Graphic Design

Graphic Design

A.S. Degree

Graphic Design

Visual appearance greatly impacts our perceptions of companies, organizations, and products. Graphic designers are responsible for creating strong visual communication using imagery and typography, be it through a corporate logo, a company website, a game app, or a candy's colorful wrapper. The field changes rapidly with the expanding use of technology in design, giving graphic designers an exciting array of challenges. 

Our program responds to the demands and realities of the professional graphic design field. Our courses offer real-world opportunities for students to build their resumes through project-based learning courses that focus on published projects and internships. You will be exposed to a variety of media in courses that utilize both traditional hands-on and digital methods to produce work. Students will have the opportunity to explore cutting edge technology in our digital labs and build unique and sought after skill sets and portfolios. All students are also encouraged to submit writing and art work to the Kelab Art and Literary Journal, a collaborative effort of the Creative Writing, Graphic Design, Photography and New Media programs.

Careers on Career Coach

The A.S. degree prepares you for a career in a design studio, creative agency, or an organization’s communications office. Responsibilities include creating visual materials such as brochures, magazines, advertisements, and electronic publications. Some of the firms that have hired graphic design graduates include Cornell University, Industrial Color Labs, Marietta Corporation, Metrodesign Associates, Porous Materials, Inc., Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, The Thomas Group, Communique Design & Marketing Inc., and Vision Art Photo.

Select a career below to connect to Career Coach and find information about that career including median salary and job postings.

Explore more career options: A.S.

Program Chair

Christine Shanks

Christine Shanks

Associate Professor, Graphic Design

I am an image maker, designer, and educator. I feel at home on the computer and working by hand in the studio. I have experience in fine art and commercial work. Some of my specialties are design (web, interactive, and print), motion graphics, printmaking (utilizing both traditional and digital processes), and photography (alternative processes, digital, and film). 

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Transfer Options

Graduates have transferred to many four-year colleges and universities including:

  • Binghamton University
  • SUNY College at Cortland
  • East Stroudsburg University
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Hartwick College
  • Ithaca College
  • SUNY New Paltz
  • SUNY College at Oswego
  • Pratt Institute
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • The College of St. Rose
  • Syracuse University

 

Degree Requirements

A.S.
Minimum Credits for Graduation: 61 credits

Fall Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART109, Introduction to Graphic Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART117, Design Foundations I, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART120, Drawing I, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

SUNY GEN ED Mathematics Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
MATH109, Statistical Literacy, 3 cr.
MATH110, Topics in Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH120, College Algebra, 4 cr.
MATH122, Technical Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH138, Precalculus Mathematics, 4 cr.
MATH200, Statistics, 3 cr.
MATH201, Calculus I, 4 cr.
MATH202, Calculus II, 4 cr.
MATH203, Calculus III, 4 cr.
MATH206, Differential Equations, 4 cr.
MATH216, Discrete Mathematics, 4 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART118, Design Foundations II, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART180, Typography, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART270, Computer Graphics, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
HSTY201, American History to 1877 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
HSTY202, American History Since 1877 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

Fall Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16
ART101, Art History: Ancient to Early Medieval, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART259, Web and Digital Application Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART260, Portfolio Preparation - Graphic Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 0
ENGL204, Interpersonal Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL210, Intercultural Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

SUNY GEN ED Natural Sciences Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ASTR101, Introductory Astronomy, 3 cr.
BIOL100, Human Biology, 3 cr.
BIOL101, Principles of Biology I, 3 cr.
BIOL102, Principles of Biology II, 3 cr.
BIOL104, General Biology I, 4 cr.
BIOL105, General Biology II, 4 cr.
BIOL112, Essentials of Medical Microbiology, 3 cr.
BIOL114, Essentials of Nutrition, 3 cr.
BIOL115, Field Natural History, 3 cr.
BIOL116, Tropical Field Natural History, 4 cr.
BIOL119, Botany, 3 cr.
BIOL131, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL132, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL202, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL211, Ecology, 4 cr.
BIOL216, General Microbiology, 4 cr.
CHEM101, Principles of Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM102, Principles of Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM107, General Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM108, General Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM205, Organic Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM206, Organic Chemistry II, 4 cr.
ENVS101, Introduction to Environmental Science, 3 cr.
ENVS102, Technology and the Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS116, Soil Science, 3 cr.
ENVS141, Agroecology, 3 cr.
ENVS202, Integrated Pest Management, 3 cr.
GEOL101, Introductory Geology, 3 cr.
METR101, Introductory Meteorology, 3 cr.
PHSC104, General Physics I, 4 cr.
PHSC105, General Physics II, 4 cr.
PHSC211, Physics I (Mechanics and Heat), 4 cr.
PHSC212, Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism), 4 cr.
PHSC213, Physics III (Waves, Optics and Modern Physics), 4 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART102, Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary , 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART271, Layout Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL201, Public Speaking, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

