Design Communication Arts Certificate Program

Ignite your creativity and prepare for a career in graphic design. Learn how to think like a designer while developing the visual literacy needed to thrive in a professional setting. Feel confident in your skills through portfolio reviews, a capstone course, mentorship and internship opportunities.

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Courses

11 Required

2 Elective

Methods

In Person

Online

F-1 Visa Eligible

Yes

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This program is perfect for...

Those who want to pursue a career in visual communications and graphic design

Creative individuals who want to cultivate their talent as visual artists, while learning how to think like a designer

Self-taught designers who want to build upon their skills while earning a professional certificate

Individuals who want to learn to collaborate with clients, printers, designers, writers, programmers, and anyone else involved in the design process

What you can learn.

An understanding of fundamental design principles, tools and techniques for graphic designers, and how to put your ideas into action

How to utilize critical thinking, research, and your unique perspective to conceptualize and execute visual communications

How to position yourself for the competitive job market, including how to build a strong portfolio that shows off your creative abilities

Skills needed to be successful in a professional atmosphere, including strong conceptual and problem-solving skills and how to effectively collaborate with clients and other creative professionals

Turn your passion into a career.

The Design Communication Arts (DCA) certificate program is designed to help you grow creatively while providing you with the skills to succeed professionally.

The curriculum gives a solid foundation in the fundamentals of graphic design, with elective courses in user experience, photography, and visual arts to choose from. At the end of the program, students participate in a mandatory portfolio review before being awarded their certificate.

You'll not only learn the tools of graphic design, but how to think strategically and develop the visual literacy needed to thrive in a professional setting. If you pay attention and challenge yourself, you will leave the program with confidence in your creative and practical skills, and with a portfolio that reflects your unique lens on the world.

Formats: Online and In-Person. Can be completed 100% online.

Duration: 1 year (full-time), 2 years (part-time)

This certificate is approved for international students to study full time in the U.S. on an F-1 visa.

International students must meet English language proficiency requirements for admission into the program.

While most certificate programs begin each quarter, some have limited intakes for students studying on F-1 visa. Find this program on the Browse Certificate Programs page to confirm entry quarters before applying.

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The joy of creation.

One common thread connects all of our students, and that's simply the joy of creation. Hear how our rigorous program will prepare you for a career in design.

Spotlight on Success

In addition to receiving a prestigious award from Graphic Design USA, graphic design student Laura Becker recently won an advertising design award from the international DNA Paris Design Awards.

Laura said, “I was astonished to receive a winner email this past July. I was invited to the award ceremony in Paris in October to receive the trophy."

“Proud to represent America. Proud to represent UCLA Extension. Thanks, again, for the opportunity to study Design Communication Arts.”

Laura's Winning Design: DNA Paris Design Awards & Graphic Design USA

About Laura's winning design:

Be The Flame - Athleisure

'Be The Flame' is a visual metaphor for women dressing in Athleisure. The word is portmanteau combining the words 'athletic' and 'leisure.' Athleisure is a stylish solution for anyone wanting to look their best all day long and feel completely comfortable, and the athletic-inspired aesthetic has become phenomenally popular in recent years.

Laura Becker, DCA Certificate graduate, wins Paris Design Award

graphic design portfolio work by Annie Gulian

View the Work of our Students...

View a selection of outstanding web portfolios created by students who have successfully completed the Design Communication Arts (DCA) Certificate.

Student Portfolio Examples

Get Started

Step 1: Enroll in a Course

Courses in this program are open enrollment and paid for individually. You may take courses without committing to the program.

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Step 2: Become a Candidate

Establish candidacy in the program to receive tailored information, lock in course requirements, and access exclusive student benefits. Registration fees vary by program and are listed under Cost and Fees.

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Important Note for International Students: Candidacy fees are included in your program fees and do not need to be paid separately.

View Dates & Program Fees for International Students

Cost and Fees

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application and Candidacy Fee

$200

Estimated Textbooks and Materials

$2000

Estimated Program Tuition

$10250

International Student Fees

Payment Options

Not eligible for VA Benefit
Federal Financial Aid is not available

Design Communication Arts Final Portfolio Review

The last requirement for completing the DCA program is a final portfolio review. It is conducted via a 30-minute Zoom call with our program director, Kimberly Velazco, along with one other DCA instructor.

