About Parkland’s Graphic Design Program
Parkland's graphic design students learn to inform, motivate, engage and entertain an audience through visual communication. Our goal is to teach students how to effectively convey a client’s message and to create work that stands out in the market place. Our program consists of a solid foundation in design principles, art & design history, drawing and typography, followed by portfolio-building studio courses that enable students to put theory into practice. Our courses are grounded in visual literacy, creative problem solving and technology. For a complete list of
graphic design courses, course descriptions and course sequences, please download Parkland Graphic Design Program's catalog pages. 
Degrees and Certificates
Parkland's Graphic Design Program offers two Associate's degrees and two certificates:
- Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
This is a career program for students who want to enter the profession in two years. You may choose a design concentration or an illustration concentration.
- Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
This is a transfer program for student who wish to earn a Bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. By special arrangement with Illinois State University,
students who complete this degree at Parkland can transfer to ISU and enter their BA program as a junior majoring in graphic design. Students who wish to pursue this "2+2" arrangement should consult with the Graphic Design Program Director for advisement.
- Certificates
Certificate programs focus on career-specific courses that teach the technical skills needed to work as professionals in either the print production industry or the digital illustration industry. Certificates are ideal for student who have already earned a degree in a related field but find themselves lacking in technical knowledge.
For more details, please see our curriculum page.
Length of study
This program has been designed for both full-time and part-time students. You can earn an associate's degree in two years of full-time study or a certificate in one year of full-time study. Both degrees and certificates will take longer to obtain for part-time students.
Last updated: 5/26/13 • Webmaster: Paul Young