Whatcom offers the following degree:

Degree: Associate in Arts (AA) - Visual Communications

 

Note: Core course requirements are listed alphabetically within the degree template. See the sample student schedule for the correct sequence of courses.

Prerequisites

To apply for admission to the second year of visual communication courses, the following prerequisites must be met:

  • Placement into ENGL& 101
  • Completion of the following courses:
    • ART 112 - Drawing I (3 or 5 credits) and,
    • ART 115 or 116 - 2D or 3D Design (3 or 5 credits) and,
    • ART 185 - Introduction to Visual Communications (5 credits) and,
    • One of the following:
      • ART 100& - Art Appreciation (3 or 5 credits) or,
      • ART 114 - History of Graphic Design (5 credits) or,
      • ART 205 - Western Art from 18th to Mid 20th Century (3 or 5 credits) or,
      • ART 215 - Western Art from WWII to the Present (3 or 5 credits)

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Associate in Arts (AA) - Visual Communications

The Visual Communications program prepares students for careers in the print, web, and digital media design fields.

Course requirements (effective fall 2018)

Prerequisites
 Credits
 ART 112
  Drawing I
  3 or 5
 ART 115
  2D Design
  3 or 5
 or ART 116
  3D Design  3 or 5
 ART 185
  Introduction to Visual Communications
  5
 ART& 100
  Art Appreciation*
  3 or 5
 or ART 114
  History of Graphic Design*
  5
 or ART 205
  Western Art from 18th to Mid 20th Century*
  3 or 5
 or ART 215
  Western Art from World Ward II to the Present*
  3 or 5
 Placement into ENGL& 101  
 Subtotal  14-20
 Core Requirements (courses are listed alphabetically)
  Credits
 VISCM 240
  Typography  3
 VISCM 250
  Layout and Publication Design I
  5
 VISCM 251
  Layout and Publication Design II
  5
 VISCM 260
  Vector Illustration
  5
 VISCM 262
  Advanced Digital Imaging
  5
 VISCM 270
  Print Production and Prepress
  5
 VISCM 280
  Web Design and Authoring I
  5
 VISCM 282
  Web Design and Authoring II
  5
 VISCM 284
  Web Content Management Systems
  5
 VISCM 286
  Video Production for the Web
 5
 VISCM 292  Portfolio/Professional Practices 2
 VISCM 192  Design Lab 2
 or CO-OP 190  Cooperative Education/Internship** 2
 Cooperative work experience must be completed in VISCM or BUS. 
  
 Subtotal  52
 General Education Requirements/Related Instruction
  Credits
 ENGL& 101
  English Composition I (CM)
  5
 BUS 100
  Business Math (CP)
  5
 or CS 140
  Computer Programming Fundamentals I (CP)
  5
 or IDS 112
  Ethno Mathematics (CP)
  5
 or IDS 113
  Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (CP)
  5
 or PHIL& 117
  Traditional Logic (CP)
  5
 or Any course designated as Computation on the Related Instruction list (CP)
  5
 ANTH& 206
  Cultural Anthropology (HR)
  5
 or PSYC& 100
  General Psychology (HR)
  5
 or SOC& 101
  Introduction to Sociology (HR)
  5
 or Any CMST course designated "OC" (HR)
  3 or 5
 Subtotal  13-15
 Electives/Cooperative Work Experience
  Credits
 ART& 100
  Art Appreciation*
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 114
  History of Graphic Design*
  5
 and/or ART 118  Mixed Media/Collage
  5
 and/or ART 123  Water Based Media
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 134  The Art of Color
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 175  Printmaking: Relief and Monotype
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 179  2D Animation
  5
 and/or ART 187  Computer Art
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 200  Figure Drawing I
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 205  Western Art from 18th to Mid 20th Century*
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 215  Western Art from World War II to the Present*
  3 or 5
 and/or ART 221  Painting  3 or 5
 and/or BTEC 101  Introduction to Business Computing
  3
 and/or BTEC 121  Word Processing I
  3
 and/or BTEC 122  Business Document Design 5
 and/or BTEC 141  Spreadsheets I
  3
 and/or BTEC 161  Database Management I 3
 and/or BTEC 181  Introduction to Presentation Software 3
 and/or BUS 108  Principles of Marketing
  5
 and/or CIS 105  Computer Operating Systems I 5
 and/or CIS 205  Computer Operating Systems II 5
 and/or CS 120  HTML Fundamentals
  5
 and/or CO-OP 190  Cooperative Education/Internship** 3 to 5
 Cooperative work experience must be completed in VISCM or BUSAD   
 and/or FILM 101  Introduction to Film 3 to 5
 and/or IDS 170  Introduction to Sustainability 5
 and/or IDS 180  Visual Media and Culture 5
 and/or PHIL& 115  Critical Thinking
  3 to 5
 Subtotal  3-11
 Total  90

 *Can only be used as either a prerequisite or an elective course, not counted for both.
**Can only be used as either a core requirement or an elective course, not counted for both.

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