Commercial Graphics Communications

Overview

At the completion of this program, graduates will have the skills to begin a career in a number of different graphic-production industries including screen printing, offset lithographic production, and vehicle wrapping. These highly technical industries include the design and production of various types of printed materials on a variety of substrates such as T-shirts, banners, car wraps, and paper.

All Commercial Graphics courses must be passed with a “C” or better to receive credit towards a degree. Students may enter the program in the Fall or Spring only. Learning experiences for students in the Commercial Graphics Technology program are provided on the Airport Campus in the classrooms and workspace in Granby Hall. Cooperative work experiences are required in this program.

How to Enroll

To pursue this degree, you must apply to MTC using our online application.

Apply Now

Questions?

Print Plan

Sample Program Plan and Costs

On-Campus Traditional. Classes meet on campus.
Virtual 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom.
Hybrid Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual.
Online 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time.
Semester Course ID Course Title Classroom Online Hybrid Virtual Credits
Semester 1
(13 Credit Hours)
COL-101 College Orientation

College Orientation

ID: COL-101

Credit Hours: 1

This course may include selected topics such as career planning, study skills, stress management, tutoring, group guidance, and other subjects to facilitate student success.

1
CGC-101 Introduction to Graphic Techniques

Introduction to Graphic Techniques

ID: CGC-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers the processes of printed reproduction with an emphasis on offset printing. A variety of printing equipment and operating techniques are included.

3
CGC-111 Imaging for Graphic Industry

Imaging for Graphic Industry

ID: CGC-111

Credit Hours: 3

This is an introductory course to the fundamentals of the software and hardware used in the production of images for the graphics industry. This course will include typography and layout.

3
MAT-155 Contemporary Mathematics

Contemporary Mathematics

ID: MAT-155

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics.

3
ENG-160 Technical Communications

Technical Communications

ID: ENG-160

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of various technical communications such as definitions, processes, instructions, descriptions, and technical reports.

3
Semester 2
(12 Credit Hours)
CGC-112 Imaging Graphics Industry II

Imaging Graphics Industry II

ID: CGC-112

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a comprehensive study in the variety of software and hardware used in the production of images for the graphics industry.

3
CGC-120 Graphic Processes

Graphic Processes

ID: CGC-120

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to the variety of output processes for graphic arts production.

3
CGC-140 Industry Exploration

Industry Exploration

ID: CGC-140

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores the various opportunities in the graphic arts industry through tours, guest speakers, and research topics.

3
CGC-211 Digital Art Creation

Digital Art Creation

ID: CGC-211

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers basic image creation software used in the graphics industry for the production of images.

3
Semester 3
(13 Credit Hours)
CGC-135 Commercial Graphics Operations

Commercial Graphics Operations

ID: CGC-135

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of customer service, cost factors, quality issues, and daily operations associated with the commercial graphics industry.

3
CGC-212 Digital Image Manipulation

Digital Image Manipulation

ID: CGC-212

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers digital image manipulation software used in the graphics industry for the production of graphic images.

3
CGC-220 Graphic Processes II

Graphic Processes II

ID: CGC-220

Credit Hours: 3

This intermediate course will cover a variety of output processes for graphic arts production.

3
CWE-111 Cooperative Work Experience I

Cooperative Work Experience I

ID: CWE-111

Credit Hours: 1

This course includes cooperative work experience in an approved setting.

1
MKT-101 Marketing

Marketing

ID: MKT-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers an introduction to the field of marketing with a detailed study of the marketing concept and the processes of product development, pricing, promotion, and marketing distribution.

3
Semester 4
(14 Credit Hours)
CGC-228 Digital Image Assembly

Digital Image Assembly

ID: CGC-228

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an in-depth study of the techniques necessary to assemble various images into completed files that can be used for graphic arts production.

3
CGC-240 Senior Project in Commercial Graphics

Senior Project in Commercial Graphics

ID: CGC-240

Credit Hours: 3

This course consists of advanced projects related to the commerical graphics industry.

3
CWE-122 Cooperative Work Experience II

Cooperative Work Experience II

ID: CWE-122

Credit Hours: 2

This course includes cooperative work experience in an approved setting.

2
SPC-205 Public Speaking

Public Speaking

ID: SPC-205

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English.

3
CPT-170 Microcomputer Applications

Microcomputer Applications

ID: CPT-170

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces microcomputer applications software, including word processing, data bases, spreadsheets, graphs, and their integration.

3
Semester 5
(9 Credit Hours)
PSY-201 General Psychology

General Psychology

ID: PSY-201

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes the following topics and concepts in the science of behavior: scientific method, biological bases for behavior, perception, motivation, learning memory, development, personality, abnormal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and social psychology.

3
HIS-202 American History: 1877 to Present

American History: 1877 to Present

ID: HIS-202

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a survey of u.s. history from 1877 to the present. This course includes political, social, economic, and intellectual developments during this period.

3
BUS-101 Introduction to Business

Introduction to Business

ID: BUS-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of the nature of business activity in relation to the economic society, including how a business is owned, organized, managed, and controlled.

3
  Total Credit Hours 61
  Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
$11,468.00
Not including fees and equipment
Semester Course ID Course Title Classroom Online Hybrid Virtual Credits
Semester 1
(7 Credit Hours)
COL-101 College Orientation

College Orientation

ID: COL-101

Credit Hours: 1

This course may include selected topics such as career planning, study skills, stress management, tutoring, group guidance, and other subjects to facilitate student success.

