The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

Please see General Education, Cultural Diversity, American Institutions, and Literacy Requirements under the BA in Communication Studies.

Course Requirements for the Major: 51-63 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.

Major Core Program: 18 units

6 courses required:

CDES 101 Introduction to Communication 3.0 FS

This course is also offered as JOUR 101.

CDES 102 Principles of Comm Design 3.0 FS
CDES 103 Writing for Electronic Media 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: ENGL 130.
CDES 206 Intro Photo Com & Dig Imaging 3.0 FS
CDES 303 Communication Criticism 3.0 FS WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher.
CDES 307 Technology and Communication 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 102.

Major Option Course Requirements: 33-45 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

The Option in Graphic Design: 45 units

All students take the Option Core for 9 units and select an advising pattern for 28 to 37 additional units, depending on the pattern chosen.

Option Core: 8 units

2 courses required:

CDES 132 Visual Communictn Concepts-D 2.0 FS
CDES 281 Print Production 3.0 FS

1 course selected from:

CDES 313 Basic Advertising Copywriting 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103 or JOUR 260.
ENGL 230 Intro to Technical Writing 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: ENGL 130.
MGMT 300 Communication in Business 3.0 FS WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher.

Portfolio Requirement

The successful completion of a Portfolio Review is necessary for entry into upper-division Graphic Design course work. The portfolio is comprised of work from ARTS 125 ARTS 122, CDES 230, and CDES 206, and is reviewed by Visual Communication faculty.

Level One (Pre-Portfolio): 10 units

3 courses required:

ARTS 122 Color Theory 3.0 FS
ARTS 125 Basic Drawing 3.0 FS
CDES 230 Visual Comm Portfolio Review 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: ARTS 122, ARTS 125, CDES 132, CDES 206, or faculty permission.

1 course selected from:

ARTS 101 Art History Survey 3.0 FS *
ARTS 102 Art History Survey 3.0 FS *

Level Two: 21 units

7 courses required:

CDES 214 Computer Graphics 3.0 FS
CDES 282 Digital Pre-publishing I 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 114, CDES 281, or faculty permission.
CDES 331 History of Graphic Design 3.0 SP
CDES 332 Letterforms 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 230.
CDES 333 Graphic Visualization 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 230 for CDES majors. Other majors require instructor permission.
CDES 334 Typography I 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 230, CDES 282; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CDES 214.
CDES 434 Typography II 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 334.

Level Three: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 327 Visual Information Design 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 214, CDES 282.
CDES 335 Advertising Design 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 333 or CDES 334.
CDES 337 Packaging 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 333, CDES 334.
CDES 396 Inter. Photo & Digital Imaging 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 206 (with a grade of C or higher).
CDES 431 Publication Design 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 333, CDES 334.
CDES 432 Environmental Graphic Design 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 333, CDES 334.
CDES 435 Corporate Design Systems 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 333, CDES 334.
CDES 436 Kinetic Typography 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 214 and CDES 282, or faculty permission.
CDES 496 App Photo & Digital Imaging 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 396.

Level Four: 3 units

1 course required:

CDES 439 Design Workshop 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 333, CDES 434, CDES majors only.

The Option in Mass Communication Design: 38 units

Students take the Option Core for 14 units and select 24 units of elective courses from the Writing, Technical, History and Criticism, Management, and Internship or Practicum Groups, for a total of 38 units

Option Core: 14 units

5 courses required:

CDES 131 Visual Communication Concepts 2.0 FS
CDES 141 Media Aesthetics 3.0 FS
CDES 271 Intro Design Instruct/Training 3.0 FS
CDES 315 Electronic Media Economics 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 327 Visual Information Design 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 214, CDES 282.

Writing Group: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 313 Basic Advertising Copywriting 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103 or JOUR 260.
CDES 343 Narrative Scriptwriting 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103.
CDES 363 Broadcast News 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103, CDES 216.

