You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.

Department of Art and Design

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Art Major
Graphic Design Option

Major requirements (69 units)

--- Art and Design Core (21 units) ---
ARTH 10 and 11 (6 units), ART 13 (3 units), ART 14 (3 units), ART 20 or ID 43 (3 units), ART 24 or 30 or 40 (3 units), ART 50 or 60 or 70 (3 units)

--- Lower-division requirements (12 units) ---
GD 35, 37, 41, 42

--- Upper-division requirements (36 units) ---
GD 50, 60, 135, 150, 163, 165, 170, 174, 178, 179; ART 116; MCJ 142

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives (0-6 units)

Total units (120)*

___________

* This total indicates that a maximum of two courses (6 units) in G.E. Breadth C1 and G.E. Breadth E1 also may be applied to the graphic design major. These courses include ARTH 10, 11; ART 20, 40, 50 (G.E. C1); and/or ART 13 (G.E. E1). Consult the department chair or faculty adviser for additional details.

Advising Notes

1. All courses required for the major must receive a letter grade.
2. Student work may be retained for a limited period for display and accreditation visits.
3. The upper-division writing skills requirement can be met by passing the university examination or by completing a W course with a letter grade of C or higher, to be taken no sooner than the term in which 60 units are completed.
4. The General Education requirement of 51 units may be exceeded depending upon the selection of courses; such excess units may be counted under the Electives category toward the 124-unit degree.
5. No General Education Integration course offered by the Department of Art and Design may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.

COURSES

Graphic Design (GD)

GD 35. Visual CommunicationsFundamentals (3)
Foundational visual and cognitive organizational processes for the practice of visual communication, presented through lectures and applied through studio exercises. Includes visual perception and organization, visual ideation, and visual problem-solving processes, techniques, and principles. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours) F

GD 37. Graphic Design:Computer Imaging (3)
Prerequisites: ART 13, GD 35. Emphasis on basic skills, theories, and principles of graphic design, including photo manipulation and illustration software applications as related to the graphic design field. (6 lab hours) (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 40)

GD 39. Graphic Design: Computer Layout Design (3)
Prerequisite: ART 13, GD 37. Exploration and application of layout design and prepress software as related to the graphic design field through projects encompassing the basic skills, theories, and principles of graphic design. (6 lab hours)

GD 41. Typography (3)
Prerequisite: GD 37. Typographic principles, elements, and techniques. Type classification, selection, design, and layout. Computer projects. (6 lab hours) FS

GD 42. Graphic Design (3)
Prerequisite: GD 41. Advertising and graphic design projects taken through steps from thumbnail sketches through rough layouts to computer-generated comprehensive presentations. Emphasis on evaluation of market and audience and development of aesthetic solutions to communication problems. (6 lab hours) FS

GD 50. Internet Design (3)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Introduction to Internet design for graphic designers focusing on Web site structure. Emphasis on professionally designed, visually integrated Web sites utilizing contemporary software for Web design, image creation, and manipulation. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 140)

GD 60. Illustration Techniques (3)
Prerequisites: ID 43 or ART 20; ART 116. Introduction to various traditional drawing and painting techniques. Emphasis on the application of rendering solutions to graphic design problems. (6 lab hours) (Course fee $5) (Formerly GD 143)

GD 135. History of Graphic Design (3)
Prerequisites: ARTH 10 and 11. A survey of characteristic design approaches, solutions, materials, and technologies, their relationship to popular culture and trends, and their social and political history. Course includes lectures and studio projects. (2 lecture and 2 lab hours) FS

GD 150. Advanced Internet Design (3)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42, 50. Advanced application and exploration of Web standards-based Web site design. Emphasis on the aesthetics and structure of Web site development. (6 lab hours) FS

GD 153. Interactive Design (3)
Prerequisite: GD 41, 42, 50. Interactive design for graphic designers. Use of contemporary software to develop professionally designed, visually integrated, interactive graphics and content for Web and multimedia applications. (6 lab hours)

