Courses

An introduction to the principles of two-dimensional design and color theory and their use as tools for effective visual communication. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course is one of the foundation courses that develop the perceptual and technical skills for effective drawing. Presents drawing as an essential tool for visual expression. This course is also recommended for general education. (3 units; Fall, Spring, & Online)

This is an introduction to the essential computer software tools used in the modern production of information society, with a focus on the workflow and productions native to design oriented tasks utilized in design and allied design professions. Students will be introduced to foundational design software applications - including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign - and will be introduced to other workflow applications such as word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, and email. Project-based learning activities will provide hands-on experiences for student to practice and apply skills to real-world situations. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This is an introduction to the essential computer software tools used in the modern production of information society, with a focus on the workflow and productions native to design-oriented tasks utilized in design and allied design professions. Students will build on a knowledge of graphic design production software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) to consider time-based graphic production through the introduction of software applications - including, but not limited to, Adobe After Effects, Premiere, C4D, and Midjourney. Project-based learning activities will provide hands-on experiences for students to practice and apply skills to real-world situations. Prerequisite: DES 101. (3 units; Spring)

This course provides an introduction to creativity through discussion and project-based learning. The course provides overview and practice of creative processes (e.g. ideation, research, empathy, proto-typing, etc), in-depth discussion of the theological foundations for creativity, and practice for developing creative habits. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This foundational course provides a broad introduction to the field of visual communication by exploring 2D design concepts, processes, techniques, and production methods. Students will gain experience in the ideation, research, execution, and presentation of design related projects. Additional course fee. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

Students will learn the fundamentals of typesetting and typographic layout by exploring the history, anatomy, vocabulary, design, and function of letterforms and the role it plays in the visualization of language. Additional course fee. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course explores the use of the image as a tool for non-verbal communication and story-telling. Students will learn the fundamentals of image based design through compositing and editing techniques and processes. Additional course fee. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course surveys the conceptual underpinnings of the major movements in graphic design and digital art. Students will examine visual communication from the earliest human expressions of cave paintings to contemporary design movements to the software breakthroughs of the Digital Revolution. Students will interpret selected concepts and movements and then create their own designs using a variety of analytic methodologies. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

Students will explore the fundamental principles and methodologies behind effective and innovative design. This course delves into the core concepts of design thinking, visual communication, and problem-solving, equipping students with the skills necessary to create aesthetically pleasing and functional designs across various disciplines. Through hands-on projects and case studies, students will develop a deep understanding of design theory and its practical applications, preparing them for a future in design-related fields. By the end of this course, students will be empowered to apply their newfound design knowledge to tackle real-world design challenges. (3 units; Fall)

Students will understand, and become comfortable, with the foundational use of the camera by understanding exposure through metering and the relationship between - ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Students will begin to implement foundational design elements through composition, and compression through different lens focal lengths. Students will produce and analyze photographs by employing professional photographic techniques and the introduction of a digital workflow. Additional course fee. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course builds on a foundational understanding of creativity's process and purpose. The aim of the course is for students to apply these foundations to the act of completing interdisciplinary creative projects in context. Additional course fee. Prerequisite: DES 110. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This is an interdisciplinary course where CAVAD students will focus on their portfolios and final presentation specific to their industry. Standards in presentation and expectations will be examined to set guidelines for the student’s efforts in portfolio building. The goal of this course is for the student to finish with a strong, cohesive and compelling portfolio of student work. This course should focus on presentation beyond the capstone projects required for graduation. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course will explore how to develop, conceptualize and craft effective design solutions in the form of a visual identity system. Students will design a variety of branding elements and strategy guidelines to visually communicate a core message across an array of products, services, and environments. Additional course fee. Prerequisite: GDM 215. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

