Student
  work may be retained for assessment purposes. It may be used
  in teaching and in publication by the instructor.
            
            BFA in Graphic Design Program Learning
              Objectives
            Purpose
              The undergraduate degree in graphic design is intended to prepare you, the student, specifically in the common body of knowledge 
              and skills required for entry as a professional graphic designer. You should additionally possess the education necessary to move toward management and/or leadership positions within the field and also be ready for advanced graduate study in the field of graphic design. 
            BFA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES AND UNIVERSITY CORE COMPETENCIES:
              Critical Thinking, Written Communication, Oral Communication, Information Literacy
            
              
                Core Competencies   and Program Learning Objectives  | 
                Class Project  
                  Fulfilling Learning Objective/Competencies  | 
                Mastery   Level  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, INFORMATION LITERACY,  
                  WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 
                  Solve communication problems,   including the skills of problem identification, research and information   gathering, analysis, generation of alternative solutions, prototyping and   user testing,  
                  and evaluation of outcomes.   | 
                Poster   Book  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, INFORMATION LITERACY 
                  Describe   and respond to the audiences and contexts, which communication solutions must   address, including recognition of the physical, cognitive, cultural, and   social human factors that shape design decisions.   | 
                Poster   Book  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, INFORMATION LITERACY,  
                  WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 
                  Create   and develop visual form in response to communication problems, including an   understanding of principles of visual organization/ composition, information   hierarchy, symbolic representation, typography, aesthetics, and the   construction of meaningful messages.   | 
                Letter   / Word / Text / Grid / Poster /Book  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 
                  Understand design-related tools and   technology, including their roles in the creation, reproduction, and   distribution of visual messages. Relevant tools and technologies include, but   are not limited to, drawing, offset printing, photography, and time-based and   interactive media (film, video, computer multimedia).   | 
                Letter   / Word / Text / Grid / Poster /Book  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                ORAL COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION LITERACY 
                  Demonstrate   proficiency in communication, presentation, and business skills necessary to   engage in professional practice in graphic design including the ability to organize   and manage design projects and to productively collaborate with others in a team.   This competency is based on an understanding of organizational structures and   working patterns in design, intellectual, economic, technological, and   political contexts.   | 
                Project   Critiques, group discussions  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, INFORMATION LITERACY 
                  Demonstrate   ability to form and defend value judgments about graphic design and to   communicate art ideas, concepts, and requirements to professionals and   laypersons related to the practice.   | 
                Letter   / Word / Text / Grid / Poster /Book  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, ORAL COMMUNICATION,  
                  INFORMATION LITERACY 
                  Identify the major historical achievements,   current issues, processes, and directions in the graphic design field as well   as in art in general.   | 
                Class   discussions  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
              
                CRITICAL THINKING, ORAL COMMUNICATION,  
                  INFORMATION LITERACY 
                  Identify current intercultural and global   issues as they relate to visual communication. Apply ethical reasoning to   create sustainable, and socially and environmentally responsible design   solutions.   | 
                Class   discussions  | 
                Introduce  | 
              
            
Required Texts & Learning Materials
            Thinking With Type by Ellen Lupton, Princeton
              Architectural Press, ISBN 1-56898-448-0
              further materials at http://www.papress.com/thinkingwithtype/
              
              
            
              Further Reading
              Resources
            
              - Typographic Design: Form and Communication (fourth edition) by Rob
                Carter, Ben Day, Philip Meggs. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (ISBN:
                978-0-471-78390-9)
 
              - Typography by Emil Ruder 
 
              - The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst (second edition) 
 
              - History of Graphic Design by Philip Meggs (third edition)
 
            
            Purchase
              following required supplies as needed
            
              - Three-ring
                binder notebook
 
              - Sketchbook,
                11" x 14"
 
              - Drawing
                pencils; H, 2B, 2H
 
              - Bone folder
 
              - Eraser for Pencil 
 
              - Kneaded eraser 
 
              - French Curve
 
              - Micron Inking Pens (2), Size 03
                (.30mm)
 
              - Black markers, a variety of widths or weights 
 
              - Metal Rule 18" with Cork
                Back (for Cutting)
 
              - T-Square Steel 18"
 
