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Home / Arts and Cultural Programs / Programs Offered / Graphic Design [GDSN] / Graphic Design [GDSN]: Degrees & Certificates

Graphic Design [GDSN]: Degrees & Certificates

Rio Hondo Graphic Design Program page banner
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GDSN Home  |  Courses Offered  | Faculty  | Student Work
Degree & Certificates  | Employment | Events & Projects


Rio Hondo Graphic Design Program Informational One-Sheet click to download PDF
Click here for a downloadable PDF
for more info on this exciting Graphic Design program!
Adobe Acrobat PDF icon


Have you declared your major?
Do you need to change your major?
How about majoring in graphic design?

It’s never been easier!
Fill out the Change of Major PDF form
Use the Major Program code: GDSN-S to become a graphic design major!
This form needs to be filled out and downloaded, then emailed to Admissions and Records
at admissions@riohondo.edu from your Rio Hondo email address.
If you do not submit your petition through your Rio Hondo email,
you are required to send a snapshot of a photo ID along with your request for it to be processed.
Declare your major today!
Note: Some graphic design majors are being advised to transfer as a Studio Art major with an AAT.
While this may be the best option for some students, it is NOT the best option for most students as
it does not guarantee a specific campus or major. Studio Art transfers may have to take
additional studio art classes before they can change their majors at the transfer institution. This
may lengthen the time it takes to earn your undergraduate degree and may incur extra costs.
We advise ALL transfer students to speak with multiple counselors and faculty at Rio Hondo,
and
the targeted transfer institutions to develop the best strategy that fits their unique circumstances.
Don’t just follow the advice of a single person.
Get all the necessary information and make an informed choice.

Rio Hondo College
Graduation Information Page

Fall: First Friday in November

Spring: First Friday in April

Summer: Third Friday in July

PDF instructions showing how to apply for the following Degrees & Certificates
PDF instructions showing how to apply
for the following Degrees & Certificates!
pdf icon


Degree  |  Certificates of Achievement


Mortarboard Cap and Diploma graphicASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE in
GRAPHIC DESIGN
This degree is a broad comprehensive series of Graphic Design courses
and related programs in the Arts Division.
Acquiring this degree is a great achievement!
It will assist in transferring to a four-year university
and/or in gaining employment in Graphic Design and related fields.
Click the Employment link to see how many jobs a Graphic Designer can have!
As we have been busy building and refining our program, we’ve updated
our AS Degree to reflect these changes which is why you may see different versions.

Note: We have been updating this degree as we have added courses to the program.
If you began here at Rio Hondo during these updates, you are eligible to apply for this
degree as it originally appeared in the College Catalog during the update period.
See a counselor for all information pertaining to the recent AS Degree versions.
Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain the AS Graphic Design degree.
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu 

Screen capture of Rio Hondo Catalog page with Graphic Design AS Specs.
Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain the AS Graphic Design degree.
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu



Mortarboard Cap and Diploma iconASSOCIATE OF ART DEGREE in
GRAPHIC ART and DESIGN
Designed for students interested in visual arts and graphic design.
This degree combines traditional visual art topics with
practical graphic design skills.
Acquiring this degree is a great achievement!
It will assist in transferring to a four-year university
and/or in gaining employment in Graphic Design and related fields.
Click the Employment link to see how many jobs a Graphic Designer can have!

AA: Graphic Art and Design (Spring 2019)
Course No. Course Title Units
ART 106 or
ART 106H
Survey of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary 3
ART 120 Two-Dimensional Design 3
ART 124 Color Theory 3
PHTO 185 Introduction to Digital Photography 3
GDSN 110 History of Graphic Design 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
GDSN 162 Introduction to Web Design 3
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration Design 3
GDSN 178 Digital Imaging Design 3
  Total Units: 21

Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain the AS Graphic Design degree.
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu

As of Fall 2016, course prefix changes are as follows:
ART 164 class is now GDSN 164 | ART 165 class is now GDSN 165 | ART 178 class is now GDSN 178*
*For ART 164 students, You may need a PreReq Waiver Form to enroll in GDSN 165
*For ART 178 students, You may need a PreReq Waiver Form to enroll in GDSN 179
The GDSN prefix courses will count the same as the previous ART prefix courses towards the degree.


Certificate iconCERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT
Click here for a PDF!

Start taking the courses below and they will count towards earning the certificates.
These “bite-sized” certificates share courses and are easy to earn.
They are a good way to show employers your expertise & experience.
The certificates also build toward the Graphic Design AS Degree
Collect them all!
Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain any of the
above 12-unit the Graphic Design COAs.
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design:
Branding & Identity Design
 
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration 3
GDSN 165 Branding & Identity Design 3
GDSN 162 Introduction to Web Design 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
  Total Units: 12

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design:
Web Design
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 162 Introduction to Web Design 3
GDSN 163 Web Design: Interactive Design 3
GDSN 178 Digital Imaging 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
  Total Units: 12

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design:
Advertising Design
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 178 Digital Imaging 3
GDSN 179 Adv. Digital Imaging 3
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
  Total Units: 12

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design:
Publication Design
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration 3
GDSN 172 Publication Design 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
GDSN 151 Typographic Design 3
  Total Units: 12

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design: (Spring 2019)
Packaging Design
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 150 Typography 3
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration 3
GDSN 174 Packaging Design 3
GDSN 178 Digital Imaging 3
  Total Units: 12

Certificate icon

COA: Graphic Design
Course No. Course Title Units
GDSN 110 History of Graphic Design (online) 3
GDSN 150 Typography 3
GDSN 162 Web Design 3
GDSN 164 Digital Illustration 3
 GDSN 172 Publication Design 3
 GDSN 178  Digital Imaging 3
 Total Units:  18

Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain any of the
above 12/18 unit Graphic Design COAs.
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu

Certificate icon

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT 
ENTREPRENEURIAL GRAPHIC DESIGN
The curriculum in this certificate provides foundational entrepreneurial
preparation for students entering a freelance graphic design career
and/or starting a small graphic design business.
The certificate combines the entry-level small-business management
and marketing skills and intermediate/advanced graphic design
skills needed to participate as an entrepreneur in the graphic design profession.
Click the Employment link to see how many jobs a Graphic Designer can have!

COA: Entrepreneurial Graphic Design
Course No. Course Title Units
Required Courses & Units
MGMT 130 Small Business Management-Entrepreneurship 3
MRKT 174 Small Business Marketing and Advertising 3
GDSN 290 Directed Study in Graphic Design 3
Choose a minimum of 9 units from the following:
GDSN 110 History of Graphic Design 3
GDSN 151* Typographical Design 3
GDSN 163* Intermediate Web Design 3
GDSN 165* Branding & Identity Design 3
GDSN 174* Packaging Design 3
*Prerequisite
  Total Units: 27

Course requirement-substitution may be made
for students wishing to obtain the  Entrepreneurial Graphic Design 
COA:
Please consult with Professor Gardos in S302 for details
agardos@riohondo.edu


Badges! They have arrived!
Click here for the PDF flyer!
Rio Hondo Graphic Design Program Badges
Rio Hondo Graphic Design Program Badges Flier

Questions?
Send us an email!
agardos@riohondo.edu

We look forward to having you in class!

Fall ’22 GDSN Schedule now available:
Click to download a PDF version!


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