Graphic Design Courses

Courses required for the Graphic Design degree programs

Minimum requirements for graduation:

Associate of Science in Graphic Design: 67 Credits
Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design: 124 Credits

Required Courses

All courses, 40 semester credit hours, are required for both the Associate's and Bachelor's degrees.

BU 105 Business Principles and Management

This course introduces the environment of American business with an overview of various topics that serve as a foundation for further study of business. Topics include the environments that businesses operate in; the organizational structures of businesses; management functions in enterprises; and the challenges of managing marketing, operations, information technology, finance, and human resources.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 101 Graphic Design Fundamentals

A basic introduction to the design software programs which will be an overview of layout, typography, raster and vector graphics and simple print production techniques.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 104 Illustration Fundamentals

Students will develop their basic hand drawing skills. Topics include the use of pencil, marker, charcoal, ink, and other mixed media to render original works of still life and commercial product sketches.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 105 Digital Photography - Introduction

This hands-on course teaches you to make the most of your digital photographs by utilizing latest software. Learn techniques for brightening a picture, bringing out colors, cropping, and simple photographic manipulations.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 201 Color Theory in Design

In this course the students will examine the nature of color as it relates to various media while implementing the full range of software tools available. Students will be exposed to the principles of color space including additive/subtractive color and color model theory including RGB, CMYK and The Pantone Color System as it relates to print and web design.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 205 Diagrammatic Design

This vector-based graphics course teaches students to create dynamic visual communications. They will learn skills required to take advantage of powerful software tools to create illustrations, type effects, charts, graphs and diagrams. Students work with colors, gradients, layers, fonts, and photos to create eye-catching illustrations and text effects.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 215 Web Design Fundamentals

An introduction to basic coding and design fundamentals in advanced design for web. Topics covered will be solid design foundations in layout, typography, color and usability. Studying existing web sites shows real-life scenarios on how concepts are put to work. Application architecture and multiple platform use will be covered.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 105 Digital Photography: Introduction.

GA 235 Corporate Identity Design

In this course students will begin to develop a full-scale campaign including corporate identity, corporate branding materials, direct mail advertising and web design. Students will prepare for business success through strategic marketing and design.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 201 Color Theory in Design.

GA 245 Web in Motion

Students will learn to create graphics for web sites with vector and pixel images. They will develop sophisticated user-face interactive elements including rollovers, navigations bars and dropdown menus. This course will teach professional techniques including layering, text formatting, dynamic graphics, hyperlinks, templates, tables, frames, style sheets, and forms in order to develop a well organized, state-of-the-art web site.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 215 Web Design Fundamentals.

GA 325 Corporate Campaigns

Continue Corporate Identity Design through advance design of the corporate identity including annual reports, corporate brochures and product brochures.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 235 Corporate Identity Design.

GA 345 Vector Graphic Design

Designers will work with practical software applications to organize information and solve the design challenges in the hierarchy levels of visual communication. This advanced vector-based graphics program gives the students the opportunity to continue to create professional information system graphics while expanding on skills learned in Diagrammatic Design.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 205 Diagrammatic Design.

HU 320 Art History

This course is a historical retrospective of art history. Topics include particular eras and movements in relation to the arts field and artists. Students will be expected to identify artists, techniques, works of art as appropriate to different periods of history.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

SC 242 Anatomy for Artists

This course examines the organization and structure of the body components (anatomy). Topics include the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and respiratory systems. These topics in combination will form a strong base of knowledge for the beginning professional. Anatomical knowledge is important for professionals hoping to enter the interactive graphics and gaming field from the creative side.
3.0 credit hours.
Co-requisite: SC 142L Anatomy for Artists Lab.This is a core requirement in the Associate's degree and fulfills the Natural Science general education requirement for the Bachelor's degree.)

SC 242L Anatomy for Artists Lab

This is the lab portion of SC 242.
1.0 credit hour.
Co-requisite: SC 242 Anatomy for Artists. This is a core requirement in the Associate's degree and fulfills the Natural Science general education requirement for the Bachelor's degree.)