              - 9" Triangles with Beveled
                Edge for Inking, 45°/90° and 30°/60°/90°
 
              - Circle Template with Beveled
                Edge for Inking 1/4" Diameter and Up
 
              - Masking Tape / White Artist
                Tape (lower tack)
 
              - White Bristol Smooth Finish,
                Pad 11” x 14”
 
              - Tracing Paper pad or 18”x50
                Yards Roll
 
              - 3M Spray Mount or Rubber
                Cement and Rubber Cement pick up
 
              - Scissors
 
              - Xacto Knife, No. 1 and Pack of
                #11 Blades
 
              - Cutting Mat 
 
              - Container
                to carry supplies (tackle box, plastic bucket, etc.)
 
              - Black solid
                core mat board  
 
              - Flash media
                jump drive
 
              - Portable hard drive
 
            
            Lab Fee
            There will be a lab fee of $30 to cover purchase of consumable some
              materials maintenance, printing costs, & upkeep of computer facilities.
              There will be no refund of this fee if the course is dropped after the drop
              deadline, third week of the semester.
            Grading
            Grading scale:
          
            A          Minimum
              95%
              A-         Minimum
              90%
              B+        Minimum
              87%
              B          Minimum
              83%
              B-         Minimum
              80%
              C+           Minimum
              77%
              C          Minimum
              73%
              C-         Minimum
              70%
              D+        Minimum
              67%
              D          Minimum
              60%
              F          Below
              60%
            Below is university policy followed when administering letter grades on
              projects, papers, & other tasks that do not utilize a point or percentage system.
            A: Exceptional, means objectives of the assignment
              are fully understood as applied to the particular assignment & an
              intriguing balance exists between clear communication of the message &
              creativity. The assignment is executed with impeccable craftsmanship, accuracy,
              & neatness & exists as part of the complete design development of
              thumbnail, rough, & finished comp; a quality piece
              of work. Minimum 95%
            B: High, objectives are met & design
              principles are primarily well understood. May be lacking in overall quality,
              craftsmanship, clarity, or design development; good
              overall effort. Minimum 
            C: Average, the minimum requirements of the
              assignment have been met but not exceeded. Extra effort & insight into
              development of the basic assignment are necessary to produce higher quality
              work.
            D: Below average, there exist problems in
              completely understanding the concept or objectives of an assignment.
              Incompleteness in several areas of craftsmanship, design, creativity, clarity,
              or development is also apparent; see instructor. 
            F: Unacceptable, please see instructor
              immediately for further clarification.
            
              Areas
              of evaluation: Professionalism, Process & Realization: 
            Project grades are the result of three areas of evaluation:
              Professionalism, Process & Realization. At any time during the semester,
              you may meet with the instructor for evaluations of current grades or
              dissatisfactions with a grade that you received on any project & how it may
              be improved upon.
            Professionalism: Your grade in the area of
              professionalism will focus on issues of attendance, preparation, deadlines,
              critique participation, personal attitude & articulation - the ability to
              speak & write clearly about ideas/concepts presented in class. Projects for this course will
                be assigned similar to the way that professional designers receive "design
                briefs" detailing the specific requirements for a project. The student
                will then be expected to document the creative process, which they follow in
                developing individual design solutions. Successive projects will be assigned
                for the class, & modified or customized to a certain degree based on the
                overall understanding of previous assignments.
            Process: Faculty rely on classroom observation in evaluating a student’s process in developing a
              project. It will focus generally on how thoroughly the student pushes visual
              exploration & concept research through such processes as
              sketching/thumbnails & creative/thoughtful writing. Students, who attend
              class, make visible their process investigations & are prepared for the
              scheduled activities/discussions, reveal valuable information about their
              performance. In the absence of such information, faculty must resort to an
              unsatisfactory rating in evaluating the student’s process. When handing in an
              assignment, you may be required to include photocopies of relevant pages from
              the journal & other process materials in addition to the actual assignment.
            Realization: The final evaluation of work
              (realization) involves more than totaling the grades on individual projects
              &/or determining that all assignments have been completed. Faculty assess student’s abilities in realizing concepts
              & controlling the visual elements of communication throughout the semester.
              This includes such issues as craftsmanship & the improvement &
              progressive mastery of increasingly complex material are evaluated.
Grade
              Dissemination: For each project
                & assignment, you will receive a detailed rubric that will break down the
                grade according to your performance within the areas of Professionalism,
                Process & Realization. Each area will be customized to the project’s
                specifications & learning objectives. 
            Late
              Work Policy: All projects
                & exercises are due on the day & time given, always at the beginning of
                class unless otherwise noted. A late accommodation is given only with the understanding that emergencies
                  & unforeseen circumstances occasionally arise. A late project must be turned in by the following class
                     & will be marked down one letter grade accordingly. A later submission will
                     not be accepted. Missing a scheduled critique or presentation will result in an
                    “F” for that project.
                          Grades
              of "Incomplete": The current university
                policy concerning incomplete grades will be followed in this course. Incomplete
                grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a
                student from completing the course & the remaining work can be completed
                the next semester. Your instructor is the final authority on whether you
                qualify for an incomplete. Incomplete work must be finished by the end of the
                subsequent semester or the “I” will automatically be recorded as an “F” on your
                transcript.
            
