Academics

Digital Publishing Certificate

Our world is filled with visuals, from the icon on your desktop to the stitching on your shirt.

Every time you see a billboard, read a newspaper, or browse a website, you are seeing graphic communication at work. Every day, ideas are shared and promoted through the expertise of graphic artists who make visual dialogue possible.

If you are interested in logos, illustrations, advertisements or want to learn how to communicate visually then the Illinois Central College Graphic Communications Program is for you!

“To design is to communicate clearly by whatever means you can control or master.” – Milton Glaser, American Graphic Designer best known for the “I Love NY” logo

Preparing Students for Success

Since 1972, the Graphic Communication and Digital Publishing department at Illinois Central College has provided the resources and training essential to helping individuals take the next step in their education. Students can earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Graphic Communication/Digital Publishing or take a more narrow focus with one of our many certificates in Digital Publishing.

What is GCOMM?

• Digital photography & scanning techniques
• Magazine & e-book layout with Adobe InDesign
• Vector logo design with Adobe Illustrator
• Interactive PDF development
• Website design, construction, and maintenance
• 3D modeling and animation with Autodesk Maya
• Hands-on experience in offset lithography and screen-printing
• Image manipulation and outputting through Adobe Photoshop

“The courses were based around every part of the industry from the prepress to the finishing of a product. Knowing all of the steps that it takes to create something has helped me in this industry.” – Brandon Noll, ICC GCOMM graduate and State Farm Digital Press Technician

Start a Career in a Booming Industry

The Graphic Communications industry employs over 900,000 people in a wide array of jobs like: sales, customer service, designer, management, estimating, print buying, scientist, computer programs, engineers, researcher, teachers, photographer, database developer, material handlers and printers. The industry is huge with a list of products that could fill a book, from patches that deliver medication, to variable data marketing campaigns.

In order to be successful in any industry you have to know what the industry needs. That’s why our training focuses on the technical issues that employers need while giving students the necessary tools to learn how to problem solve and understand the complete workflow of a project. Not only that, but our students also get career insight from guest lecturers who speak about needed skills in the industry and the current career paths available.

Our Approach:

• Practical hands-on experience
• In depth comprehensive technical training
• Learning all aspects from the computer software to the operation/maintenance of traditional machines (i.e. printing presses)

“The true strength of our program is that we teach students about the complete workflow of a project because the more skills you have in this industry the better.” – John Baggett, GCOMM Professor & Program Coordinator.

Continuing Education

Our program has 2 + 2 degree relationships with ISU, WIU and UW – Stout that will allow you to get a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communications. In addition to that you can continue on to Rochester Institute of Technology, Clemson and Cal-Poly to get a Master’s degree.

Degree

Certificate (Certificate Program)
Total Credit Hours: 34

Program Requirements

Select a course number below to see a course description.

Required Program Courses

Course	Name	Credit Hours
GCOMM 110	INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS	4
GCOMM 112	VECTOR GRAPHICS WITH ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR	3
GCOMM 130	PAGE LAYOUT WITH ADOBE INDESIGN	3
GCOMM 230	ADVANCE PAGE LAYOUT AND INTERACTIVE CROSS MEDIA	3
GCOMM 235	DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND SCANNING FOR PUBLISHING	3
GCOMM 245	WEB PUBLISHING WITH ADOBE DREAMWEAVER	3
GCOMM 247	ADVANCE WEB PUBLISHING WITH ADOBE DREAMWEAVER AND FLASH	3
GCOMM 248	MODELING AND ANIMATION WITH AUTODESK MAYA	3
GCOMM 250	BEGINNING ADOBE PHOTOSHOP TECHNIQUES	3
GCOMM 251	ADVANCED ADOBE PHOTOSHOP TECHNIQUES	3
GRDSN 143	COMPUTER ILLUSTRATION I	3

Recommended Course Sequence

Semester	Courses
Fall Semester 1	GCOMM 110; GCOMM 112; GCOMM 130; GCOMM 250; GCOMM 245
Spring Semester 1	GCOMM 230; GCOMM 235; GCOMM 251; GCOMM 247; GCOMM 248; GRDSN 143

Program Contact Information

Graphic Communication and Digital Publishing Program Coordinator
AIT Building, Room 241
(309) 694-5147

Illinois Career Cluster

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications

Career Pathway:
Printing Technology

Career Pathway

Pathway programs at ICC have a map that shows the courses/degree requirements that will lead students to their desired education and employment goals.