Technical Group: 12 units

4 courses selected from:

CDES 214 Computer Graphics 3.0 FS
CDES 216 Intro: Digital Audio in Media 3.0 FS
CDES 222 Intro to WWW Design & Pub 3.0 FS
CDES 272 Media for Instruction/Training 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 271 or concurrent enrollment or faculty permission. Students taking the course for the Minor in Education should request faculty permission.
CDES 281 Print Production 3.0 FS
CDES 282 Digital Pre-publishing I 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 114, CDES 281, or faculty permission.
CDES 314 Intro Multimedia Dsgn & Dev 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy, faculty permission.
CDES 317 Info & Comm Technologies 3.0 FS
CDES 319 New Telecom Technology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: Senior standing or faculty permission.
CDES 322 Advanced WWW Design & Publish 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 222.
CDES 396 Inter. Photo & Digital Imaging 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 206 (with a grade of C or higher).
CDES 414 Adv Multimedia Dsgn & Develop 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 314.

History and Criticism Group: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 241 North American Cinema 3.0 SP
CDES 242 History of Documentary Film 3.0 FA
CDES 261 Found of Electronic Media 3.0 FS
CDES 331 History of Graphic Design 3.0 SP

Management Group: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 311 Electronic Media Regulation 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 348 Program & Audience Analysis 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 365 Electronic Media Management 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 474 Eval Instruct Products & Prog 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 373 or faculty permission.

Internship or Practicum: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 429 WWW Practicum 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 222 or faculty permission. Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, CDES 323 is recommended.
CDES 489 Communication Design Intern 1.0 -12.0 FS
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

Note: If an internship is used to satisfy this requirement, it must be taken for at least 3 units.

The Option in Media Arts: 33 units

Option Core: 15 units

5 courses required:

CDES 141 Media Aesthetics 3.0 FS
CDES 216 Intro: Digital Audio in Media 3.0 FS
CDES 261 Found of Electronic Media 3.0 FS
CDES 311 Electronic Media Regulation 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 366 Field Video Production 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103, CDES 206, CDES 216; CDES 141, CDES 261 (both with a grade of C or higher).

Writing: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 313 Basic Advertising Copywriting 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103 or JOUR 260.
CDES 343 Narrative Scriptwriting 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103.
CDES 363 Broadcast News 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 103, CDES 216.

Management: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 315 Electronic Media Economics 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 345 Media Production Management 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 366.
CDES 348 Program & Audience Analysis 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 365 Electronic Media Management 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 261 (with a grade of C or higher) or faculty permission.
CDES 469 Media Arts Practicum 1.0 -3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 366 or faculty permission.

CDES 469 must be taken for 3 units.

Production: 9 units

3 courses selected from:

Three courses are to be selected from the following two areas; at least one course must be selected from each area.

Video Production Area

CDES 464 Advanced Video Editing 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 366.
CDES 466 Studio Video Production 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 366.
CDES 468 Video Production Workshop 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 366.

Computer Production Area

It is recommended that students who choose six units from computer production take them all from one department.

CDES 214 Computer Graphics 3.0 FS
CDES 222 Intro to WWW Design & Pub 3.0 FS
CDES 314 Intro Multimedia Dsgn & Dev 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy, faculty permission.
CDES 322 Advanced WWW Design & Publish 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CDES 222.
APCG 330 3-D Computer Modeling 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: APCG 110 or previous computer graphics experience.
APCG 340 Computer Animation 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: APCG 110 and APCG 330 or permission of instructor.
CDES 414 Adv Multimedia Dsgn & Develop 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 314.
CDES 436 Kinetic Typography 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CDES 214 and CDES 282, or faculty permission.

Theory, Aesthetics, or Performance: 3 units

1 course selected from:

CDES 241 North American Cinema 3.0 SP
CDES 242 History of Documentary Film 3.0 FA
CDES 341 American Radio and Television 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: Junior standing, CDES 103, CDES 206, CDES 216; CDES 141, CDES 261 (both with a grade of C or better); faculty permission.
CDES 362 Media Performance 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CDES 103, CDES 216.

Please see the Electives, Grading, and Advising Requirements under the BA in Communication Studies.

Please see Honors in the Major under the BA in Communication Studies.