EDU
Our Partners in Education:
Cal Poly
Founded in 1946, Cal Poly has one of the largest Graphic Communication programs in the United States. With over 33,000 square feet of laboratory space, Cal Poly continues to advance the educational offerings for students studying printing and imaging management, electronic publishing and imaging, packaging graphics, and design reproduction technology. In conjunction with Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business, the Graphic Communication Department offers an MBA with a specialization in Document Systems Management. The Graphic Communication Department also houses some of the most modern laboratory facilities in graphic arts education and is supported by many of the world’s largest printing industry vendors.
The department received national accreditation by the Accreditation Council of Collegiate Graphic Communications and also houses the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly. The Graphic Communication Institute serves industry through research, testing, product evaluations, seminars, workshops and conferences. Faculty members are highly skilled teachers with industry experience. They are active in research, publishing, speaking, industry consulting.
College of DuPage
Founded in 1966 and opened in the fall of 1967, College of DuPage is the Midwest’s largest comprehensive, single-campus community college, and is dedicated to serving the diverse higher educational, civic and cultural needs of the residents of Community College District 502. Enrolling approximately 30,000 students, 25 miles west of Chicago, C.O.D. is accredited through by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education and recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).
The Graphic Arts Technology (GAT) program prepares over 300 students per year, to enter the printing and publishing industry with professional skills for the job market. The department offers two Associate of Applied Science degrees: Print Production and Digital Prepress Production, along with two-like Certificate Programs.
The Print Production option allows students to gain a thorough understanding of the production workflow for digital files from layout through to the final printed piece. Students gain in-depth experience working with text and images, page layout, specifying paper and ink selection, process color and pantone spot colors, job estimating and business practices and offset press operation, as well as, binding and finishing choices.
The Digital Prepress Production option includes page composition, electronic illustration, image enhancement, color correction, and web site preparation. Software such as QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat are used to create and utilize color-corrected images for page layout in the printing and publishing industry, as well as repurposing images and text for the World Wide Web, using Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks.
Because of the strong curriculum, up-to-date computer labs, the latest large-format printers, newest color management devices, and small and mid-size offset presses, local employers hire current students and graduates of the Graphic Arts Technology program in a diversity of jobs, with growth opportunities. Some job titles from recent graduates are: print production artist; production management; printing estimator; customer service; sales representative; in-plant copy shop manager; and print/press specialist.
Students wishing to transfer to a four-year institution have many options, as Articulation Agreements have been created for a seamless pathway, to many universities offering baccalaureate degrees in Graphic Communications and Printing Management.
FAMU
The Graphic Communication Division of Florida A&M’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication has four tracks: graphic design, photography, printing production and printing management. The school employs 23 full-time faculty members and 15-18 adjunct instructors who are practicing professionals.
The printing management track places heavy emphasis on accounting, management principles, economics, marketing, and personnel administration. The computer is also a much-used tool for job and printing cost-analysis and printing estimating, so print management majors spend a lot of time working with the computers. Those who desire production management positions must acquire extensive knowledge in ink chemistry, paper manufacturing, plant layout, and automation. So the core requirements expected of printing production technology majors must also be taken by majors in printing management.
In the printing production track, students are surrounded by printing plant equipment — including a two-color Heidelberg press and computerized prepress workstations — and a faculty which assists in achieving an understanding of the new technologies. The promotion of quality standards throughout the production process is emphasized daily. Specialized hands-on courses include electronic imaging, color separation, offset presswork, bindery, photography, along with marketing and other business courses.
University of Wisconsin- Stout
UW-Stout , Wisconsin ’s polytechnic university, was the first university to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, in recognition for a history rich in educational performance excellence. Founded in 1891, UW-Stout is attended by students from around the world interested in technical education within a challenging environment nurtured by an outstanding faculty with excellent facilities and world-class curriculum as their tools.
The Graphic Communications Management program is made up of general education courses, professional management courses and graphics technology courses. Professional management courses include production management, accounting, manufacturing economics, organizational leadership, marketing quality systems and customer service.
Technology courses cover the entire spectrum of the communication process, from design to delivery. Hands-on lab experience is stressed, developing skills critical to the creation, reproduction and service of graphic products. Classes include digital photography, scanning, digital image editing, color management, customer relations and plant management. A production practicum and a publication production class provide students with management and technical skills in extensive project work.
