Graphic Communications AAS

The Graphic Communications program prepares students to work in the exciting world of visual communications. We give students a fundamental working knowledge of graphic design, digital imaging, offset presswork, and bindery processes. This program incorporates corrugated packaging classes into its curriculum for those students interested in packaging design and production. LCSC's Graphic Communications program is one of only a few programs located throughout the country that incorporates both graphic design and print production. Who says print is dead? Not us! Students will enter the graphic communications industry with the skills needed to gain employment as an entry-level professional.

Upon completion of the Graphic Communications AAS degree, students will:

  • Understand the overall graphic communications production process
  • Be able to work in a production environment under tight deadlines
  • Use industry-standard software to design visual communications
  • Be familiar with various layout, design methods, packaging structure and design

Students are required to own a laptop computer and purchase specified software. 

Laptop specifications should meet minimum requirements based on required Adobe software, which can be found here.

Students must earn at least a C grade or better in all program courses to continue in the Graphic Communications program.

*NOTE: Students entering the Graphic Communications program must own or have access to a camera (digital SLR or phone) capable of shooting in RAW format.

General Education Requirements

Written Communication
ENGL-101WRITING AND RHETORIC I3.00
Oral Communication
Select one from the following:3.00
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Mathematical Ways of Knowing
Select one of the following:3.00-5.00
MATH IN MODERN SOCIETY
FINITE MATHEMATICS
PRECALCULUS I: ALGEBRA
PRECALCULUS
STATISTICAL REASONING
CALCULUS I
STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE SCIENCES
MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II
FINITE MATHEMATICS
MATH FOR TECHNOLOGY
STATISTICAL REASONING
Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Select one of the following:3.00
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS
Additional General Education Courses
Select one of the following:3.00-5.00
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WORLD PREHISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
RACE AND ETHNICITY
INTRODUCTION TO ART
INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS
CONCEPTS OF BIOLOGY
PLANTS AND PEOPLE
BIOLOGY IN FILM
HUMAN BIOLOGY
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY
GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY
PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY I
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
WRITING AND RHETORIC II
COLLEGE WRITING AND RESEARCH
LITERATURE AND IDEAS
WORLD CLASSICS
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
MYTHOLOGIES
NATIVE AMERICAN WRITTEN LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SYSTEMS
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE MOTION PICTURE
INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS
WORLD HISTORY I
WORLD HISTORY II
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
INTEGRATED SCIENCE II
ID-300A - 300Z (see course descriptions for options)
HELLS CANYON INSTITUTE
SOCIAL-CULTURAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS
SURVEY OF MUSIC
MUSIC IN AMERICA
WORLD MUSIC
HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATER
HISTORY OF JAZZ AND POPULAR MUSIC STYLES
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
INTEGRATED SCIENCE I
INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL SCIENCES
NATURAL SCIENCE FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR
GENERAL PHYSICS I
GENERAL PHYSICS II
PHYS SCIENCES FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS
DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY
PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS I
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCIAL PROBLEMS
ELEMENTARY SPANISH I
ELEMENTARY SPANISH II
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
SURVEY OF THE THEATER
Total Credits15.00-19.00

Program Requirements

PITPT-102INTRO/GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS3.00
PITPT-119ADOBE INDESIGN3.00
PITPT-129ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR3.00
PITPT-134GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS I3.00
PITPT-135GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS II3.00
PITPT-139ADOBE PHOTOSHOP3.00
PITPT-209TYPOGRAPHY3.00
PITPT-211GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS III6.00
PITPT-229PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN I3.00
PITPT-230PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN II3.00
PITPT-245BUSINESS SIDE OF CREATIVITY3.00
PITPT-254PHOTOSHOP PHOTOGRAPHY3.00
PITPT-289PACKAGING GRAPHICS3.00
PITPT-294INTERNSHIP IN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY3.00
Completion of a Technical Skills Assessment is required
Total Credits45.00

Sequential Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
ENGL-101 WRITING AND RHETORIC I 3.00
COREMathematical Ways of Knowing 3.00
COREAdditional General Education Course 3.00
PITPT-102 INTRO/GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS 3.00
 Credits12.00
Spring
CoreOral Communication 3.00
HRPT-184 DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS (HRPT-184 or HRPT-185) 3.00
PITPT-119 ADOBE INDESIGN 3.00
PITPT-129 ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR 3.00
PITPT-229 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN I 3.00
 Credits15.00
Sophomore
Fall
PITPT-134 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS I 3.00
PITPT-139 ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 3.00
PITPT-209 TYPOGRAPHY 3.00
PITPT-245 BUSINESS SIDE OF CREATIVITY 3.00
PITPT-230 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN II 3.00
 Credits15.00
Spring
PITPT-135 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS II 3.00
PITPT-211 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS III 6.00
PITPT-254 PHOTOSHOP PHOTOGRAPHY 3.00
PITPT-289 PACKAGING GRAPHICS 3.00
PITPT-294 INTERNSHIP IN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY 3.00
 Credits18.00
 Total Credits60.00

Graduates from Graphic Communication programs go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:

  • Photographer/Videographer
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Page Layout Artist
  • Digital Operator
  • Wide Format Specialist

Check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more information about the potential careers above.