Communication Design Programs
Associate Degrees

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Why Study Communication and Graphic Design at NCC?

Reach new creative horizons through classroom and computer lab learning paired with real-life experiences. In preparation for your career, you’ll collaborate on group projects and display your creative designs in our Communications Hall and on the NCC Art Department website. Through the capstone experience in the program, you’ll assemble a design portfolio that you’ll showcase to Lehigh Valley industry leaders.

Why choose NCC? This hands-on, 2-year graphic design program equips you to start your career or transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree—at a much lower overall cost!


What You'll Learn

Bring your eye for design and problem-solving skills; we’ll bring our collaborative environment, experiential learning opportunities, and top-quality connections to transfer institutions. The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Communication Design degree at Northampton Community College equips you with background knowledge and robust skills to succeed as a graphic designer for digital, print, and social media.

This 2-year Communication Design degree is offered on our Bethlehem campus in Pennsylvania. Upon completion, our graduates often start their careers as graphic designers or transfer to competitive 4-year bachelor’s degree programs at institutions like Kutztown University, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the Pratt Institute.

Two track options: Choose the New Media program track to focus on digital and leading-edge design skills, or study the Print/Web program track to become well-versed in traditional media and physical product development.



Program Details

Semesters: 4

Credits: 68

College Catalog: View Curriculum

Program Map: Download PDF

Locations: Bethlehem

Program Overview:

Develop creative, conceptual, and technical skills in all types of modern media. Building on a foundation in topics like drawing, art history, computer graphics, and website design, you’ll specialize your skills in 3-D animation, new media theory and production, and interactive design.

Semesters: 4

Credits: 65

College Catalog: View Curriculum

Program Map: Download PDF

Locations: Bethlehem

Program Overview:

Cultivate creativity, technical knowledge, and conceptual thinking for digital, print, and social media. Study fundamentals of design and color, computer graphics, digital design, and typography, then focus on print media website design skills like digital photography, package design, and web animation.



Start Here and Save

Starting your education at NCC is a savvy investment: here, you can save up to $40,000 per year over your first two years of the Communication Design major, then transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in visual communications, graphic design, digital media, marketing and more.

 

NCC’s associate degree in Communication Design is one of the most affordable of its kind in Pennsylvania. Our tuition and costs help you focus on what matters most: learning the tools and skills that you’ll use to advance your career. You’ll also gain access to one of the most generous financial aid and scholarship programs among community colleges in Pennsylvania!


Learn more about how NCC prepares you to transfer.



Communication Design at NCC

Discover the hands-on learning opportunities we provide for our students and tap into the resources and tools available to prepare you for a successful future in communication design.

Future Career Paths

With a Communication Design degree, you will create visual concepts, by hand or using computer software, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform or captivate consumers. Use color, images, or logo designs to represent particular ideas or identities in advertising and promotions. Most graphic designers work in specialized design services, publishing, advertising, or public relations, and the demand for experts is projected to remain consistent. NCC’s career services office can help you navigate internship opportunities, networking events, job applications, and other avenues to success as a student and after you graduate.

  • Assistant Art Director
  • Corporate Communications Designer
  • Graphic Artist
  • Illustrator
  • Newspaper/Magazine Layout Designer
  • Package Designer
  • Pre-Press Technician
  • Web Designer

Student Spotlight

I chose the communications design major to better my graphic design skills in order to create graphics for T-shirts and eventually pursue a career in being a graphic designer. The best part about my major is it allows me to learn more about not just graphic design, but a lot of fundamental elements that go into the design process.

Adam Pysher, Alumni
Communication Design

Luke Test

Need Help Deciding?

Not sure if this is the right program for you? Take advantage of the resources we have available for students to help hone in on what path to pursue.


Connect with an Academic Advisor Contact a Career Counselor

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Next Steps

With 120+ high-quality programs at a highly affordable cost, you can build specialized skills to advance in your career path — fast. And with flexible class formats and convenient locations, it's never been easier to join us.