GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications prepares students for professional careers in printing, publishing, packaging, and related industries. The core curriculum assures graduates of having the skills and knowledge required by most entry-level jobs. The major requirements allow each student to select courses which enhance career preparation in specific segments of graphic communications. Coursework is heavily oriented around individual laboratory performance which stresses the development of problem-solving skills in a broad cross-section of manufacturing areas. Applications include all major processes and a variety of industry segments, including commercial printing, publishing, package production, specialty printing, and industrial applications of printing technology beyond communications. The most common career opportunities are in printing management, production planning and supervision, and commercial and technical sales.

The Graphic Communications program is designed to be completed in four years (eight semesters and one or two summers). While students must take one internship during a fall or spring semester, one or two summers are typically used to make up for that semester. The Graphic Communications Department schedules courses in summers for that purpose. Taking a reduced load per term or other circumstances could extend the time to meet graduation requirements.

Policy on Advancement in Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications majors must achieve a C or better in prerequisite G C courses before enrolling in the next level G C course. Registration priority is given to those students for whom the course is a requirement.

Change of Major into Graphic Communications

Students who change majors into Graphic Communications after one or more semesters at Clemson must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point ratio in courses taken at Clemson or must first have earned a B or better in G C 104.

Freshman Year

First Semester
3 - ENGL 101 Composition I
1 - G C 101 Orientation to Graphic Comm.
3 - PSYCH 201 Introduction to Psychology
3 - THRD 180 Intro. to Computer-Aided Drafting
4 - Approved Laboratory Science Requirement¹
3 - Mathematical Sciences Requirement²
17

Second Semester
3 - CP SC 120 Issues in Computers
3 - ENGL 102 Composition II
3 - EX ST 301 Introductory Statistics or
3 - MTHSC 203 Elem. Statistical Inference or 3 - MTHSC 301 Stat. Theory and Methods I
4 - G C 104 Graphic Communications I
4 - Approved Laboratory Science Requirement¹
17

Sophomore Year

First Semester
3 - ACCT 201 Financial Accounting Concepts I
3 - G C 207 Graphic Communications II
3 - G C 215 Photo. and Digital Imaging Tech.
3 - MGT 218 Mgt. Appl. of Microcomputers
3 - MGT 301 Principles of Management
3 - Major Requirement³
18

Second Semester
3 - ACCT 202 Managerial Acct. Concepts or 3 - ACCT 307 Managerial Accounting
3 - ECON 200 Economic Concepts or 3 - ECON 211 Principles of Microeconomics
3 - G C 245 Graphic Comm. Mechanical Systems
4 - G C 310 Alternative Approaches to Imaging
3 - SPCH 250 Public Speaking or 3 - SPCH 251 Business and Prof. Speaking
16

Summer
0 - CO-OP 101 Cooperative Education^{4, 5}
1 - G C 350 Graphic Comm. Internship I^{4, 5}
1

Junior Year

First Semester
3 - EN SP 200 Intro. to Environmental Science
2 - G C 405 Package and Specialty Printing
2 - G C 406 Package and Specialty Printing Lab.
3 - MGT 307 Personnel Management or 3 - PSYCH 364 Industrial Psychology
3 - Literature Requirement⁶
3 - Major Requirement³
16

Second Semester
3 - ENGL 314 Technical Writing
5 - G C 440 Advanced Lithographic Methods
3 - G C 446 Inks and Substrates
3 - MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
3 - Humanities Requirement E.2²
17

Summer
0 - CO-OP 102 Cooperative Education⁴
1 - G C 450 Graphic Comm. Internship II^{4, 7}
1

Senior Year

First Semester
4 - G C 444 Current Developments and Trends in Graphic Communications
3 - THRD 360 Ind. Organizations and Safety
6 - Major Requirement³
3 - Elective
16

Second Semester
3 - G C 448 Plan. and Cont. Printing Functions
2 - G C 480 Senior Seminar in Graphic Comm.
4 - Major Requirement³
7 - Elective
16

135 Total Semester Hours

¹Must include a two-semester sequence from chemistry or physics.

²See General Education Requirements.

³Must be approved by advisor prior to registration. A list of acceptable major requirements is available in the Graphic Communications Office.

⁴One internship must be in a fall or spring semester. (Summer at least 12 weeks; fall/spring 15 week minimum.)

⁵Required before any G C 400-level courses may be taken.

⁶ENGL 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or H210.

⁷G C 455 will not substitute for G C 450.