This one-year certificate program is designed to accommodate individuals who want to upgrade their design, drawing and computer graphics skills. The courses are designed to improve the graduate's design, drawing, research, and problem solving techniques.

This program is available to be completed 100% online.

Program contact: Learn more

This certificate will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the certificate, please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.

Learn more here here, and here about how certificate credits apply to the related degrees.

Other Information

  • Contact Program Coordinator, Program Manager, or Counselor for additional information.
  • Non-degree students may enroll in individual courses with departmental approval.

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  1. Communicate and connect verbally and in writing to clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
  2. Conduct yourself professionally and ethically according to professional standards.
  3. Develop team skills including taking and giving constructive criticism, leading and /or following directions.
  4. Apply basic production knowledge, including fundamental understanding of page layout, typography, photography, color, and use computer and design software skills to effectively execute all aspects of production – print and/or web.
  5. Apply the knowledge of basic business and design concepts, including design history and trends, photography and illustration, basic typography skills, appropriate mediums and business concepts including dealing with vendors, organizational hierarchy and workflow, written and verbal communication skills in order to translate ideas into final art that meets business need.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
VC-1000 Visual Communication Foundation 3
VC-1061 History of Graphic Design 3
VC-1201 Typography I 3
VC-1431 Vector Graphics 3
VCPH-1450 Digital Imaging I 3
Select one of the following: 3
College Composition I
Honors College Composition I
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
VC-2301 Graphic Design and Illustration 3
VCGD-1500 Advertising and Design 3
VCGD-2232 Typography II 3
Select one of the following: 3
User Experience Design
Select one of the following: 3
Portfolio Preparation
Brand Identity Design
Package Design
Information Graphic Design
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours33

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.