1
CGC-101 Introduction to Graphic Techniques

Introduction to Graphic Techniques

ID: CGC-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers the processes of printed reproduction with an emphasis on offset printing. A variety of printing equipment and operating techniques are included.

3
CGC-111 Imaging for Graphic Industry

Imaging for Graphic Industry

ID: CGC-111

Credit Hours: 3

This is an introductory course to the fundamentals of the software and hardware used in the production of images for the graphics industry. This course will include typography and layout.

3
Semester 2
(6 Credit Hours)
MAT-155 Contemporary Mathematics

Contemporary Mathematics

ID: MAT-155

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics.

3
ENG-160 Technical Communications

Technical Communications

ID: ENG-160

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of various technical communications such as definitions, processes, instructions, descriptions, and technical reports.

3
Semester 3
(6 Credit Hours)
CGC-112 Imaging Graphics Industry II

Imaging Graphics Industry II

ID: CGC-112

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a comprehensive study in the variety of software and hardware used in the production of images for the graphics industry.

3
CGC-120 Graphic Processes

Graphic Processes

ID: CGC-120

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to the variety of output processes for graphic arts production.

3
Semester 4
(6 Credit Hours)
CGC-140 Industry Exploration

Industry Exploration

ID: CGC-140

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores the various opportunities in the graphic arts industry through tours, guest speakers, and research topics.

3
CGC-211 Digital Art Creation

Digital Art Creation

ID: CGC-211

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers basic image creation software used in the graphics industry for the production of images.

3
Semester 5
(9 Credit Hours)
CGC-135 Commercial Graphics Operations

Commercial Graphics Operations

ID: CGC-135

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of customer service, cost factors, quality issues, and daily operations associated with the commercial graphics industry.

3
CGC-212 Digital Image Manipulation

Digital Image Manipulation

ID: CGC-212

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers digital image manipulation software used in the graphics industry for the production of graphic images.

3
CGC-220 Graphic Processes II

Graphic Processes II

ID: CGC-220

Credit Hours: 3

This intermediate course will cover a variety of output processes for graphic arts production.

3
Semester 6
(4 Credit Hours)
CWE-111 Cooperative Work Experience I

Cooperative Work Experience I

ID: CWE-111

Credit Hours: 1

This course includes cooperative work experience in an approved setting.

1
MKT-101 Marketing

Marketing

ID: MKT-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers an introduction to the field of marketing with a detailed study of the marketing concept and the processes of product development, pricing, promotion, and marketing distribution.

3
Semester 7
(6 Credit Hours)
CGC-228 Digital Image Assembly

Digital Image Assembly

ID: CGC-228

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an in-depth study of the techniques necessary to assemble various images into completed files that can be used for graphic arts production.

3
CGC-240 Senior Project in Commercial Graphics

Senior Project in Commercial Graphics

ID: CGC-240

Credit Hours: 3

This course consists of advanced projects related to the commerical graphics industry.

3
Semester 8
(8 Credit Hours)
CWE-122 Cooperative Work Experience II

Cooperative Work Experience II

ID: CWE-122

Credit Hours: 2

This course includes cooperative work experience in an approved setting.

2
SPC-205 Public Speaking

Public Speaking

ID: SPC-205

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English.

3
CPT-170 Microcomputer Applications

Microcomputer Applications

ID: CPT-170

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces microcomputer applications software, including word processing, data bases, spreadsheets, graphs, and their integration.

3
Semester 9
(9 Credit Hours)
PSY-201 General Psychology

General Psychology

ID: PSY-201

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes the following topics and concepts in the science of behavior: scientific method, biological bases for behavior, perception, motivation, learning memory, development, personality, abnormal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and social psychology.

3
HIS-202 American History: 1877 to Present

American History: 1877 to Present

ID: HIS-202

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a survey of u.s. history from 1877 to the present. This course includes political, social, economic, and intellectual developments during this period.

3
BUS-101 Introduction to Business

Introduction to Business

ID: BUS-101

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of the nature of business activity in relation to the economic society, including how a business is owned, organized, managed, and controlled.

3
  Total Credit Hours 61
  Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
$11,468.00
Not including fees and equipment

Careers

Graphic Arts Technician

Graphic arts technicians help develop concepts for projects and prepare production materials for press, electronic or multimedia publishing. You may work for publishing, communications, advertising, marketing, printing, or multimedia companies. You may also be self-employed and provide your services on a contract basis to companies and the public.

Projected Job Growth

+9.9%

Average Annual Salary

$46,928
According to EMSI data as of 2022

Where Can I Work?

  • Advertising Agencies
  • Printing Presses

What’s next after I complete this program?

Enter the workforce in the local community and beyond.

All MTC CGC students are required to complete a paid Cooperative Work Experience for graduation.

Students work in the following positions: Graphic Designer, Graphic Pre-Press Technician, Production Technician, Customer Service Representative, Sales, Wrap Installer for Vehicles, Signage Design and Installation, Production Managers, and Estimators.

Several students have relocated, both in the US and out, and used their degree to gain employment in their new location.

Further Your Education

Students have the opportunity to transfer to several colleges in South Carolina that have Graphic Communication degree options.

Want more information?

Academic programs count as academic credit for a certificate, diploma or degree and may transfer toward future academic endeavors at four-year colleges and universities.
Training programs can be completed in a matter of weeks or months, are focused on career training, and provide credentials and certificates needed in the specific fields of study. Coursework does not transfer.
Not sure: Check out these resources to explore what fits your goals.

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