Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science

The two-year program in graphic arts technology is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of each of six major areas of the printing industry and develop occupational skills in the areas or processes in which students demonstrate aptitude and interest.

Lecture courses and hands-on laboratory experience will be provided for training in hand and machine composition and form make-up, letter press operation and form lockup, cold typesetting and paste-up, camera operation and film processing, negative stripping and offset platemaking, and offset press operation and related bindery functions.

The program director, with the approval of the instructional dean, may require additional courses or make substitutions required to meet the needs of students.

NOTE: Students have two degree alternatives in this program: The associate in science (A.S.) and the associate in applied science (A.A.S.). If you intend to pursue further education at the university level, you should enroll in the A.S. option. If you intend to go directly to work after completing your associate’s degree, consider the A.A.S. While the A.A.S. will not provide you with the transfer benefits of the A.S., the A.A.S. will provide you with the skills required to begin working in the field immediately upon graduation. If you are unsure of which option is best for you, please see an advisor for further counseling.

Requirements and Recommended Course Groupings

The following is a presentation of required courses in recommended course groupings for this program. These groupings are only a suggested guide, and there is no requirement to follow these precisely. The availability of courses, the student’s testing and academic performance and other factors may alter the student’s actual course completion sequence. Students of this program may register for courses in any grouping as long as the student has met any prerequisites for the course.

Course Grouping One
(First term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
GRA 1500 Theory of Printing Processes	5
GRA 1502 Printing Processes-Laboratory	4
GRA 1800 Introduction to Computer Graphics	3
ENC 1101 English Composition I	3
Credit Hours	15

Course Grouping Two
(Second term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
GRA 1503 Theory of Lithographic Processes	5
GRA 1504 Lithographic Processes Laboratory	4
GRA 1821 Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design	3
GRA 1801 Computer Illustration and Design	3
OR
GRA 2571 Camera Operation and Film Processing
OR
GRA 2601 Negative Stripping and Offset Platemaking
OR
GRA 2635 Offset Press Operation
Credit Hours	15

Course Grouping Three
(Third term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
GRA 2577 Electronic Imaging I	3
OR
GRA 2573 Advanced Camera Operation and Film Processing (5 credits)
OR
GRA 2602 Advanced Negative Stripping and  Offset Platemaking (5 credits)
OR
GRA 2638 Advanced Offset Press Operation (5 credits)
*Mathematics	3
Credit Hours	6

Course Grouping Four
(Fourth term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
GRA 1540 Layout and Design	3
*Social and Behavioral Sciences Area A	3
*Humanities	3
Professional Elective (see list below)	3
Credit Hours	12

Course Grouping Five
(Fifth term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
*General Education Elective Area A	3
Professional Elective (see list below)	3
Credit Hours	6

Course Grouping Six
(Sixth term load for full-time students; 2-5 terms for part-time students.)
 

Course Number and Title	Credits
Professional Electives (see list below)	4
GRA 2945 Practicum	6
Credit Hours	10
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS	64

Professional Electives
GRA 1530 Typography: History and Terminology
GRA 1531 Typography and Design I
GRA 1543 Principles of Graphic Design
GRA 1544 Graphic Design I
GRA 1545 Graphic Design II
GRA 1546 Graphic Design III
GRA 1801 Computer Illustration and Design
GRA 1800 Introduction to Computer Graphics
GRA 1821 Desktop Publishing for Graphic Design
GRA 2508 Color Theory
GRA 2577 Electronic Imaging I
GRA 2578 Electronic Imaging II
GRA 2905 Directed Independent Study for Graphic Arts
**General Electives

NOTE: A three credit typing course is preferred.