Program Overview
Designed for You: The A-State Online B.S. in Creative Media Production – Graphic Communication
Design your future by earning your online Bachelor of Science in Creative Media Production with an Emphasis in Graphic Communication from Arkansas State University. Learn how to utilize Adobe Creative Suite to design and produce graphic communications and effectively tell stories across a variety of media platforms. Throughout your college coursework, you will study graphic and digital production processes and understand how to use that knowledge to translate designs into published products.
$269
Per Credit Hour
Up to 90 Hours
Transfer Credits
120
Credit Hours
$269
Per Credit Hour
Up to 90 Hours
Transfer Credits
120
Credit Hours
With A-State's Graphic Communication program, you can bridge that gap between design and actual product by strengthening your creativity skills. We base our online curriculum on present-day best practices and teach you about essential elements of good design and how they all blend in both static and motion graphics. Along with advancing your technical application skills in Adobe Creative Suite, you will also learn experientially how to create and distribute your content across multiple media platforms.
Our 100% online format affords you the flexibility to earn your degree at your pace while still benefiting from all the advantages of in-class learning. You can control your schedule by taking one course at a time or multiple courses simultaneously to finish faster. Learn today for only $269 per credit hour and advance your career tomorrow, all with the assistance and guidance provided by A-State's expert faculty.
As a graduate, you will be prepared for positions in graphic communication, such as:
- Publications Layout and Design
- Promotional Products Designer
- Commercial Printer
- Graphic Designer
- Communications Specialist
- Communications/Public Relations Manager
- Fundraising Manager
You may be closer to graduation than you think!
A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.
Tuition
An Education You Can Afford
Our B.S. in Creative Media Production – Graphic Communication online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Transfer your credits for lower tuition
Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.
Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
| $229.00 | $40.00 | $269.00 | $687.00 | $120.00 | $807.00 |
Calendar
Choose the best time for you to start
Earn your B.S. in Creative Media Production – Graphic Communication on your schedule in a 100% online format featuring accelerated courses and multiple start dates per year.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | 7 wk | 03/06/2023 | 04/28/2023 | 02/20/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 03/02/2023 | 03/03/2023 | 04/15/2023 |
| Summer 2023 | 5 wk | 05/30/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 05/15/2023 | 05/19/2023 | 05/25/2023 | 05/26/2023 | 06/19/2023 |
| 5 wk | 07/03/2023 | 08/04/2023 | 06/19/2023 | 06/23/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 07/21/2023 | |
| Fall 2023 | 7 wk | 08/21/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 08/07/2023 | 08/11/2023 | 08/17/2023 | 08/18/2023 | 09/22/2023 |
| 7 wk | 10/16/2023 | 12/08/2023 | 10/02/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 10/12/2023 | 10/13/2023 | 11/17/2023 |
Admissions
Start Your A-State Journey With These Admission Steps
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the B.S. in Creative Media Production – Graphic Communication online program should review and follow the requirements for admission below.
There are several paths to admittance at A-State:
- If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework
If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:
- Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
- Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
- Have never enrolled as a student at A-State
Note: If you're admitted as a non-traditional first-time freshman, you may be required to successfully complete a predesignated curriculum of 12 hours (Certificate or Non-Degree). Upon successful completion, you will be transitioned to a degree seeking program.
- If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
- 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
- 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
- Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts.
- Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
- Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).
Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores.
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Additional Information
Students who have attended any other institution of higher education must meet the following requirements.
For students who have:
- Fewer than 12 college hours: Submit official final high school transcript and official test scores.
- 13 - 23 college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts and official test scores.
- 24 or more college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:
Academic Partnershipsc/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
Spur Your Creativity With an Array of Intriguing Courses
To earn your B.S. in Creative Media Production – Graphic Communication, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 8 credit hours of general education courses, 29 credit hours of major requirements, 21 credit hours of emphasis courses and 321 credit hours of elective courses. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.
Students must take all of the following courses.
GCOM 1813: Introduction to Digital Publishing
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An overview of the preparation of digital graphics, photographs and text for publication, and of their interrelationships. Includes application of current digital publishing software programs.
MDIA 2023: Media Aesthetics
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study and basic application of the relationships between the media tools of sight, sound, and motion and the theories that have evolved around them.
MDIA 2033: Writing for Creative Media I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the principles of scriptwriting for creative media including commercials, corporate videos, television and film programming.
MDIA 2123: Audio Production I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introductory course in live and recorded sound production. Theories and technologies used in audio production for radio, television, film/video, and online delivery.
MDIA 2223: Video Production I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introductory course that focuses on the basics of creating videos in the field and studio by shooting good video, recording good audio, editing raw footage into a coherent story or presentation, and sharing finished videos.
MDIA 3323: Media Analytics and Data Visualization
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Communicating complex information with visually appealing images (charts, graphs, maps, etc.), including processing and cleaning raw data, and effectively communicating data to a multimedia audience.
