Program Overview
You have a design idea in your head, but will it resonate within your organization and with your customers? The A-State Certificate in Graphic Communication online program helps to bridge the gap between concept and appealing to your market audiences effectively. Emphasizing applied creativity, this industry-relevant program enhances your graphic communication skills to directly impact your company’s goals through printed products and more.



This affordable online program will deepen your understanding of Adobe Creative Suite while you grasp what constitutes efficient and effective design. Plus, you can apply the courses in the certificate program as credit when you enroll in an A-State undergraduate degree program.
Learn industry-relevant skills that employers are looking for:
- Design and produce effective printed and digital graphic communications/ publications
- Understand the digital pre-press production process
- Use Adobe Creative Suite to design graphic communications
- Translate designs into printed products
Prepare for careers like these:
- Graphic Communications Specialist
- Communications/Public Relations Manager
- Fundraising Manager
- Desktop Publisher
- Production Artist
Also available online at A-State:
A-State is ranked #6 among the “Top 10 Best Colleges in Arkansas” by College Choice (2020).
Tuition
Our Certificate in Graphic Communication online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition.


Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
$218.00 | $40.00 | $258.00 | $654.00 | $120.00 | $774.00 |
Calendar
Our Certificate in Graphic Communication online program is designed to be flexible and convenient, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year. Add to your education while continuing to work.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:


Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spring 2021 | 7 wk | 01/12/2021 | 02/26/2021 | 12/16/2020 | 12/18/2020 | 01/07/2021 | 01/08/2021 | 02/12/2021 |
7 wk | 03/08/2021 | 04/30/2021 | 02/22/2021 | 02/26/2021 | 03/04/2021 | 03/05/2021 | 04/16/2021 | |
Summer 2021 | 5 wk | 06/01/2021 | 07/02/2021 | 05/17/2021 | 05/21/2021 | 05/27/2021 | 05/28/2021 | 06/18/2021 |
5 wk | 07/06/2021 | 08/06/2021/td> | 06/21/2021 | 06/25/2021 | 07/01/2021 | 07/02/2021 | 07/23/2021 | |
Fall 2021 | 7 wk | 08/24/2021 | 10/08/2021 | 08/09/2021 | 08/13/2021 | 08/19/2021 | 08/20/2021 | 09/25/2021 |
7 wk | 10/18/2021 | 12/10/2021 | 10/04/2021 | 10/08/2021 | 10/14/2021 | 10/15/2021 | 11/27/2021 |
Admissions
To apply to our Certificate in Graphic Communication online program, you must have a high school diploma with at least a 2.75 GPA or GED score of 500 (if taken before 2002) or 525 (if taken in or after 2002). Review full admission requirements below.
- When completing the online application, choose the appropriate application type – A-State Online Freshman (if you have never attended college) or A-State Online Transfer (if you have previously attended any college).
- Select three emphasis areas and submit this form.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee
- Submit an official High School Transcript with at least a 2.75 GPA or GED score of 500 (if taken prior to 2002) or 525 (if taken in or since 2002). The High School/GED requirement is waived for students who have previously successfully completed 13 or more transferrable college credit hours.
- Submit official Test Scores (e.g., ACT and SAT). Test scores are considered official if they are delivered directly to us from a testing center or from your high school on your official transcript. Test scores are valid for a period of five years from the date of the exam. The test score requirement is waived for students who have previously successfully completed 24 or more transferrable college credit hours.
- ACT test scores of 21 or greater on the composite score as well as 19 on the Math, Reading, and English sub-scores
- SAT test score of 1070
- Cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework.
- No remediation courses are available for this program. If a student does not show test scores that clear the need for remediation, they must show completion of or readiness for the following program courses:
- English requirement: Students may be considered eligible for admission based on completion of English Composition I, English Composition II, or Writing Fundamentals with a grade of C or better.
- Math requirement: Students may be considered eligible for admission based on completion of College Algebra or Intermediate Algebra with a grade of D or better.
- No conditional admission status is available for this program.
- Foreign born students must submit an attested or notarized copy of their high school diploma in English. Students seeking to transfer from a non-U.S. university or college must submit official transcripts from these institutions. Transcripts will be evaluated by Arkansas State University. Proof of English proficiency may be required.
Additional Information
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
To earn the Certificate in Graphic Communication online, you will complete the following four courses (12 credit hours).
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.
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.
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.