Advertising and Graphic Design
Certificate of Achievement
Program Details
The Advertising and Graphic Design Certificate is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in the professions of advertising, graphic design or allied profession. The hands-on courses allow a student to create professional quality designs suitable for inclusion in a portfolio. This certificate requires a total of 40-41 units. A minimum grade of C is required in each course taken.
Advertising and Graphic Design Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2026-2027. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
Featured Careers
Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Master's degree, Doctoral degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 47,040
- High salary: 194,530
- Average salary: 80190
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Some college, Bachelor's degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 26,420
- High salary: 140,660
- Average salary: 60560
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
Doctoral degree, Professional degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 59,590
- High salary: 166,720
- Average salary: 101480
All Careers in Advertising and Graphic Design (15)
| Art Directors | Bachelor's degree | Stable | 111,040 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Professional degree | Stable | 101,480 |
| Special Effects Artists & Animators | Bachelor's degree, Some college | Stable | 99,800 |
| Area, Ethnic, & Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Stable | 84,290 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Stable | 80,190 |
| English Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Master's degree | Declining | 78,270 |
| Set & Exhibit Designers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Stable | 66,280 |
| Graphic Designers | Bachelor's degree, High school diploma/GED | Stable | 61,300 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | Some college, Bachelor's degree | Stable | 60,560 |
| Model Makers, Wood | Certificate after high school, No high school diploma/GED | Declining | 51,850 |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | Master's degree, Certificate after high school | Stable | 45,590 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Stable | 44,930 |
| Etchers & Engravers | High school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GED | Declining | 40,450 |
| Photographic Process Workers & Processing Machine Operators | High school diploma/GED | Declining | 40,100 |
| Sewers, Hand | No high school diploma/GED, High school diploma/GED | Declining | 33,760 |
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.
- Evaluate advertising or design proposals and then create, design and communicate visual solutions to decision-makers.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of graphic design terminology and software to create visual solutions to professional design assignments.
- Analyze and interpret contemporary and historical graphic design styles and apply that understanding in the creation of visual design solutions.