            Technology
              & Media
            Email: Email is the preferred communication tool. Please check your
              university email regularly since I may send out important announcements
              pertaining to the class. When emailing me, please follow standard email
              conventions including addressing me & signing your communications. I check
              my email regularly & will try answer your questions within one day (with
              the exception of weekends or holidays.) 
            Laptop Usage: You are welcome to bring your own laptop & use it in class.
              Although it is possible to use different computer platforms, the Apple
              Macintosh is the industry standard used in the majority of professional design
              fields & is the platform used in the Visual Arts Department.
            All programs in the computer labs are licensed for the machines in the
              labs only. Students are prohibited from copying programs from the computers in
              the lab for their personal use. It is not only a violation of University
              policy; it is a violation of the law. 
            Cell Phone Usage: Per university policy & classroom etiquette;
              mobile phones, iPods, etc. must
                be silenced during all classroom & lab lectures. Those not heeding this
              rule will be asked to leave the classroom/lab immediately so as to not disrupt
              the learning environment
            Course Policies/Student
              Expectations
              Student
              Requirements & Responsibilities:
            
              - A minimum of six studio hours
                in class & three hours outside of class per week.
 
              - Three-ring binder notebook for
                lectures, sketches, & for assignment sheets & critiques. This notebook
                should be brought class & utilized for recording lectures &
                demonstrations, as well as drawings & sketches. 
 
              - Active participation in all
                phases of the course, attendance, lecture / demonstrations / critiques
 
              - Materials described in the
                attached materials list.
 
              - Projects for this course will be assigned similar to the way that
                professional designers receive "design briefs" detailing the specific
                requirements for a project. The student will then be expected to document their
                creative process, which they follow in developing individual design solutions.
                Successive projects will be assigned for the class, and modified or customized
                to a certain degree based on the overall understanding of previous assignments.
 
