Computer Graphic Design—Web Design Degree (CGW)

This program provides students with the visual design, communication, and computer graphic skills necessary to obtain an entry-level position in this field or to continue their education at a four-year college or university. For those already employed, they can enroll in this career program to upgrade their skills for potential advancement. Students learn basic and advanced techniques for creating effective, well-designed, interactive websites. Students are taught basic design theory, digital imaging and electronic illustration skills and techniques, in addition to learning basic hypertext markup languages and top level authoring software using what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) technology. The most current graphic and web design software is used in the CGW program. This includes: the Adobe Creative Suite 3 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Fireworks, Flash, Dreamweaver, Contribute), and the latest web browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Netscape Navigator).

Campus/format: This program can be completed during the day at the Gardner Campus.

Helpful hints: CGD students should either have a computer at home with Internet access or be able to spend time outside of class in the computer lab where Internet access is provided.

Transfer options: A Joint Admissions agreement exists with UMASS Lowell. Articulation agreements exist with Charter Oak State College, New England Institute of Art, and the University of Phoenix. This program qualifies for the Franklin University Community College Alliance program. Students are encouraged to continue their education in areas such as electronic media, marketing, or communications. Visit MWCC’s transfer services website: http://transfer.mwcc.edu.

Special requirements: CGD students are required to take all CGD courses as listed by semester, as well as ART263 in the first semester to maintain good standing. Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Web designers may be employed by advertising agencies, design firms, marketing departments, commercial art, reproduction firms, and other businesses that maintain websites. Also, many web designers/coordinators are self-employed.

Earning potential: $41,764 to 54,788 per year.

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*Note: This course should be taken in the fall. CGD104 must be taken first or concurrently with CGD101.
**Note: This course should be taken in the spring.
†Note: This course should be taken in the fall.
††Note: This course can be taken in the fall or spring.
‡CGW Restrictive Electives for Web Majors:
CGD102 Publication Design
CGD103 Print Production for Designers
CGD205 Digital Photo Art
CGD235 Typography in Visual Communication
CGD242 Advanced Website Animation
CGD244 Designing for E-Commerce (Web Database Design)
‡‡CGW Professional Electives for Web Majors: (please consult with your adviser—CGW Professional electives also include the electives listed above.)
BCT115 Digital Photography
BCT235 DVD Authoring
MKT142 Marketing
MGT110 Small Business Management
CIS109 Programming in Basic
CIS119 JavaScript for Designers
CIS130 Programming for the Web
CIS218 E-Commerce Systems
THE113 Speech
BUS125 Communication for Business and Industry
§Note: PER130 is recommended for transfer
§§Note: This course must be taken in the fall.

Elective courses by abbreviation

Program Competencies

Upon graduation from this program students shall have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Exhibit a solid understanding of the fundamentals of design, including the elements and principles of design and typography as they are applied to the development of effective communication pieces for both print and web design. (CGD101, CGD104, CGD105, CGD110, CGD112, CGD204, CGD210, CGD240, CGD241)
2. Possess a working knowledge of the design process especially how it relates to: audience definition, research, analysis, and concept development; the production of thumbnail sketches, rough drafts, storyboards, and flowcharts; and the preparation of final
3. , CGD241, CGD210)
4. Possess a solid understanding of visual communication coupled with an overview of current multimedia tools, concepts, terminology and techniques. Exhibit comprehensive print layouts and websites. (CGD101, CGD104, CGD105, CGD110, CGD112, CGD204, CGD210, CGD240, CGD241)
5. Transform digital images into new pieces of art through the use of Adobe Photoshop. Employ file manipulation techniques using filters, blending modes, layers, masks, channels, and layer effects with emphasis on the creation of high-quality graphics for print. As well as create, optimize, and save graphics for the web. (CGD104, CGD204)
6. Have a solid working knowledge of the fundamentals of building web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. Use & understand online/web/ Blackboard courses, as well as the Internet, World Wide Web, and Information Literacy resources. Use media tools such as: e-mail, search engines, newsgroups, blogs, image viewers, web games and PDF documents. View and test web designs using new generation web browsers: Opera, Firefox and Safari. (CGD109)
7. Develop and design websites utilizing basic and advanced web authoring techniques and effective graphic design concepts while exhibiting a working knowledge of CSS techniques and Adobe Dreamweaver. Use hand-coding, Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash to build websites. Possess the ability to: plan projects; use templates; use CSS navigation and page layout; use forms; utilize multimedia including podcasts and Flash Video; understand and utilize behaviors, images, and advanced CSS techniques; design CSS layouts; create dynamic, interactive pages using Spry, image galleries, and pdf downloads; utilize Dreamweaver's FTP upload capabilities; create HTML Email campaigns, blogs, and print style sheets; design for Contribute and work with Dreamweaver's management features. (CGD240 working knowledge of digital media and presentation software programs such as Fireworks, Acrobat, Inspiration, and InDesign. Apply communications principles (analysis, prototyping, flowcharting, storyboarding, image editing) to professional business correspondence, presentations, multimedia, and communication pieces. Employ professional production techniques and understand the foundations of portfolio building, interviewing and career skills using digital multimedia methods. (CGD112, CGD210, CGD241)
8. Create complex electronic illustrations and single page layouts with a solid understanding of the tools, palettes, menus and complex functions of Adobe Illustrator. Produce detailed illustration templates and use these templates to produce complex electronic illustrations. Utilize the Bezier pen tool, as well as make use of specialized techniques for creating line-art, color illustrations, and three-dimensional drawings. (CGD105)
9. Create original animations, web motion graphics, and build interactive digital games through the use of Adobe Flash and vector-based animation. Employ techniques such as motion guides, key frames, and shape/motion tweening to create dynamic animated computer art. (CGD110)
10. Prepare for the job market with career planning, skill assessment; resume writing, interviewing, and job market analysis. Produce high quality marketing packages, including a promotional website and professional portfolio for entering the job market or for transferring to a four-year program. Develop client-based websites in a real-time environment. Create advanced websites for clients with careful consideration to navigational architecture and interface design. Design, revise, test, and deliver a website within very compressed deadlines. (CGD210)

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering these programs must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Write at a college level as evidenced by completion of ENG100 or placement into ENG101.
5. Read and proof printed text from a computer screen, with or without corrective adaptive devices.
6. Exhibit social skills appropriate to professional interactions.
7. Perceive, interpret, and use graphic images in their entirety from a computer screen.