Personal and Professional Development

PD 100 Student Success Skills

This course provides instruction in the both theory and practice of personal growth that lead to successful life experience. Topics include research in critical self-analysis of student habits and attitudes; and psychological impediments to successfully setting and achieving personal goals. 
1.0 credit hour.
Prerequisite: None.

PD 200 Career Development Seminar

This seminar provides an opportunity for the student to apply critical self-examination techniques and processes for developing a career path and an awareness of the need to embed life-long learning into career management. Topics include career planning research, job searching, developing career search documents, and refining interview and communication skills within an awareness of psychological boundaries implicit in this process. Successful completion of this course requires the creation of a professional resume suitable for email. 
1.0 credit hour.
Prerequisite: None.

General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees

Students enrolled in Associate degrees must complete a minimum of 21 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the course catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements.

Elective Courses for the Associate's in Graphic Design

A minimum of 4 credit hours is required for the associate degree.

Additional Course Required for the Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design Degree

Required Courses

In addition to the course mentioned above, all courses, 27 semester credit hours, are required for the Associate's and Bachelor's degrees.

GA 220 Pixel-based Images

In this course there is an emphasis on correcting and enhancing digital/raster images using state-of-the-art software. Students will create, manipulate and edit digital graphics and photographs. This hands-on course shows techniques of image formatting, filter effects, retouching digital photos, working with layers, and using various painting tools. This course examines the use of raster graphics in industry. Topics include resolution, color correction, color usage, hue, saturation and luminosity, preparation of raster graphics including retouching, color correction, image composition, silhouetting, and special effects.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: None.

GA 225 Advanced Illustration Techniques

This course builds on techniques learned in Illustration Fundamentals. Topics include the use of various media to develop advanced illustration skills. Perspective drawing and figurative illustration skills are developed through use of color, line and texture to present conceptual designs and ideas.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 104 Illustration Fundamentals.

GA 255 Fundamentals of 3-D Design

Introduction to packaging design, die cut forms, wrap around graphics, hierarchy of messaging for packaging display.
3.0 credit hours. GA 205
Prerequisite: Diagrammatic Design.

GA 265 Exhibition Design

Exhibition design is more than just putting up a booth. Students will learn the strategy of developing an overall tradeshow program by designing an effective exhibit, preparing budgets and planning pre-show promotions that will generate successful sales.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 255 Fundamentals of 3-D Design.

GA 310 Print Production

This course focuses on the print industry language and methods to ensure that the printing process with vendors is smooth and cost efficient. It gives the students a real-life experience in print specification and markup as well as the graphic steps in preparing a file and releasing it for print.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 201 Color Theory in Design.

GA 315 Advanced Dynamic Web Sites

Develop powerful web sites that are easy to build and even easier to update. This course will teach advanced techniques in layering, text formatting, dynamic graphics, hyperlinks, templates, tables, frames, style sheets, and forms. Metadata tags, creating URL’s, movies, videos and slide shows are also included. Templates are created to reduce editing when managing a growing web site.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 245 Web in Motion.

GA 410 Portfolio in Print Design

Taking all projects developed up to this point, students will have projects reviewed, edited and selected by instructor. These selected projects will be reworked to develop a consistent and well-rounded portfolio.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 325 Corporate Campaigns.

GA 420 Online Portfolio Design

Using advanced web techniques to build your own web site URL which consists of the portfolio developed in the Portfolio in Print class. 4.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: GA 315 Advanced Dynamic Websites.

GA 490 CapStone Project

Students will work in a variety of disciplines on an instructor-approved project. It will include designing, building, and marketing base on client needs and production costs resulting in a final project presentation.
3.0 credit hours.
Prerequisite: Senior year.

Elective Courses for the Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design

A minimum of 22 credit hours of open electives is required.

Additional General Education Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees

Students enrolled in Bachelor degrees must complete a minimum of 16 semester credit hours in general education above and beyond the general education courses completed for their Associate degree. These credits must be distributed among the following disciplines and a minimum of 9 semester credit hours must be upper level (300-400 level courses). Refer to the General Education section of the course catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements.

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