About the Program
The Visual Communications _ VCOM program encompasses all the visual arts—drawing, painting, photography—but instead of traditional tools and media, students use computers and industry standard software.
All areas of design and composition, typography, photographic specification and manipulation, drawing, print and web page layout, and an array of technical skills using the newest versions of Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, Bridge, Dreamweaver and Flash are taught through project-based work.
Starting at the intermediate level, students gain direct experience creating client-based work for print, web or screen, contracted through VCOM’s business, the Design Shop. In terms of vocation, VCOM students develop a broad base of creative, technical, aesthetic and practical business skills while building a professional-level portfolio.Í
Certificate graduates are ready to enter the field of visual communications design; degree graduates often transfer to a four-year college.
AA Degree
The Visual Communications AA degree prepares students for transition into the profession through transfer to a four-year university baccalaureate program.Required and elective classes teach skills in digital print and multimedia that will be enhanced at the 4-year college level.
Certificate Of Achievement
The goal of the Visual Communications print and multimedia certificate program is immediate job entry. Students completing the certificate programs learn digital print and/or multimedia skills.
To receive both certificates, students are required to complete two internships: one with an emphasis in print and another with an emphasis in multimedia.
Skills Development Courses (Credit/No Credit)
Visual Communications courses starting with the number “100” are designed for professionals and community members to learn new technical skills, or ramp up skills in the latest versions of Adobe Creative Suite ™ design applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Bridge, Dreamweaver and Flash. These credit/no credit courses have identical content and are scheduled simultaneously with their corresponding VCOM program courses. The prerequisite course sequence has been removed to allow easy online registration access. Refer to the LPC catalog descriptions of these courses for details of skills necessary for success. Please note: these courses cannot be applied toward the degree or certificate.