Graphic Design Associate’s Degree Program | Platt College
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iStock 518728198

Associate’s Degree Hybrid Program

Graphic
Design



Design your future.

Graphic Design • Hybrid Program

Train as a graphic designer and build creative skills for visual communication across print and digital media.

  • Earn your Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design in as little as 15-months!
  • Portfolio development integrated through applied coursework and projects
  • Convenient Hybrid program delivery, combining online coursework with required on-campus instruction
  • Hands-on, project-based learning using industry software
  • Full-time on-site career services
  • Financial aid is available to qualified students
  • Available at Ontario campus only
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Overview & Accreditation

Platt College’s Graphic Design Hybrid Program helps you build the skills you need to start an exciting new career.

Graphic Designers create concepts and content employing typography, illustration, photography, sound and animation.Platt College’s Associate’s Degree Hybrid program in graphic design helps you build the skills you need to start an exciting new career.

Graphic designers typically work freelance or at such places as advertising agencies, publishers, corporate in-house art departments, website development firms, and design studios, package design companies, printing companies, newspapers, magazines, and sign companies.

The Graphic Design curriculum at Platt College is designed to provide our students with the foundational knowledge and skills required to seek employment. The key coursework includes:

GRAPHIC DESIGN FOUNDATION

  • Introduction to Design Concepts
  • Typography
  • Fundamentals of Drawing
  • Figure Drawing
  • Publishing Design and Layout (Adobe InDesign)
  • Digital Illustration (Adobe Illustrator)
  • Photo Manipulation (Adobe Photoshop)

Graduates of the program are awarded an Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design.

This Hybrid Program is taught through a combination of predetermined online and on-ground courses at our Ontario campus for added flexibility

GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY INTO ANY CAREER. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS MAY APPLY DEPENDING ON AN INDIVIDUAL’S PREVIOUS EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE.

Platt College Los Angeles LLC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).  For more information, click HERE

Schedule & Campus Offered

Earn your Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design in as little as 15 months!

This Hybrid Program is taught through a combination of predetermined online and on-ground courses at our Ontario campus for added flexibility

Start times for GD varies, contact us for details HERE

Hybrid Program offered at Ontario Campus.

Financial Aid

Platt College is committed to providing the information and resources necessary to help every student achieve educational success.   Types of financial aid available for qualified students include:

  • Federal Grants, including Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work Study (FWS)
  • California State Grant Programs, including Cal Grants and California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
  • Federal Direct loans
  • Private Loans & Scholarships

To learn more, click HERE

Career Services

Platt College maintains an active career services department to assist graduates as well as current students seeking part-time or full-time jobs while attending school. However, the school cannot guarantee employment.

Students are given the opportunity to pursue job referrals maintained by Career Services.

Our Career Services personnel explain and assist with our student’s job search process. Placement efforts occur through graduation and beyond.

Career Services aims to build the job acquiring skills of our students through interviews and workshops in the following areas:

  • Career planning
  • Resume and cover letter writing
  • Completing applications
  • Researching and contacting potential employers

Our Locations

  • ONT 01

    Platt College Ontario

    3110 East Guasti Road Suite 100 Ontario, CA 91761

    1-888-80-PLATT (1-888-807-5288)

    Platt College Ontario is conveniently located minutes off the 10 freeway on Guasti Road and easily accessible for students across the Inland Empire.

Frequently Asked Questions


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program at Platt College provides structured education in visual communication and graphic design fundamentals through a defined curriculum and delivery format.

Program features:

  • Portfolio development integrated through applied coursework and projects
  • Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design in 15 months
  • Hybrid program delivery, combining online coursework with required on-campus instruction
  • Curriculum focused on design principles, visual communication, and creative problem-solving
  • Structured, cohort-based program with defined course sequencing
  • Instruction aligned with professional design workflows
  • Institutional approvals & student support
  • Institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
  • Approval to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
  • Student support services available throughout enrollment, including academic advising, financial aid guidance, and Career Services

Platt College programs are educational in nature.