The goal of this course is to refine the student's skills and understanding in using typography as an informative medium. Students will analyze the semiotic function of text including its relationship with content and image. Students will work with visible language in a variety of media and dimension, exploring the possibilities of conceptually-based typographic solutions. Prerequisite: GDM 225. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course will explore how to critically interpret and create meaning in context. Students will design solutions to problems across a variety of media by visualizing conceptual ideas through advanced image-making processes. Prerequisite: GDM 235. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This advanced undergraduate course in Practical Design Theory is tailored for students who possess a strong foundation in design and seek to deepen their understanding of the field. Through an in-depth exploration of design principles, advanced design thinking methodologies, and complex problem-solving techniques, students will refine their ability to craft sophisticated and innovative designs. Through intricate projects, critical analysis, and comprehensive case studies, students will acquire an advanced comprehension of design theory and its intricate applications. Prerequisite: GDM 250. (3 units; Spring)

This course takes a deep dive into designing UI / UX for mobile and emerging technologies and will critically examine conceptual innovations in the field. On a practical level, students will work with information architecture, prototyping and wireframing tools, usability assessment, and best practices for design communication. Finally, students will work with the major principles and professional practice of UI/UX design through weekly exercises, class discussions, presentations, and functional projects. Prerequisites: GDM 215, 225, and 235. (3 units; Spring)

This course prepares students for their capstone show by bringing together the skills and processes students have developed here at California Baptist University. Students begin by identifying an area of research and discussing its relationship to graphic design and visual experience while being challenged to expand their abilities of creating visual form with integrity and meaning. This course is viewed by the program as the pinnacle event in their academic journey. Prerequisites: Senior status and permission of the Dean. (3 units; Spring)

An introduction to philosophical aesthetics, which has been marginalized and often ignored in philosophical discourse during the past four hundred years. During the last few decades the questions posted by aesthetics have moved back into the center of the philosophical discussion, including the use of the concept by "post-modern" thinkers. The course seeks to bring the student into the longer conversation concerning beauty, "retrieve" important elements that have been lost, and provide a basis for further study. Prerequisite: ARC 210, ART 242, DES 310, FLM 250, GDM 310, HON 101, ILL 210, PHI 213, PHO 330, or WLD 181. (3 units; Spring)

This studio-based course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of visualizing complex, integrated design systems from the skills acquired in prior courses within the major. Through key principles in visual systems design, each student will contextualize and develop strategies for managing design solutions across a variety of communication outlets. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the creative image-making knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. Studio emphasis is placed on strategic and conceptual art direction for products and subjects. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall)

This course teaches students the fundamental skills and processes used in the motion design industry. Students will learn about storyboards, style frames, sound development, and rendering and they will use industry-standard time-based software such as Adobe After Effects to learn 2D animation principles. Prerequisite: DES 102. (3 units; Fall, odd years)

This course builds a foundation for advanced 3D environmental modeling, photorealistic rendering, stylistic shading, and effects processes. Students will build upon fundamental techniques to create professional quality imagery and motion with industry standard software such as Cinema 4D and Element 3D. Working is a typical design studio pipeline, students will work with NURBS modeling and mesh editing for hard surface and organic objects; texture mapping, special effects including effectors, dynamics, and multiple emitters; optimization techniques; and a variety of compositing methods to create both artistic works and commercial products. Prerequisite: EGR 121, FLP 170, or DES 102. (3 units; Fall)

This course takes a deep dive into designing UI / UX for mobile and emerging technologies and will critically examine conceptual innovations in the field. On a practical level, students will work with information architecture, prototyping and wireframing tools, usability assessment, and best practices for design communication. Finally, students will work with the major principles and professional practice of UI/UX design through weekly exercises, class discussions, presentations, and functional projects. Prerequisites: GDM 215, 225, and 235. (3 units; Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the creative image-making knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. Studio emphasis is placed on strategic and conceptual art direction for products and subjects. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall)

This course is an advanced digital painting methods course that moves beyond basic digital workflows and software into advanced digital illustration techniques for composition, color, contrast, and value as a means to effective storytelling. Prerequisite: GDM 235 or ILL 250. (3 units; Spring)

