Online Undergraduate Certificate in Visual Communications

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of image manipulation, image enhancement, and image storage. In this class, students will explore graphical file formats, color and perception, color balance, histograms, web-friendly colors, the impact of image size and resolution on screen size and resolution, brightness, contrast, image noise, noise reduction, and digital signal processing (blurring, de-blurring, Gaussian filters, sharpening, softening, spot healing, dodging, and burning). The course will also teach students about transparency, opacity, hue, saturation, image layering, color blending (multiplying and dodging), image transformation (rotation, resizing, and shearing), selections (pixel and vector), alpha channels, and image modes (grayscale, RGB, CMYK, HSB, and indexed color). NOTE: For this course, students must have access to Adobe Photoshop. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by students. Adobe Photoshop® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.

This course studies the principles, practices, processes, and disciplines related to using Adobe InDesign to create print media for effective communication. In this course, students will learn how to evaluate the design process and acquire the knowledge for planning, preliminary negotiations, pre-visual research and analysis, visual conceptualization, points of view, attitude, document design, document production, and post-production. This class also examines the principles of typographic design, word design, page organization, page layout, the integration of words and images, character styles, paragraph styles, layout design, tiling, scaling, textures, and illustrations. In addition, this course investigates color theory, additive and subtractive color models, complementary colors, patterns, and rhythms. Students will apply their knowledge to design flyers, brochures, CD/DVD covers, and product packaging. NOTE: For this course, students must have access to Adobe InDesign. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by students. Adobe InDesign® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.

This course examines the process of designing, developing, and deploying text and graphics using an industry standard vector graphics program, Adobe Illustrator. Students will create graphics that take advantage of the broad set of tools, effects, and attributes available in Illustrator. Also, students will learn to edit existing vector graphics files and structure and manage vector graphics files for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, the course will cover how to format files for use in other applications and for output to a variety of imaging devices. NOTE: For this course, students must have access to Adobe Illustrator. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased or provided by students. Adobe Illustrator® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.

This course introduces students to website development through a combination of readings and hands-on development exercises. This course covers coding with Hypertext Markup Language 5 (HTML5), website development essentials, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), graphical elements, hyperlinks, HTML table creation, web forms, video, audio and image techniques, website development for business, and website publishing and maintenance. Fundamentals of JavaScript® programming are also introduced in this course. Students will need access to a web browser such as Microsoft Edge Firefox, or Google Chrome. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Google Chrome are not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by students. To succeed in this course, students will also need basic computer knowledge such as creating files and folders, downloading and uploading files, creating zipped files, and working with a text editor such as Notepad++. JavaScript® is a registered trademark of Oracle America, Inc.

This course teaches advanced website development concepts and skills through a combination of readings and hands-on development exercises. It builds upon students’ fundamental coding skills by emphasizing HTML5 structure elements, embedded video and audio elements, HTML5 APIs, cross-browser user-input forms, the use of JavaScript® to add interactive capabilities to webpages, and the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS3) to enhance reusability and design consistent user interfaces. The class will also introduce advanced CSS3 techniques, including 2D and 3D transformations, transitions, animations, and user interface (UI) properties. Techniques for developing webpages, optimized for mobile devices, including Responsive Web Design (RWD), are emphasized. This course covers the Advanced HTML5 and CSS3 Specialist curriculum needed to pursue the CIW Web and Mobile Design Professional certificate. Students will need access to a web browser such as Microsoft Edge or Firefox. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by students. To succeed in this course, students will also need basic computer knowledge such as creating files and folders, downloading and uploading files, creating zipped files, and working with a text editor such as Notepad++. (Prerequisite: WEBD121) JavaScript® is a registered trademark of Oracle America, Inc.

This course presents the principles and skills for how to design effective user interfaces for websites, with an emphasis on designing for mobile technologies. This course covers the content for the Certified Internet Web (CIW®) User Interface Designer certification in the Web and Mobile Design Series. Emphasis is on how to apply key usability concepts and user analysis techniques; how to design for multiple platforms using suitable color schemes, formatting and topography; and how to collect information from customers, users, and market analysis to better address ease-of-use and to enhance website experiences for mobile users. (Prerequisite: WEBD121) CIW® is a registered trademark of Certification Partners, LLC.