Cert in Graphic Communications

Springfield Technical Community College offers this graphic design certificate for people who want to start working in the visual communication trades. A full-time student can finish in about a year, and the college grants a completion certificate in graphic design. The curriculum covers several connected areas of the field: design principles, typography, page layout, and the digital steps that move a job from screen to print. Publishing and packaging work are part of the mix as well, so students see how a design becomes a finished product. Graduates are positioned for beginning roles in design studios, print and publishing operations, prepress departments, and web production. The compact format suits adult learners and career changers who need a focused route into the field. Students who later want a longer course of study can look at the college's associate-level graphic communications offering, which builds on similar skills in photography and digital media.