This course will implement a practical workflow within a controlled space, utilizing the tools and techniques of studio photographers. Students will gain an understanding of light quality and how it relates to ideas, and the emotional depiction of a subject. Students will understand how to craft their lighting to the specific subject they are photographing. Labs will be hands-on, integrating professional studio practices for digital capture and utilizing industry-wide workflow standards related to the latest software and hardware. Additional course fee. Prerequisite: PHO 350. (3 units; Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This course builds a working knowledge of the historical and contemporary illustrators and various styles and approaches to the craft. Projects will build important skills in drawing painting, color theory, storytelling and typography. (3 units; Spring)

This course will build a working knowledge of ideation, story building, technique and experimentation with media. Projects will build important art execution skills, as well as technical knowledge in the publishing industry. Prerequisites: ILL 210 and 350. (3 units; Fall)

This course is an advanced digital painting methods course that moves beyond basic digital workflows and software into advanced digital illustration techniques for composition, color, contrast, and value as a means to effective storytelling. Prerequisite: GDM 235 or ILL 250. (3 units; Spring)

This studio-based course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of visualizing complex, integrated design systems from the skills acquired in prior courses within the major. Through key principles in visual systems design, each student will contextualize and develop strategies for managing design solutions across a variety of communication outlets. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the creative image-making knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. Studio emphasis is placed on strategic and conceptual art direction for products and subjects. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall)

This course teaches students the fundamental skills and processes used in the motion design industry. Students will learn about storyboards, style frames, sound development, and rendering and they will use industry-standard time-based software such as Adobe After Effects to learn 2D animation principles. Prerequisite: DES 102. (3 units; Fall, odd years)

This upper-level course teaches advanced motion theory, as well as pipeline workflow concepts, strategies and common industry trends and practices. The emphasis is on showing the full motion design workflow in a studio-like environment from concept to final output. Prerequisite: GDM 342. (3 units; Spring, even years)

This course teaches students the primary skills and processes used in the visual effects (VFX) industry. Students will learn basic compositing and how to integrate computer graphics and 3D components with live action in a methodology that simulates standard VFX production pipelines. Prerequisite: EGR 121 or FLP 170 or GDM 215. (3 units; Fall)

This studio-based course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of visualizing complex, integrated design systems from the skills acquired in prior courses within the major. Through key principles in visual systems design, each student will contextualize and develop strategies for managing design solutions across a variety of communication outlets. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the creative image-making knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. Studio emphasis is placed on strategic and conceptual art direction for products and subjects. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the creative image-making knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. Studio emphasis is placed on strategic and conceptual art direction for products and subjects. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall)

This course will implement a practical workflow within a controlled space, utilizing the tools and techniques of studio photographers. Students will gain an understanding of light quality and how it relates to ideas, and the emotional depiction of a subject. Students will understand how to craft their lighting to the specific subject they are photographing. Labs will be hands-on, integrating professional studio practices for digital capture and utilizing industry-wide workflow standards related to the latest software and hardware. Additional course fee. Prerequisite: PHO 350. (3 units; Spring)

This course presents students with the digital workflow techniques needed to produce archival photographs. File preparation, resolution selection, print-profiling, paper selection and soft-proofing techniques will be covered. Students will learn the techniques of digital color management by applying color profiles to produce archival prints for the purpose of promotional, gallery, and printed portfolios. Additional course fee. Prerequisite: GDM 235 or PHO 250. (3 units; Fall)

Students will be able to approach locations efficiently to determine what artificial lighting methods to introduce, to create technically refined photographs. While also introducing these techniques creatively to further demonstrate mastery of photography through the use of location lighting. Prerequisite: PHO 332. (3 units; Fall)

This studio-based course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of visualizing complex, integrated design systems from the skills acquired in prior courses within the major. Through key principles in visual systems design, each student will contextualize and develop strategies for managing design solutions across a variety of communication outlets. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

This experiential studio course is expected to be the culmination and synthesis of the typographical knowledge and skills acquired from the successful completion of prior courses within the major. By exploring and discussing historical and contemporary theory related to typography and design, each student will contextualize and apply critical thinking to their developing practice and conceptual interests. May be repeated for a maximum of six (6) units. Prerequisites: GDM 315, 325, and 335. (3 units; Fall/Spring)