Graphic Design Certficate Program
Benefits & Services Provided To Students
- EARLY REGISTRATION
- GDC students "pre-register" for classes in order to reserve their course choices before course registrations become open to the public. Registration for Spring semester takes place in October November; registration for Summer and Fall semesters takes place in April. Two weeks before registration deadline, students are notified that registration materials including course schedules, descriptions of any new courses, registration instructions, and registration forms are available on-line. Students are required to contact their advisors and obtain advisor approval before registering. Each individual student is mailed a "tally sheet" which shows progress in the program (courses taken, dates, grades, credits) to date and remaining requirements.
- FACULTY ADVISORS
- Advisors are available during the registration period for timely replies and approvals to student queries; are available throughout the year to advise students via email as requested by students; meet with students as requested by students (each student is allowed to meet with their advisor once a year) in order to review student work and provide face-to-face advising. Advisors help students plan their programs following the required course sequence according to workload preferences and scheduling policies of the program and scheduling constraints of individual advisees. Advisors refer any requests for policy exceptions, waives, transfer or portfolio credits, complaints about courses and/or instructors, and any questions they cannot answer to the Program Coordinator.
- PROGRAM COORDINATOR
- The Program Coordinator oversees all aspects of the program and is available to students via email for questions as referred by advisors, concerns about courses, faculty, policies and procedures of the program, etc. The Program Coordinator reviews student evaluations, observes and evaluates faculty, programs curriculum, and hires and supervises faculty for all courses that can be taken for credit in the program. The Program Coordinator keeps in touch with students as a group via email, providing information on upcoming events, resources, job/internship opportunities, and severs as clearinghouse for students and alumni connection.
- ORIENTATION
- Students admitted to the program are required to attend a mandatory Orientation to take place during the winter intersession (for those admitted in December) and in the summer (for those admitted in May). This is an opportunity for new students to become acquainted with their Advisors, the Program Coordinator, and each other, and to better understand the policies, procedures, and requirements of the program.
- SPECIAL EVENTS/WORKSHOPS
- Each September and January, the evening before the first night
of classes, a "Back to School" event is held as a private
gathering for GDC students and faculty. These events provide
an opportunity for students to socialize with each other and
trade information and support, and also to get to know faculty
members. Events are geared towards providing students with a
great understanding of "what lies ahead" for them in
the program and/or in the design profession.
Events have included:
- Faculty Presentations: two or three faculty members are invited to make a presentation about their course
- Open Book: students bring work completed in GDC courses for informal showing and discussion
- Portfolio Presentations: A recent Intermediate and a Final Portfolio student present their portfolios
- Alumni Presentations: 3–4 recent alumni each talk briefly about their design career and show professional work
- Additional events held in cooperation with Career Services provide learning experiences related to job search and careers to GDC students, undergrads, PCE students, and are open to the public.
- CAREER SERVICES
- GDC program students have access to a wealth of career services help, including internship and job listings available at the Career Services office and on-line (on-line listings not available to non-program students).
