Program Outline
This outline covers all four semesters
of your degree program. You
will receive credit for previous
college coursework if you meet Penn
Foster College standards. If you
wish to receive credit for previous
coursework, contact the college
you attended and ask that your official
transcripts be forwarded to Penn
Foster for evaluation. All previous
college work must have been completed
with a grade of "C" or
better, and as much as 75% of the required credits may be transferred.
We will also credit your tuition
for all the courses that are acceptable.
Upon completing your online basic skills assessments, your first course will be sent immediately. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.
Computer Specifications
You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer running Windows® XP or later, Microsoft® Office 2010, and high-speed Internet in order to complete your program with Penn Foster.
Online Library and Librarian
Students at Penn Foster College have
access to an online library during
their college studies. Students can
use the library to do the required
course research or for general reference
and links to valuable resources. The
library contains helpful research assistance,
articles, databases, books, and Web
links. A librarian is available to
answer questions on general research-related
topics via email and will assist students
in research activities.
Here
is an overview of what you will learn
and the order in which you'll receive
your learning materials:
SEMESTER
ONE |
Basic Skills Assessment
All
degree applicants
are required to complete
two Basic Skills Assessments,
one in reading and one
in math, to determine
the level
of readiness
for beginning
their selected
program. Additional studies
may be required.
GRD101
- Graphic Design Orientation
(1 credit)
• Strategies
for the Independent
Learner
• Introduction
to Computer Art
GRD105
- Color Theory (3 credits)
• Introduction
to Color
• Color
in Context and Practice
• Three-Dimensional
Color and Color in
Nature
• Textbook
included
GRD110
- Introduction to Graphic
Design (3 credits)
• Introduction
to Graphic Design
• Perception, Dynamic Balance,
and Gestalt Principles
• Text Type, Layout, Illustration,
and Photography in Design
• Advertising Design
• Color, Production Tools and
• Procedures, and Web Design
• Textbook
included
CSC101 Computer Literacy (3 credits)
Hardware and software; computer networks; information systems; personal computer systems; legal and ethical dilemmas.
GRD115
- Graphics Design and Production
(Illustrator® )
(3 credits)
• Getting
Started with Illustrator®
and Creating Text and
Illustrations
• Transforming
Objects and Working
with Layers, Patterns,
and Brushes
• Filters,
Effects, Appearance
Attributes, and Graphs
• Using
Symbols; Preparing
for Printing and the
Web
• Textbook
and Software included
• Graded
Project
ENG100
- English Composition (3
credits)
• The
Basics
• The
Writing Process
• Descriptive
Writing
• Narrative
Writing
• Reflective
and Persuasive Writing
• Textbooks
and Learning Aid included
• Learning
Aid: Composition
Notebook
Proctored
Examination*
|
SEMESTER TWO
HUM102 – Art Appreciation
(3 credits)
Artistic media; historical periods
and artistic movements; roles of
the artist and the viewer; art criticism.
ENG103 – Information
Literacy (1 credit)
Teaches students to become effective
in finding and utilizing information
at libraries and other information
centers, and through electronic resources
available in libraries and on the
World Wide Web.
GRD130 – Photo Image Editing I (3 credits)
Print and Web-Based Graphic Applications
begins coverage of Adobe® PhotoShop®
in regard to the production of print
and Web-based graphics. The students
learn how to use the PhotoShop® software
and apply smart design principles
to multimedia products such as print
brochures, dynamic graphics, animation,
Web sites, video, and interactive
CD-ROM content.
GRD135 – Photo Image Editing II (3 credits)
Graphic Design II focuses on visual
communication through diverse theme-based
projects where issues of representation
and meaning production are emphasized.
It also addresses main design notions
such as visual organization, information
hierarchy, and typography.
ENG121 – Business
and Technical Writing (3 credits)
Writing styles; ABC method of organizing
material; grammar (parts of speech,
active and passive voice, complete
sentences vs. sentence fragments;
parallel construction); using action
verbs; constructing paragraphs; writing
memos, business letters, and emails;
organizing material; conducting research;
documenting sources; outlining; providing
illustrations; writing reports, proposals,
descriptions, instructions, articles,
and manuals.
