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School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

Visual Communications

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Visual Communications

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$0 Application Fee
$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation
$0 Textbooks & eBooks

About This Program

The global reach of both small and large organizations has created an ever-expanding need for graphic designers who visually differentiate organizations from one another. Learn the basic fundamentals of graphic design, animation, image manipulation, image enhancement, image storage, and website design with the undergraduate visual communications certificate from American Public University (APU).

In your online visual communication classes, you’ll learn how to design, develop, and deploy moving text and graphics to create dynamic and interactive digital experiences for an organization’s customers to enjoy. This certificate is ideal for enhancing your knowledge of visual communications without committing to a degree program.

What You Will Do

  1. Learn the purpose and usage of smart objects, layers, and vectors in editing; the differences between raster and vector images; and how to hide, link, and set layer styles
  2. Use Adobe Photoshop® to edit and restore digital images and enhance images by manipulating sharpness, color, contrast, hue, brightness, and resolution
  3. Study effective design principles and concepts for organizing information, performing site design, and determining navigation structure
  4. Become familiar with web page design principles, the use of style sheets, Adobe Flash®, and the use of tweens, anchors, guides, and onion skins to develop web animations
  5. Understand the differences between various image file formats on the web, including GIF, JPG, PNG, and SVG

Adobe Photoshop® is a registered trademark of Adobe.
Adobe Flash® is a registered trademark of Adobe. 

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits
Cost Per Credit
$285 | $250*
*with military grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 2613

|
Graphics are valuable tools for communication in Internet applications. This course introduces the student to the principles and practices of image manipulation, image enhancement, and image storage. The student will explore graphical file formats, color and perception, color balance, histograms, web-friendly colors, the impact of image size and resolution on screen size and resolution, brightness, contrast, image noise, noise reduction, digital signal processing (blurring, de-blurring, Gaussian filters, sharpening, softening, spot healing, dodging, burning), transparency, opacity, hue, saturation, image layering, color blending (multiplying, dodging), image transformation (rotation, resizing, shearing), selections (pixel, vector), alpha channels, and image modes (grayscale, RGB, CMYK, HSB, indexed color). Students must have access to Adobe Photoshop® CS6(or higher). This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by the student. Adobe Photoshop® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/29/22 - 02/03/23 02/06/23 - 04/02/23 Winter 2023 Session I 8 Week session
09/26/22 - 03/03/23 03/06/23 - 04/30/23 Winter 2023 Session D 8 Week session
10/31/22 - 03/31/23 04/03/23 - 05/28/23 Spring 2023 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/22 - 04/28/23 05/01/23 - 06/25/23 Spring 2023 Session I 8 Week session
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4533

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This course is a study of the principles, practices, processes, and disciplines related to designing print media for maximum communication. This course evaluates the process for planning, preliminary negotiations, pre-visual research and analysis, visual conceptualization, points of view, attitude, document design, document production, and post-production. This course examines the principles of typographic design, word design, page organization, page layout, integration of words and images, character styles, paragraph styles, layout design, tiling, scaling, textures, and illustrations. This course investigates color theory, additive and subtractive color models, complementary colors, patterns and rhythms. Students will apply their knowledge to design flyers, brochures, CD/DVD covers, and product packaging. Students must have access to Adobe InDesign® CS5 or higher. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by the student. Adobe InDesign® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/29/22 - 02/03/23 02/06/23 - 04/02/23 Winter 2023 Session I 8 Week session
11/28/22 - 04/28/23 05/01/23 - 06/25/23 Spring 2023 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2620

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This course examines the process of designing, developing, and deploying text and graphics in the industry standard vector graphics software application, Adobe Illustrator® CS5 or higher. Students will develop illustrations that take advantage of the broad set of tools, effects, and attributes available in Illustrator. They will learn to edit existing vector graphics files, and how to structure and mange vector graphics files for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. They will learn to format files for use in other applications and for output to a variety of imaging devices. Students must have access to Adobe Illustrator CS5 or higher software. Adobe Illustrator® is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
09/26/22 - 03/03/23 03/06/23 - 04/30/23 Winter 2023 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/22 - 04/28/23 05/01/23 - 06/25/23 Spring 2023 Session I 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2617

