosing a career in Graphic Design is a lifelong commitment to learning and discovery. The Associates of Applied Science in Graphic Design Technology is a degree for students interested in learning design for print. What this means is that the coursework is focused on graphic design that will be used in any printed media. This can include newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and books.

Graphic Design is often thought of as an advertising field. This is true in part, but graphic designers don't just produce advertising. For example, an entire magazine must be designed, not just the advertisements. A magazine is a combination of hundreds of smaller pieces of art. These include the stories, photographs, illustrations, and info-graphics. Each of these elements must be designed, and then the entire collection of elements must be put into a readable and organized graphic system that is exciting and interesting to a reader.

If you are interested in being the architect of printed visual communication, Northwest Florida State College's A.A.S. in Graphic Arts Technology is a great choice as you pursue your higher education adventure. Don't hesitate to contact the department for further information and guidance about choosing this exciting and competitive career to study!

Degree Course Requirements and Structure Table

Core Course Requirements
Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Semester to Enroll
ART2602C	Digital Imaging I	4	1, 2
ART2603C	Digital Imaging II	4	2,3,4
GRA1151C	Illustration I	3	1,2
GRA1152C	Illustration II	3	2,3,4
GRA2190C	Graphic Design I	3	1,2
GRA2191C	Graphic Design II	3	2,3,4
PGY1801C	Digital Photography I	4	1,2
Total Core Credits Required		24
Technical Elective Options
PGY1220C	Commercial Photography I	4	2,3,4
PGY2221C	Commercial Photography II	4	2,3,4
PGY2802C	Digital Photography II	4	2,3,4
PGY2803C	Digital Photography III	4	2,3,4
GRA2142C	Web Design I	4	2,3,4
GRA2164C	Advanced Graphics Projects	4	2,3,4
GRA2905	Independent Study Gra Design	1	2,3,4
Other courses may be approved as technical electives. See an advisor or faculty member for details.
Total Technical Elective Credits Required		22
Total General Education Credits Required (see catalog)		18
Total Credits Required for A.A.S. in Graphic Arts Technology		64