MAT102 – Mathematical Applications (3 credits)
This course provides a foundation in basic mathematical operations. Subjects covered include percentages, discounts, interest, pricing, depreciation, insurance, symbols and their applications, equations and formulas, and the importance of statistics.
Proctored Examination*
SEMESTER
THREE
GRD201 – Typography
(3 credits)
Typography is an exploration of different
components of type, typefaces,
and their identification, which
are legibility, visual organization,
proportion, and weight. When and
where, procedures, and methods
for use in print and Web-based
graphic creations.
SSC130 – Essentials
of Psychology (3 credits)
Biology and behavior; consciousness;
memory; thought and language; intelligence;
personality and gender; stress; community
influences.
GRD205 – Electronic
Publishing (InDesign) (3 credits)
The Electronic Publishing course
focuses on the integration of text
and graphics using Adobe® InDesign®. The
student develops digital design skills
and is introduced to photo image
manipulation using Photoshop. Course
includes use of scanning devices.
GRD208 – Electronic
Publishing Projects (3 credits)
Students use Illustrator,® Photoshop,®
and InDesign® to apply their skills to
produce a book, advertising brochures,
and corporate publications.
GRD212 – Corporate
Design (3 credits)
Corporate Design explores the development
of corporate communications and identity
programs. Topics covered are trademarks,
branding, logo design, brochure design,
and online presence design.
Proctored Examination*
SEMESTER
FOUR
INT120 – HTML Coding
Teaches how to create Web pages
with hypertext links, tables, frames, and forms; covers cascading style
sheets, programming with JavaScript,® working
with content and layout, controlling
mouse and keyboard events, and creating
new frames and windows.
GRD220 – Web Graphic
Arts Design (3 credits)
Web Graphic Arts Design teaches students
about creating Web graphics using
PhotoShop® and ImageReady. Students
create graphics for use in Web design
and other Web-based projects by completing
hands-on and case projects and creating
professional-level Web graphics for
use in their electronic portfolios
in the last semester of this course.
INT205 – Introduction
to Internet Multimedia (3 credits)
Provides an overview of multimedia
on the Web and multimedia elements
such as text and graphics, as well
as sound, animation, and video; describes
multimedia-authoring programs and
the development and design of multimedia
titles; covers the management and
distribution of
multi-media titles.
INT238 – Streaming
Technology, Multimedia Development,
and Animation
(3 credits)
Teaches Adobe Dreamworks®, Flash®,
and Fireworks®, and integrates the
three applications; develop a Web
page, work
with text and graphics, links, and
tables in Dreamweaver®; add objects
and animation to a Web page with
Fireworks; draw and work with symbols
and create interactivity and special
effects with Flash®.
GRD225 – Portfolio
Development (3 credits)
Portfolio Development covers the
process of developing and maintaining
an electronic portfolio. Topics covered
are the preparation and organization
of graphic creations, such as logos,
Web sites, and brochures. This course
culminates in the presentation of
an electronic portfolio utilizing
graphics created throughout this
course.
Proctored Examination*
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
*
As a degree candidate, you will take a proctored examination at the end of each semester on selected courses within that semester. We make it easy because you pick the location and the person you want to supervise the exam, as long as Penn Foster College's established policy and qualifications are met. Complete information packets with procedures will be provided well in advance, before completion of final semester coursework.
Note: Advanced standing student shipments may vary from the above schedule.
A High School Diploma or GED is required to enroll in this degree program. Although this outline covers all four semesters of the Graphic Design Technology Degree Program, you receive lesson materials for each semester as you enroll.
Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation, or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
Microsoft,
Windows, and Windows Vista are trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation registered in the United States of America
and/or other jurisdictions.
Adobe
Dreamweaver, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and
Fireworks are trademarks of Adobe Systems
Incorporated registered in the
United States of America and/or
other jurisdictions.
Flash
is a trademark registered in the
United States of America and/or
other jurisdictions.
JavaScript
is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
in the United States of America and/or
other jurisdictions.