If so, Anne Arundel Community College’s Graphic Design programs might be a perfect fit. Graphic design is a flexible field. You can work for a large design agency, a small nonprofit or run your own freelance business. And at AACC, you’ll enjoy small class sizes, one-on-one time with faculty and state-of-the-art software, hardware and labs. You’ll develop a portfolio that can help you jump-start your career right now or prepare to transfer to a top design school.
AACC offers the following Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees. The state of Maryland refers to the A.A.S. as a career degree, because it's intended to provide you with skills to enter the workforce. In some cases, AACC has entered into transfer agreements that allow these degrees to transfer to select colleges. A list of active agreements may be found on this website. You can also learn more about transferring from AACC to continue your education.
Cultivate the fundamental skills of graphic design, including drawing, typography, digital imaging, photography, page design and layout. You’ll gain valuable real-world experience through internships, service-learning projects and work with local organizations. Our faculty will help you polish your portfolio and achieve your goals. You’ll be ready to start a new career or get ahead in your current one. This A.A.S. is not intended as a transfer degree, nor is it optimal for very recent high school graduates.
The Visual Arts and Humanities department is proud to offer the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Visual Design. As an additional transfer option, AACC has the unique Transfer Studies degree. Both degrees will prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution. Whichever path you choose, we strongly encourage you to meet with an advisor to structure your AACC studies to meet your specific transfer goals.
You’ll gain a broad background in photography, design and the history of Western art, with the ability to take specialized courses in illustration, typography, color and so much more. You’ll build a foundational portfolio that you can display during our annual Student Art Portfolio, where more than 20 local, regional and national schools come to meet and review the portfolios of our graphic design and visual arts students. When you finish, you’ll be well prepared to transfer to a four-year college or university. And our transfer students are better prepared and more apt to receive scholarship money than many of their four-year peers.
The Transfer Studies, A.A. allows you to explore different subjects or concentrate on a specific course plan that will best meet your in-state (and even some out-of-state) transfer goals. This option is particularly good if you are undecided in your ultimate career direction, not sure where you'd like to eventually transfer or just looking to complete general education requirements while "testing the waters" of a particular major. No matter what brings you to Transfer Studies, the result is a well-rounded associate degree preparing you for further studies and successful career.
Loading... in the AACC College Catalog.
The following certificate prepares students for employment and feeds into the A.A.S. degree, if desired.
You’ll gain a broad background in the fundamentals of design such as imaging, photography, typography and page layout and design. This certificate is for professionals already holding a degree who wish to make a career change or update their skills in the graphic design industry.
You can transfer to a four-year university, create your own freelance business or enter the workforce. Our graduates pursue a number of rewarding careers, such as:
They work at a variety of companies as well, such as design agencies, web companies, large corporations, government entities, nonprofits or small businesses. For outlook information about specific careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If Graphic Design sounds appealing, but you’d like to compare it to other offerings, see if one of these areas is a better fit.
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The Crosby Marketing Scholars Program creates greater opportunities for underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds to pursue degrees and future careers in advertising and public relations. You could receive up to two years of tuition, fees, book and supplies.