Here’s how it works:

You will share your screen once the review begins.
The panel will ask you to briefly describe your design career goals.
You will have 10-15 minutes to show your work.
The panel will take turns giving you feedback (often asking you to return to select pieces), and there will be 5-10 minutes of Q&A, for a total of 30 minutes.
Then you’re done! Congratulations!

Optional Pre-Preview
For help with presentation prep and to receive critical feedback, we recommend taking advantage of an optional pre-review with Scott. You can schedule this anytime by calling 310-206-1422 or emailing dca@uclaextension.edu .

Prefer to show your work in-person? In special instances (e.g., if you have a physical portfolio book or other non-digital pieces you wish to share), students can complete the final review in the office.

Need some inspiration? If you are grappling with how to construct your portfolio, see web portfolios of outstanding DCA graduates.

Required Courses

Customize your experience

Required

Design Fundamentals

A hands-on introduction to the creative process and core elements of successful graphic design.

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Photoshop I

Learn and practice the creation, manipulation, and combination of digital images in this ubiquitous design tool.

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Illustrator I

Discover how this vector-based drawing program integrates into the suite of design tools.

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InDesign

Design and prepare projects for printing via a thorough introduction and practical applications for Adobe InDesign.

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Color Methodologies

Learn to use color theory to communicate ideas and enhance concepts more effectively.

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Typography

This hands-on course covers the fundamentals of type, its characteristics, vocabulary, and nomenclature, as well as creative uses of type and how it is integrated in successful design.

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Design II: Collateral Communication

In this hands-on course, research, design, and present collateral communication projects, achieving visual solutions that are functional, elegant, appropriate.

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Design III: Branding

Learn to develop memorable identity systems using symbols, icons, logos, and comprehensive environments.

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Design History and Context

Gain a broad understanding of design and its dynamic past to create inspired projects in the present.

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Design IV: Capstone

In this thesis-oriented capstone course, Design Communication Arts students put all they've learned into action to tackle real-world design projects in the civic realm.

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Portfolio

Create your design portfolio—one that communicates your value and your values to prospective collaborators or employers.

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Optional Design Software Bootcamp

This 8-unit intensive bootcamp course can be taken in lieu of taking these 3 required courses:

DESMA X 481.11 Photoshop I
DESMA X 481.47 Illustrator I
DESMA X 481.99Z InDesign

Design Software Intensive Boot Camp

Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are covered in this intensive and immersive course to learn the essential Adobe CC programs utilized in graphic design.

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Elective Courses

Customize your experience

Suggested Electives

Select two courses from the list below.

Graphic Design Career Launch Pad

Gain a polished strategy for the steps needed to take to enter the design profession, with projects designed to challenge creativity and advance preparedness for the real world.

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Advanced Typography

Expand your typographic skills by exploring increasingly complex typographic systems, and solving design problems that demand conceptual and experimental approaches to accommodate multiple layers of information.

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Mentorship: Design Communication Arts & User Experience

Work one-on-one with an instructor who guides your development of a meaningful project geared toward a portfolio piece, design competition, freelance assignment, or other advanced goal.

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Internship

Begin the transition from student to professional designer with an internship in a real world setting.

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Illustrator II

Develop advanced techniques and practical workflows in Adobe Illustrator.

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Special Topics: Design Entrepreneurship

Learn the business side of design. Position yourself, target your interests & strengths, and prepare your portfolio & communications toward select design markets.

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Surface Design for Consumer Products

Explore style guides and the role they play in consumer products, then create an original style guide for a complete product line of your choice.

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Publication Design

Investigate the techniques and best practices of magazine design, annual reports, and branded collateral.

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Entertainment Graphic Design

Create campaigns for theatrical key art movie posters, entertainment packaging, and other collateral materials built around the industry’s needs and opportunities.

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Package Design

Develop and execute materials, concepts, and graphics appropriate for effecting packaging, including logo design, type, and pictoral elements.