GD 155. AdvancedInteractive Design (3)
Prerequisite: GD 153. Integration of advanced and complex interactive content for Web and multimedia applications. Emphasis on experimentation and concept development incorporating elements from different thematic structures. (6 lab hours)

GD 157. Motion Graphics (3)
Prerequisite: GD 153. Application of software to create visually integrated, concept-driven motion graphics and interactive content and Web multimedia applications. Emphasis on research and production on advanced projects. (6 lab hours)

GD 163. Illustration (3)
Prerequisite: GD 60. Understanding how illustration functions with text. Experiences in the conceptualization and organized development of illustrative images. Creative illustrative strategies applied to design situations. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 146)

GD 165. Digital IllustrationTechniques (3)
Prerequisites: GD 42, 60, and 165. Introduction to digital illustration; appreciation of its strengths. Applying basic digital illustration techniques to characteristic graphic design problems and formats. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $5) (Formerly GD 147)

GD 167. Advanced Illustration (3)
Prerequisite: GD 163. Advanced techniques in non-digital illustration. Creating illustrative visual solutions to a range of problems in graphic design, including complex and abstract subjects. Developing distinctive individual work. (6 lab hours)

GD 169. Advanced Digital Illustration (3)
Prerequisites: GD 163, 165. Advanced digital illustration techniques. Analyzing and applying components of a visual style. Combining traditional and digital illustrative components. (6 lab hours)

GD 170. Typographic Design (3)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Advanced principles of typography, including design of typefaces utilizing contemporary software. Exploration of sophisticated typographical projects incorporating commercial and student designed fonts. Emphasis on typographical experimentation. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 141)

GD 171. AdvancedTypographic Design (3)
Prerequisite: GD 170. Creation of unique typefaces for use in typographic solutions to projects such as brand identity, packaging design, environmental graphics, and publication design. (6 lab hours)

GD 174. Graphic Systems (3)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Examination of the structures of primary/secondary and co-equal communication systems as applied to identity, packaging, and other graphic design projects. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 142)

GD 175. Graphic Concept Development (3)
Prerequisite: GD 174. Examination of the importance of an underlying concept development to successful graphic design solutions. Emphasis placed on the production of strong concepts in projects such as identity applications and environmental graphics. (6 lab hours)

GD 176. Packaging Design (3)
Prerequisites: GD 171, 175. Advanced projects in packaging with emphasis on the application and exploration of the socio-cultural, physical, and legal requirements of packaging systems. (6 lab hours)

GD 178. Professional Advertising Design (3)
Prerequisites: GD 171, 175. Advanced advertising/graphic design projects from concept development to finished product. Emphasis on complex methods and approaches relating to advertising media, production procedures, and professionalism. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 148)

GD 179. Professional Practices (3)
Prerequisites: GD 176 and 178, or 155 and 157, or 167 and 169. Advanced exploration of the fields of graphic and advertising design, as well as the standards and practices common in advertising agencies and design studios. Covers workplace structures, time and record-keeping, estimating, self-promotion, and working with vendors and employees. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 149)

GD 180. Graphic Portfolio Development (3)
Prerequisites: GD 176 and 178, or GD 155 and 157, or GD 167 and 169. Organization and creation of a professional portfolio. Advanced approaches and production of various media and professional applications, including practices encompassing the portfolio, exhibitions, and competitions. (6 lab hours)

GD 190. Independent Study in Graphic Design (3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement - Independent Study. Approved for RP grading. FS

GD 198. Internship in Graphic Design (1-6; max total 6)
Prerequisites: permission of instructor and supervising agency. Experience in graphic design related professions with a design studio, advertising agency or publication under the supervision of graphic design faculty. Maximum credit toward a graphic design option is 6 units. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum of 3 field hours per unit.)

Art and Design Degrees

Interior Design Courses and Degrees

Department Page

Courses Menu

Home