Restricted Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ALEX@
ART111, Photography I, 3 cr.
ART200, Illustration, 3 cr.
ART212, Digital Photography, 3 cr.
ART213, Dynamic Media I, 3 cr.
ART222, Advanced Digital Photography, 3 cr.
ART233, Animation, 3 cr.
ART255, Lighting Principles, 3 cr.
ART272, Art Internship, 3 cr.
COMM115, Introduction to Digital Video, 3 cr.
WD157, Web & Mobile Design, 3 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

SUNY GEN ED Social Sciences Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ANTH201, Introduction to Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
ANTH295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr.
ECON101, Introduction to Economics, 3 cr.
ECON120, Principles of Microeconomics, 3 cr.
ECON121, Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 cr.
ENVS107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
ENVS110, Food Systems I: Introduction to the U.S. Food System, 3 cr.
ENVS295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
GEOG110, Geography of the Americas, 3 cr.
GEOG115, Highlights of World Regional Geography, 3 cr.
GEOG120, World Regional Geography, 3 cr.
HSTY260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
HUMS206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
IED260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
POSC103, American National Government, 3 cr.
POSC104, American State and Local Government, 3 cr.
POSC107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
POSC260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
PSYC101, Psychology of Personal Growth, 3 cr.
PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC201, Social Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC205, Childhood Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC207, Adolescent Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC208, Adult Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC209, Abnormal Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC218, Educational Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC263, Development Across the Lifespan, 3 cr.
SOCE121, Intro to Gender & Sexuality Studies, 3 cr.
SOCE201, Human Sexuality, 3 cr.
SOCE205, Organizational Behavior, 3 cr.
SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr.
SOCI103, The American Community, 3 cr.
SOCI201, Sociology of the Family, 3 cr.
SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr.
SOCI205, Contemporary Social Problems, 3 cr.
SOCI206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
SOCI207, Introduction to Criminology, 3 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives


SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses

Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.

Student Showcase

  • Grad of Note - Anna Gallegos

    Anna Gallegos

    Why did you choose to attend Tompkins Cortland?

    I live locally, and in high school I attended Digital Media at TST BOCES. My brother (Benjamin Gallegos) had been through the same program and had gone from BOCES to Tompkins Cortland to RIT. He learned so much at TC, and it really pointed him in the positive direction he's headed. A Tompkins Cortland recruiter came to our Digital Media class and I jumped at the opportunity. Tompkins Cortland gave me a great foundation in my field, and I was able to experience my field before spending a neck-breaking amount of money on education. 


    Who at TC3 had the greatest positive impact on your experience?

    Hands down Christine Shanks, although I had other wonderful professors along the way. She not only showed us how to use programs and how to design effectively, but she is so dedicated to the success of her students. She helped along the way with feedback and guidance that helped point me in the direction that I want to go in life. I now have a love for design that I didn't know about before attending TC. 


    What were your extracurricular involvements at and how did they contribute to your college experience/future aspirations?

    I spent time in Outdoor Adventure Club and then in Phi Theta Kappa. It wasn't a club but an extracurricular activity I often participated in – designing and creating art in Room 141 with my friends. That was a huge contribution to my learning as I spent time learning with people I enjoyed being around, and they had other approaches to projects that I hadn't even considered. I've spent many hours in Room 141 after class, before class, and on the weekends. It was my safe haven.


    What are your next steps after graduation and how did the College prepare you for that?

    I was going to transfer to a four-year college in the Spring of 2021 after a small break, but due to the pandemic my plans have changed. I plan to attempt to get an internship through Iron Design, or a job through Tompkins Workforce. I plan to work through the summer and through next year until everything settles. Christine Shanks helped me develop my professional brand, and I now have a website, a PDF portfolio, a business card, a letter head, and a resume all designed under my own brand, Nuthatch Creative. I also now have experience working in a job-like setting with my designer peers as I'm the Student Creative Director of the Ke'lab Magazine. I also have experience through the many projects I've completed, and I've sharpened my Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign techniques. This helped me put together a portfolio, which in a creative field is what often gets you interviews.