Completion of the program does not guarantee employment or specific career outcomes.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program provides instruction in foundational design theory and applied graphic design practices, preparing students to create visual materials across print and digital formats.

Instruction includes:

  • Design principles and visual composition
  • Typography and layout
  • Color theory and visual hierarchy
  • Digital imaging and image editing concepts
  • Illustration and graphic creation techniques
  • Branding and identity fundamentals
  • Print and digital design concepts
  • User-focused visual communication
  • Design project planning and execution
  • Professional design workflows
  • Presentation and critique of design work
  • Portfolio development through coursework
  • Ethical and professional considerations in design

Students complete applied design projects throughout the program, combining creative development with technical execution.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program is designed to be completed in:

  • 15 months (full-time)
  • 1,200 clock hours
  • 91.5 quarter credits

Program length is based on the published full-time program sequence.


Upon successful completion of the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program all academic and institutional requirements, graduates are awarded an:

  • Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design

The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program is offered at the:

  • Ontario Campus

Campus availability and start dates are reviewed during the enrollment process.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program is delivered in a hybrid format.

  • Program courses are taught through a combination of online and on-campus instruction
  • All program courses are predetermined to be either online or on-ground
  • On-campus attendance is required for designated instructional components

Course sequencing and scheduling are determined by the program curriculum and cohort start date.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program:

  • Does not include clinical rotations or externships

Applied learning occurs through:

  • Design coursework
  • Project-based assignments
  • Instructor-guided critiques
  • Portfolio-oriented design projects

The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program provides education applicable to entry-level graphic design and visual communication roles, subject to employer requirements and individual qualifications.

Graduates may pursue opportunities in areas such as:

  • Graphic design support roles
  • Production design
  • Digital content creation
  • Visual communication support functions
  • Employment outcomes vary based on individual qualifications and employer requirements.

This program may be appropriate for individuals who:

  • Are interested in visual communication and graphic design concepts
  • Want structured instruction in design principles and applied projects
  • Prefer a hybrid learning format with required on-campus instruction
  • Are seeking an associate degree focused on creative and design fundamentals
  • Are prepared for a cohort-based academic schedule

Prospective students are encouraged to speak with Admissions prior to enrollment.


In addition to general admissions requirements for the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program, applicants may be required to meet program-specific criteria, which can include:

  • Proof of high school graduation, GED, or equivalent
  • Completion of a personal admissions interview and tour of the campus
  • Completion of enrollment documentation

Program-specific requirements are reviewed during the enrollment process.


Schedule options vary by campus and cohort start date for the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program. Admissions can provide current scheduling information during the enrollment process.


Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program costs include:

  • Tuition
  • Books and supplies

The most current cost information can be found in the Catalog Addendum and will also be reviewed during the enrollment process.


Financial aid is available for the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program to qualified students. Eligibility and available funding options are reviewed during the financial aid portion of the enrollment process.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program is educational in nature.

  • Completion of the program does not grant licensure
  • The program does not guarantee certification eligibility
  • Any third-party certification outcomes are determined by external organizations

The enrollment process for the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program includes:

  • Requesting information and speaking with Admissions
  • Completing a personal admissions interview and tour of the campus
  • Submitting required documentation
  • Reviewing required institutional disclosures
  • Completing enrollment paperwork
  • Beginning the program in the next available cohort (subject to availability)

Transfer credit for eligible coursework may be considered, subject to transcript evaluation and academic approval for the Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program.

Acceptance of transfer credit varies by course content and program requirements.


Yes. Portfolio development is integrated into coursework through applied design projects and assignments.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program curriculum introduces both print and digital design concepts through structured coursework.


The Graphic Design Associate Degree – Hybrid Program is structured to introduce foundational design concepts through a defined academic sequence.

graduates

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Shape Your Future with Platt College

Since our opening in 1985, Platt College has been dedicated to the principle that education is the foundation for personal and professional growth, and that students should have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

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Disclosure

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