Elective components include digital photography, layout and design, packaging, industrial safety/loss control, IT, production operations, production supervision, quality sales and marketing, technical writing, and training and development. The school also works with students to arrange custom emphasis areas.
All students complete a 3-6 month cooperative education experience prior to graduation. Over the past sixteen years, the employment rate for graduates of the Graphic Communications Management program has exceeded 97 percent.
Illinois State University
The graphic communications program at ISU focuses on hands-on learning with the kind of software and equipment used in graphic communications production. Students learn about the entire industry, with its dynamic workflows, sophisticated technology, and production-specific management techniques. The program has been successfully preparing for graduates for exciting professional career opportunities in graphic communications for over 50 years.
Premedia equipment includes 25 iMac G5s running OS X and the following software and peripherals: QuarkXPress; XMPie; Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and GoLive; Filemaker Pro; Markzware FlightCheck; Creo Preps; Creo Trap Wise; Extensis Suitcase; Macromedia Flash; Gretag Macbeth ProfleMaker; Afra Flabed scanners; Digital SLR cameras; Studio lighting system; Kimosetter Platesseter; Epson 7000 large format inkjet printer with RIP.
Press equipment includes: Docucolor 12 with Fiery RIP; Comco narrow flexo web; Ryobi 3302 2-color litho press; Ryobi 2800 single-color litho press; AB Dick 360 Litho press; Hopkins 6-station screen printing turntable.
Bindery equipment includes: Challenge 38” guillotine cutter; 2 saddle stitchers and Baum 418 right angle folder, paddler and drill.
Additional equipment available includes an X-Rite spectrodensitometer; color viewing station; Grindometers; Elmendorf paper tear tester and a conveyer dryer.
Ohio University
The School of Visual Communication at Ohio University ’s Scripps College of Communications offers an interdisciplinary visual communication degree with four specialized sequences. The school has been twice recognized as a Program of Excellence by the Ohio Board of Regents. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication. The program is designed to provide students with realistic and thorough broad-based professionally oriented training in visual communication while providing the necessary liberal arts and cultural background for a strong educational foundation.
Intensive training is offered in informational graphics and publication design, interactive design, documentary photojournalism for newspapers, magazines and the internet, and commercial photography.
Lyndon State College
LSC, located in Lyndonville Vermont , has a national and world-wide reputation for having graduated leaders across the wide spectrum of communication arts. The Digital and Graphic Arts department offers Associate of Science and Bachelor of Art degrees in both Graphic Design and Digital Media. The program culminates in the design studio and/or internships where students have the opportunity to work as designers with a design firm or on design projects for not-for-profit organizations. Students graduate with a professional design portfolio.
The Graphic Design concentration within the Graphic Design major offers students the opportunity to explore graphic design with an emphasis on print. Students concentrate their studies in visual communications and computer technology, while investigating a wide range of different design disciplines.
The Illustration concentration within the Graphic Design major offers students an opportunity to explore illustration in greater depth and prepares them for a career as a freelance illustrator, graphic designer, or further study in an illustration graduate degree program. There is a large emphasis on drawing skills and the use of traditional illustration media in conjunction with digital media.
The Digital Media Major prepares students for a career as a web designer and developer. Program emphasis is on both the technical and the aesthetic principles of web design and development.
South Central College
South Central College is a Minnesota Community and Technical College with a history of academic excellence since 1946. The college has two campuses: Faribault and Mankato. The college offers a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship to high school seniors with a 3.75 GPA who demonstrate leadership skills and school/community involvement. SCC foundations provide nearly $200,000 in student scholarships each year. The college has more than 50 program options and a variety of online courses SCC offers a unique agriculture education ‘2 plus 2’ program in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. The school enjoys relationships with regional businesses and industries, providing great employment opportunities for students and graduates.
The Graphics Production program is taught at the Mankato campus, located in North Mankato, MN - approximately 75 miles southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Graphics Production program is one of four full graphics and printing programs within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system that offer prepress, press and post-press programs. SCC offers a 64-credit diploma and a 72-credit AAS in graphic production.
Over the past five years, SCC’s Graphics Production program has added a Hamada B452 4-color press, Kodak/Creo Computer-to-Plate system, Epson Large format printer, Baum 30″ cutter and Baum folder. During the summer of 2006, the Graphics Production program’s physical space was remodeled to create a better workflow and updated look.