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Advertising Design

Work in an agency-inspired environment to develop concepts and strategies to deliver information, products, and brands that engage the consumer.

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Brand Identity and Campaign

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After Effects: Motion Graphics with AI Integrated Toolset

Learn animation fundamentals, AI-generated imagery, text-to-video, and conversational AI in this course that explores motion graphics in After Effects.

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Motion Graphics II

Become a Motion Graphics artist in this advanced course.

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Unity I: 3D Game Design and Game Engines

Jump in and create a 3-D game experience using the world class game engine Unity. Students will design fantastic other world realities.

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XR World Building I

Discover the range of methodologies, tools, and strategies for XR world building. Students will have a hands on approach to learning and understanding how to create immersive worlds of their own design.

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Immersive Experience Design

This class provides a solid foundation in how to design effective and meaningful immersive content.

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User Experience Portfolio Development

This course supports development of an online portfolio to get noticed by potential employers and land job interviews.

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User Interface (UI) Design

An introduction to visual fundamentals, presentation best practices, and how to make user experience-driven design choices.

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Frontend Web Development: A Practical Introduction with React

This course introduces the essential tools of modern front-end web development using React.

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Photoshop II

Master sophisticated adjustment techniques necessary for constructing professional images with this ubiquitous design tool.

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Design Software Intensive Boot Camp

Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are covered in this intensive and immersive course to learn the essential Adobe CC programs utilized in graphic design.

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Designing for Accessibility

Learn how to design digital products with accessibility in mind, improving usability and inclusiveness.

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User Experience I: Survey

This course introduces the latest tools, techniques and technologies used by leading agencies to develop world-class user experiences.

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User Experience II: Iteration

Students with knowledge of the fundamentals of UX move on to iteration: rounds of work and experimentation to hone problem solving skills.

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Blender Foundations for Spatial Media

In this practical, hands-on course, you’ll learn to navigate the Blender interface and model custom objects for game and XR environments.

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User Experience III: Applied

Students who have completed User Experience I and II will apply what they have learned to real-world case studies in this course.

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User Experience Research

Learn key concepts in user experience evaluation to better meet the needs of clients, colleagues and end-users. This course teaches research methodology and how to design, field and report on findings.

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Intro to AI: Reshaping the Future of Creative Design & Development

As a creative professional, familiarize yourself with the transformative potential of AI.

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User Experience IV: Capstone

Working from evidence-based case studies, students apply the appropriate methods and tools of discovery, design, prototyping, testing, iterating, and presenting for real world application.

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Tattoo Workshop: Visual Language, Identity & Cultural Symbolism

This course introduces tattoo as a visual language, exploring its cultural history, symbolism, and connection to the human body. Weekly workshops and guided exercises help students develop technical and conceptual skills through drawing, composition, iconography, and body-aware design.

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Photography I

Explore the fundamental technical and aesthetic principles of digital photographic processes, including DSLR camera operation, composition, and digital retouching and manipulation.

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Photography II

Both intermediate and advanced photographers will gain control of all photographic variables while attempting various creative assignments in this course.

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Photoshop for Photographers

Designed for beginning photographers, this course provides an introduction to digital workflow using Photoshop.

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Lighting I

Gain an understanding of how to use natural and artificial lighting to enhance your subject.

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Calligraphy

This course introduces beginners to the art of calligraphy, and gives them mastery over basic calligraphic tools. Alphabets vary by quarter.

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Chinese Brush Painting

In this course, students explore the spontaneous style of Chinese Brush Painting through hands-on step-by-step
instruction.

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Telling Your Story: Narrative Photography

Develop a unique photographic storytelling perspective and define your personal narrative voice.

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Design Communication Arts certificate candidates may earn elective credit by enrolling in an internship or mentorship.

Internship
DESMA X 479.7F

Begin the transition from student to professional designer with an internship in a real world setting.

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Mentorship
DESMA X 482.14

Work one-on-one with an instructor who guides your development of a meaningful project geared toward a portfolio piece, design competition, freelance assignment, or other advanced goal.

Learn More

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Design Communication Arts