MDIA 3413: Writing for Creative Media II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Application of scriptwriting principles for creative media including corporate videos, television and film programming. Prerequisite: MDIA 2033.
MDIA 4123: Media Management and Entrepreneurship
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Entrepreneurial techniques and skills including business finance, client interaction, and ethics that can be applied across multiple media-based contexts and platforms.
MDIA 4363: Multimedia Storytelling
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introductory course in multimedia concepts, media elements, platforms, and production. Emphasis is placed on delivery of content across media platforms for diverse audiences.
MDIA 4812: Media Portfolio
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Capstone portfolio of revised student work. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. Must be taken in final semester.
Students must take all of the following courses.
GCOM 2673: Digital Prepress Workflow
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Comprehensive overview of the major pre-publishing workflow elements and the options or their interrelationships.
MDIA 3403: Screenwriting for Narrative Motion Pictures
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on the study and application of writing and scripting techniques for narrative motion pictures, including synopsis, sequence outline, treatments and screenplay. Characterization and genre conventions are also considered.
MDIA 3373: Introduction to Internet Communications
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introductory course in the use of the Internet as a communication delivery system. The course addresses Internet history, its development and future applications for communicators. Basic computer competency required.
GCOM 3603: Graphic Production System
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Exploration of the Press and Post Press processes of graphic reproduction and publishing. Critical aspects unique to each process will be studied including copy preparation, image carriers, image transfer systems, substrates, inks/toners and post press operations. Each process will be studied through classroom experiences, industrial visitations and/or laboratory experiences. Prerequisite: GCOM 1813.
GCOM 3673: Desktop Publishing and Publication Design
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course examines electronic publishing and publication design using desktop publishing software programs.
GCOM 4643: Graphic Communication Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Management issues specific to the graphic communications industry including quality assurance, sales and customer relations, marketing, scheduling production, laws, ethics, and government interface. Lecture based on course with industry visitations.
CMAC 4063: Internship
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Supervised work in an approved communication-related setting. Prerequisite: program director and faculty advisor permission.
You must take 33 hours of electives to satisfy the 120 credit hours required for this program. Choose courses with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. Electives can come from any courses offered as long as prerequisites are met.
You must take the following courses.
First-year course
You must take the following Making Connections course. If you transfer in more than 12 credit hours, you will not be required to take the Making Connections course. You may replace that 3-hour course with a 3-hour elective course.
UC 1013: Making Connections
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Required course for all first semester freshmen. Course content is centered around the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful ASU student, including academic performance, problem solving, critical thinking, self-management and group building skills, university policies and other relevant issues.
Communication Requirement
Must have 6 credit hours of the following courses.
ENG 1003: Composition I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
ENG 1013: Composition II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.
Mathematics Requirement
Must have 3 to 4 credit hours or any higher level mathematics course for which College Algebra is a prerequisite. The course listed below is the only one offered online through A-State at this time.
MATH 1043: Quantitative Reasoning
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative reasoning as the approach to understanding relationships using mathematical and algebraic methodologies. Contemporary topics will be used to identify, analyze, generalize, and communicate quantitative relationships.
Arts and Humanities Requirement
Students must complete three courses from this section. At least one must be a fine arts course, one humanities, and one English course. Please note that Intro to the Literature of the Western World I ENG 2003 and Intro to the Literature of the Western World II ENG 2013 are offered online through Arkansas State University. Other Fine Arts courses not offered online are ART 2501, THEA 2503, PHIL 1103.
ENG 2003: Introduction to World Literature I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
ENG 2013: Introduction to World Literature II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
MUS 2503: Fine Arts – Music
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal musical training or experience. A study of musical styles and composers and their cultural and historical contexts.
Social Sciences Requirement
Three of the following courses must be completed. At least one course must be selected from SOC 2213, HIST 2773, or POSC 2103. Please note that POSC 2103, Introduction to American Government, and SOC 2213, Introduction to Sociology are offered online through Arkansas State University. Other social science courses that can be taken but not offered online are ECON 2313, ECON 2333, POSC 1003.
POSC 2103: Introduction to US Government
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
SOC 2213: Principles of Sociology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Human society and social behavior.
PSY 2013: Introduction to Psychology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Life Science Requirement
One of the following courses and lab must be completed. Please note that Biological Science BIO 1003 and Laboratory for Biological Science BIO 1001 are offered online through Arkansas State University. Other courses that may be taken but not offered online are BIO 1033, BIO 1063, BIO 2013.
BIO 1003: Biological Science
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.
BIO 1001: Biological Science Lab
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.
Physical Sciences Requirement
CHEM 1043: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I
Duration: Varies | Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall, Summer.
CHEM 1041: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry Lab
Duration: Varies | Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall, Summer.
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