Graphic Communications & Printing Technology
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About Graphic Communications & Printing Technology
The Graphic Communications and Printing Technology program provides a comprehensive understanding of the printing process and related fields. The student receives training in all major areas, with preparation to enter one of several printing fields, depending on interest and ability.
Graduates with technical and mechanical interests find employment in desktop publishing, pre-press, presswork, and bindery operations. Skills in computer operations, electronics, photography, chemistry, and physics will also be useful in these areas.
Graduates with good English and math skills will find employment in proofreading, estimating, production planning, and sales. Those students with artistic talent may enter layout and design, advertising, or commercial art.
What you’ll learn
- Recognize the major printing processes and their products as well as the advantages of each process.
- Demonstrate the skills needed for entry-level positions (as advanced trainees) in the following areas: layout and design, copy preparation, desktop publishing, film assembly and plate processing, direct-to-plate applications, press operations, and bindery operations.
- Assess personal strengths and limitations in various areas of the graphic arts.
- Demonstrate good work habits: promptness to class, willingness to work, and the ability to accept supervision.
- Demonstrate knowledge of equipment and use appropriate safety precautions.
- Understand the various production departments and the contributions each makes to the finished product.
- Write clear, concise, legible, and accurate technical reports using standard grammatical English.
- Demonstrate skills in basic verbal communication.
- Solve basic math problems related to printing operations.
Sample Job Titles
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
Graphic Designer, Graphic Artist, Designer, Creative Director, Artist, Design Director, Composing Room Supervisor, Creative Manager, Desktop Publisher, Graphic Designer/Production
Essential Skills Needed
This program requires a variety of foundational skills for students to thrive. Click the button below to view the full list of essential skills you’ll need before enrolling.
Quick facts
Location
Griscom Education Center, Lobby Level
Type of program
Associate Degree
Job/Salary Outlook
See industry data
Length of program
2 years, 72 credits
Cost of program
$4,500/semester tuition
$3,105 – $3,623/semester housing
$1,915 – $2,417/semester meal plan
Tool List (PDF)
Program details
Courses
MODEL SCHEDULE FOR GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS & PRINTING TECHNOLOGY
Semester 1
- GRPH 116 Introduction to Desktop Publishing (4 credits)
- GRPH 122 Digital Photography (4 credits)
- GRPH 126 Printing Processes I (4 credits)
- CIS 111 Intro to Computer Applications (3 credits)
- MATH 111 Business Math (or higher) (3 credits)
Semester 2
- GRPH 150 Intro to Lithography (3 credits)
- GRPH 155 Intro to Screen Printing (3 credits)
- GRPH 160 Graphic Communications I (3 credits)
- GRPH 165 Multimedia and Web Design (3 credits)
- CIS 211 Microsoft Excel (3 credits)
- ENG 106 English Composition (3 credits)
Semester 3
- GRPH 207 Bindery and Finishing (3 credits)
- GRPH 214 Print Marketing (3 credits)
- GRPH 222 Graphics Communications II (3 credits)
- GRPH 228 Printing Processes II (3 credits)
- Humanities Elective (3 credits)
- ENG 216 Technical Writing OR ENG 221 Public Speaking (3 credits)
Semester 4
- GRPH 258 Advanced Lithography (3 credits)
- GRPH 262 Color Theory (3 credits)
- GRPH 267 Graphics Communications Studio (3 credits)
- GRPH 272 Web Design (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
- General Studies Elective (3 credits)
Additional General Education Requirements
- Health/PE Elective (1 credit)
Total Credits 72
Faculty
Megan Tranquillo
Assistant Professor, Graphic Communications & Printing Technology, First-Year Students zettlemoyer@stevenscollege.edu
Megan Tranquillo
Assistant Professor, Graphic Communication and Printing Technology, First-Year Students tranquillo@stevenscollege.edu
Michael Brady
Assistant Professor, Graphic Communications & Printing Technology, Second-Year Students, ’05 brady@stevenscollege.eduOccupational Advisory Committee
The Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) serves as a vital link between the Program of study and industry, ensuring that the program remains aligned with current workforce needs, technological advancements, and best practices in the field. Composed of employers, educators, and other community members, the committee provides guidance, feedback, and recommendations to enhance the curriculum, instructional methods, and student learning experiences.
Purpose and Responsibilities:
- Curriculum & Industry Alignment
- Workforce Readiness
- Student & Faculty Support
- Internship & Employment Connections
- Accreditation & Program Evaluation
- Facilities & Equipment Recommendations
By fostering a strong relationship between academia and industry, the OAC helps ensure that Thaddeus Stevens College programs maintain the highest standards in CTE (career and technical education).
- Scott Cook, Heidelberg USA
- Yvonne DeSalle, The YGS Group
- William Dougherty, Prestige Color
- Julia Farmer, Intellicor Communications
- Brian Keck, The Standard Group
- Shannon Mosser, ReminderMedia
- Michael Potemra, Intellicor Communications
- Chris Spinelli, Menasha Packaging Co.
- James Tressler, C.P. Bourg Inc.
- Robert Zedaker, Grafika Commercial Printing
The outcomes speak for themselves
Graduates of this program work in printing, production planning, communications, and graphic design.
100%
employment
$42,5K
median first-year salary
People of TSCT
Success stories
Performance Measures
Internal Key Performance Indicators (Sources: Internal data collections, and Post-Graduate Surveys)
Retention Rate
This rate reflects the continuous term-to-term persistence rate for certificate programs and the fall-to-fall retention rate for associate degree programs.
Graduation Rate
This rate reflects the number of freshmen who were officially enrolled in the fall semester and earned a certificate or degree within the expected timeframe.
Post Graduate Survey Response Rate
The post graduate survey is an annual on-line post graduate survey utilized by the college to gather vital information regarding career placement, starting salary, and level of satisfaction.
Employed Full Time Outside of Major
Percentage of graduates who reported being employed full-time outside their field of study.
Graduate Satisfaction
This is the median graduate survey response evaluating the level of preparation for workforce entry (based on a 5-Item Likert Scale).
Placement Rate
This is the percent of graduate survey respondents who reported being employed or continued their education on a full-time basis.
Employed Full Time Within Major
Percentage of graduates who reported being employed full-time within their field of study.
Annual Median Starting Salary
This number is based on the graduate survey response to the request to identify a starting salary from a range of options. This graph shows the median first-year annual salary. All calculations are based on the respondent’s self-reported first-year annual income.
Reported Hourly Rate
This number is determined by dividing the reported median salary by the number of hours in a traditional full-time work week (40), then the number of weeks in a year (52).
Our graduates work with the industry’s best
Soar Agreements
This program enables students to apply certain credits earned in high school to the credits needed for a degree or certificate through Thaddeus Stevens College. The Graphic Communications & Printing Technology degree qualifies for this program – see our SOAR program page for details!