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This course introduces students to Web site development through a combination of readings and hands-on development exercises. This course covers Markup Language and Site Development Essentials, HTML5 Coding, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Graphical Elements, Hyperlinks, HTML Tables, Web Forms, Video, Audio and Image Techniques, Web Site Development for Business, and Web Site Publishing and Maintenance. Fundamentals of JavaScript® programming are also introduced in this course. Students will need access to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by the student. To succeed in this course, students will also need basic computer knowledge such as creating files and folders, downloading and uploading files, creating zipped files, and working with text editor such as Notepad++. JavaScript® is a registered trademark of Oracle America, Inc.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/29/22 - 02/03/23 02/06/23 - 04/02/23 Winter 2023 Session I 8 Week session
09/26/22 - 03/03/23 03/06/23 - 04/30/23 Winter 2023 Session D 8 Week session
10/31/22 - 03/31/23 04/03/23 - 05/28/23 Spring 2023 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/22 - 04/28/23 05/01/23 - 06/25/23 Spring 2023 Session I 8 Week session
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4830

|
This course teaches advanced Web site development concepts and skills through a combination of readings and hands-on development exercises. This course covers the Advanced HTML5 and CSS3 Specialist curriculum of the CIW Web and Mobile Design Professional certificate. It builds upon fundamental Web coding skills by emphasizing HTML5 structure elements, embedded video and audio elements, HTML5 APIs, cross-browser user-input forms, use of JavaScript to add interactive capabilities to Web pages, and use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS3) to enhance reusability and to design consistent interfaces. Advanced CSS3 techniques are introduced, including 2D and 3D transformations, transitions, animations, and user interface (UI) properties. Techniques for developing Web pages that are optimized for mobile devices are emphasized, including Responsive Web Design (RWD). Students will need access to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox. This software is not provided by the course material grant and must be purchased/provided by the student. To succeed in this course, students will also need basic computer knowledge such as creating files and folders, downloading and uploading files, creating zipped files, and working with text editor such as Notepad++. (Prerequisite: WEBD121)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/29/22 - 02/03/23 02/06/23 - 04/02/23 Winter 2023 Session I 8 Week session
09/26/22 - 03/03/23 03/06/23 - 04/30/23 Winter 2023 Session D 8 Week session
10/31/22 - 03/31/23 04/03/23 - 05/28/23 Spring 2023 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/22 - 04/28/23 05/01/23 - 06/25/23 Spring 2023 Session I 8 Week session
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4866

|
This course presents the principles and skills for how to design effective user interfaces for websites, with an emphasis on designing for mobile technologies. This course covers the content for the Certified Internet Web (CIW®) User Interface Designer certification in the Web and Mobile Design Series. Emphasis is on how to apply key usability concepts and user analysis techniques; how to design for multiple platforms using suitable color schemes, formatting and topography; and how to collect information from customers, users, and market analysis to better address ease-of-use and to enhance website experiences for mobile users. (Prerequisite: WEBD121) CIW® is a registered trademark of Certification Partners, LLC.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
10/31/22 - 03/31/23 04/03/23 - 05/28/23 Spring 2023 Session B 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Feb 6
Register by Feb 3
Apply Now Request Info

Admission Requirements

  • All APU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED).
  • Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application. View steps to apply.

Materials Cost

Software and/or lab equipment required for some courses in this program must be purchased at the student’s expense, and are not included in the university book grant. Expenses may depend on courses chosen for electives and concentration requirements. Estimated costs can be found at https://apus.libguides.com/bookstore. 

Technology fee: $65 per course | $0 for active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists.

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.

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Disclosures

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*Cost Per Credit Hour

To minimize out-of-pocket costs, U.S. active-duty servicemembers, their spouse/dependents, National Guard members, and Reservists receive a tuition grant that caps undergraduate, master's degree, and graduate certificate tuition at $250/credit hour. In addition, a university book grant provides no-cost textbooks and ebooks for all undergraduates and military-tuition-grant-eligible master’s-level students.
See all military student benefits.