Graphic Design - Associate Degree

// Programs & Courses // Programs // Graphic Design

Share this program with a friend

Graphic Design Overview

Using a mixture of arts and digital technology, successful graphic designers are creative, have strong attention to visual details, and embrace new technologies. Throughout this two-year Graphic Design Associate Degree, you will develop a foundation of technical skills while working toward creating a personal style to be displayed in your final design portfolio.

The Graphic Design program teaches students traditional art fundamentals like drawing and typography, but also digital art skills for print and electronic media using the latest Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Animate, and After Effects. Coursework builds on itself during the program as students work with real clients and projects aimed at strengthening communication, project management, and time management skills.

Graphic designers today work on a wide variety of projects from logo creation, branding, document layout, advertising, signage, social media graphics, and web design. They also work in a variety of business settings, including advertising and marketing agencies, printing companies, in-house corporate marketing departments. Some designers also choose to work for themselves as freelancers.

If you are looking to turn your artistic ability and passion into a career, the Graphic Design program is for you!

In this program, you will learn:

Design Communication
Publication & Document Design
Digital Illustration Basics
Typography
Design Photography
Print Production
Adobe Creative Suite Applications
Interactive Media
Web Design Fundamentals
Project Management Skills

As a student in this program you'll be required to purchase and use a preapproved laptop to complete much of your coursework.

Career Opportunities

Graphic Designer

Desktop Publisher

Just the Facts

Graphic Design
60 Credit Associate Degree

Length of Program //
Two Years

Delivery Method //

Program Location //
Eau Claire

Start Months //
August

Financial Aid Eligible

Estimated Program Cost

Term 1	$	2,455
Term 2	$	2,370
Term 3	$	2,455
Term 4	$	2,376
Tools/Materials	$	1,465
Books	$	215

Estimated Total: $11,336

View Admission Details

Earn credit for prior learning! Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning. Explore your options today!

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you can take in the Graphic Design program.

Drawing and Illustration Concepts
Drawing and Illustration Concept is designed to help give the designers the basic concept and perspective of drawing before digital. The students will learn the fundamentals of drawing, typography drawing, sketching human forms, layout design, and other essential assets needed to help further their skills as designers.

Typography Fundamentals
Typography Fundamentals is a course to help the learners and designers understand the principals and importance of typography. The students will learn more about the drawing and perspective art of typography, the terminology, history, digital form, and other aspects that are crucial to the design aspects of artistic and digital typography.

Design Photography
Photography will be implemented into the curriculum to show and help students understand the importance photography is to design. Design Photography will introduce perspective, lighting, features of all cameras, Adobe Photoshop basics, and other assets of photography needs.

View Full Program Course List

Apply Today Schedule a Program Tour Request Info Transfer in Credits

Graphic Design Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking where they are working, whether it is in their degree field, and several other questions related to employment. Below are the program outcomes and job data.

// Program Outcomes

$45K^*
Yearly Salary

Graphic Design professionals make an average starting salary of $44,831.

34
Regional Jobs

There are 34 job openings in the CVTC district for the Graphic Design industry.

Transfer
Credits to Other Institutions

Transfer your CVTC credits to another institution to continue your education. Explore transfer agreements.

* This wage is not specific to CVTC graduates. Wage estimates are based on entry-level positions and are gathered from Lightcast which is an economic modeling software that blends historical and projected industry and occupation trends within CVTC's 11-county district. Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment Statistics and the American Community Survey.

Related Programs & Certificates

Whether you're looking to continue your learning to another program or to gain continuing education credit, CVTC offers a variety of learning opportunities for students.