          
              Expectations
              & Work Load: The basic structure of this course
              will revolve around assigned studio problems. There will be time given to
              lecture & class discussion, practical tutorials, exercises, &
              assignments. A significant amount of time will be also spent in critique of
              student work.
            It is very important that all students engage themselves in a discourse
              of the work at h&. In turn I will give each of you conscientious feedback
              on as much of your work as is possible. All students should be prepared to
              spend a significant amount of time outside of class time for research, process
              & final production of assigned projects. 
            Students are
              expected to think creatively & critically as well as participate
              thoughtfully in class. As a good portion of this class is based in critique of
              student work, it is expected that all students will participate in this
              dialogue so that we may all benefit from the feedback. All comments are
              expected to be constructive & honest. It is the group dynamic that will
              inform & educate our individual projects. Be open to the critique process,
              as your lack of participation will impact your final grade.
            Class
              Preparation: Students are expected to arrive to
                class on time & be prepared for work with the requested
                supplies/materials/assignments. Class preparation is essential to receiving
                feedback on one’s work. Lack of preparation on a continual basis will affect
                your final grade. If you happen to miss a class or lecture, please make
                arrangements with a fellow student who can either take notes for you &/or
                get the required handouts, etc. While I will be happy to clarify information
                for students who are confused, I cannot repeat lectures or elaborate project
                descriptions on an individual basis. 
            Controversial Content: Since a portion
              of the course will include studying art/design throughout history, there may be
              times when some of this art may have nudity in it. If you
                feel uncomfortable with this, please let me know & we can make
                accommodations.
            Attendance Policy: No more than three absences are
              allowed per semester. Students are required to make prior arrangements with
              the instructor whenever possible. Students are expected to be on time & to
              participate for the duration of the class. The student’s grade will be
              negatively affected & lowered one full grade point for each absence
              exceeding the three allowed. So, for example, if you were to earn a B+ &
              had four absences, your final grade will be C+.
            Students
              should be informed that the allotted absences are to accommodate routine
              illness, weddings, transportation troubles, etc. Doctor appointments, advisor
              conferences, trips to supply stores & labs, employment, etc. should not be
              scheduled to conflict with class. Religious
                Observances cited in the handbook will be followed.
            Tardiness is defined as being fifteen minutes late for
              class or departing before class has been
                formally dismissed by the teacher. Three tardies will be counted as one
                  absence. Tardiness that exceeds one hour will
                    be counted as an absence. Each student is responsible for his/her own recorded attendance. If you are late it is your
                    responsibility after that class period to make sure the teacher has you added
                    to the roll. 
            Open
              Studio Hours Policy:
              Studio Hours are:
            M, T, W, TR 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. 
              F 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.
              (Sat) Sun 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
            Plan your schedule so that you will be able to complete your assignments
              during these hours. If you have exhausted these times & need additional
              time to finish projects or have extenuating circumstances that keep you from
              finishing during these scheduled hours you must receive written permission to
              stay in the studio beyond the normal hours. You must obtain this permission by
              5:00 p.m. on the day in question. This written permission will allow you to
              work until midnight only. No students will be allowed in the building after
              12:00 midnight.
            Honor Code: The University Honor Code is
              an essential element in academic integrity. It is a violation of the Honor Code
              to give or receive information from another student during an examination; to
              use unauthorized sources during an examination; or to submit all or part of
              someone else’s work or ideas as one’s own. If a student violates the Honor
              Code, the faculty member may refer the matter to the Office of Student Life. If found guilty, the student may be penalized with failure of the
                assignment or failure of the course. The student may also be reprimanded
              or suspended from the University. A complete statement of the Honor Code may be
              found in the Student Handbook, Tiger Lore. Section 1.1 – 1.3
            A violation of the principle includes, but is not limited to: Plagiarism:
              Intentionally or knowingly presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e.,
              without proper acknowledgment of the source). The sole exception to the requirement
              of acknowledging sources is when the ideas, information, etc., is common
              knowledge. Artists & designers occasionally work from
                photographs or other imagery. This is allowed & is sometimes necessary,
                however the artist’s intent must be clear that the new work was not made to
                merely duplicate someone else’s artwork in another medium or form & claim
                it as one’s own. 
            Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
            If you are a student with a disability, who requires accommodations,
              please contact Mr. Daniel Nuss, Coordinator of the Office of Services for
              Students with Disabilities in Bannister Hall, room 101, for information on how
              to obtain an Accommodation Request Letter. Contact: SSD@pacific.edu or (209) 946-2879. Then please schedule a meeting with me during office hours
              or some mutually convenient time to arrange the accommodation(s). These services may include, but are not limited
                to, extended time for completing exams, alternative testing procedures, note
                takers, & transportation to & from classes. The Policy Manual can be found at: http://web.pacific.edu/Documents/schooleducation/acrobat/PolicyManualforStudentswithDisabilities.pdf
            University
              Writing Center
            The University Writing Center is a free resource for student, where a
              trained writing consultant will work individually with you on anything you are
              writing (in or out of class), at any point in the writing process from
              brainstorming to editing.
            IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
              Last Day to Add/Drop Classes: September 8 
              Withdrawal Deadline: October 30
              Final Examination: Thursday, Dec 7 (you need to attend to pass the class.)            
            Please retain a copy of your syllabus. It
              is not only an outline of the course it represents a contract between you, the
              instructor & the University.