Graphic Communications, BS

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications prepares students for professional careers in printing, publishing, packaging, and related industries. The core curriculum assures graduates of having the skills and knowledge required by most entry-level jobs. The major requirements allow each student to select courses that enhance career preparation in specific segments of graphic communications. Coursework is heavily oriented around individual laboratory performance, which stresses the development of problem-solving skills in a broad cross-section of manufacturing areas. Applications include all major processes and a variety of industry segments, including commercial printing, publishing, package production, specialty printing, and industrial applications of printing technology beyond communications. The most common career opportunities are in printing management, production planning and supervision, and commercial and technical sales.

The Graphic Communications program is designed to be completed in four years (eight semesters and one or two summers). While students must take one internship during a fall or spring semester, one or two summers are typically used to make up for that semester. The department schedules courses in summers for that purpose. Taking a reduced load per term or other circumstances could extend the time needed to meet graduation requirements.

Policy on Advancement in Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications majors must earn a C or better in prerequisite GC courses before enrolling in the next level GC course. Registration priority is given to those students for whom the course is a requirement.

Change of Major into Graphic Communications

Students who change majors into Graphic Communications must have completed at least 12 credit hours at Clemson, must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average, and must have earned a B or better in GC 1020 .

Total Semester Hours: 122

¹ Must include four credit hours in chemistry (CH 1010  or CH 1050 ) and four credit hours in physics (PHYS 1220 /PHYS 1240  or PHYS 2070 /PHYS 2090 ).

² Must be approved prior to registration. A total of 18 credits selected from any BIOL, CH or PHYS courses that satisfy the General Education Mathematics or Natural Science Requirement, the Natural Science with Laboratory Requirement, or the Science and Technology in Society Requirement, or AGRB 3510 , ART 1030 , ART 2110 , ART 2130 , ART 2150 , ART 3110 , ART 3130 , ART 3150 , ART 4110 , ART 4130 , ART 4150 , AS 1090 , AS 1100 , ASL 1010 , ASL 1020 , CHIN 1010 , CHIN 1020 , COMM 3030 , COMM 3050 , COMM 3220 , COMM 3300 , COMM 3480 , COMM 3500 , COMM 3610 , COMM 3640 , CPSC 2200 , CPSC 2310 , CPSC 4620 , DPA 3070 , DPA 4000 , DPA 4010 , DPA 4020 , DPA 4030 , ECON 2120 , ECON 3010 , ECON 3020 , ECON 3060 , ECON 3070 , ECON 3090 , ECON 3100 , ECON 3140 , ECON 3190 , ECON 3210 , ECON 4020 , ELE 3010 , ELE 3210 , ELE 3560 , ELE 4010 , ELE 4020 , ELE 4990 , ENGL 4900 , ENGL 4950 , ENGR 1410 , ENGR 2080 , ENGR 2090 , ENSP 4000 , ENSP 4720 , FIN 3010 , FIN 3060 , FR 1010 , FR 1020 , GC 1990 , GC 2400 , GC 2990 , GC 3700 , GC 3710 , GC 3720 , GC 3730 , GC 3740 , GC 3750 , GC 3760 , GC 3990 , GC 4070 , GC 4450 , GC 4510 , GC 4550 , GC 4900 , GC 4990 , GER 1010 , GER 1020 , IE 2100 , IE 3840 , IE 3860 , IE 4600 , IE 4620 , IE 4870 , ITAL 1010 , ITAL 1020 , JAPN 1010 , JAPN 1020 , LAW 3220 , LAW 4200 , any LS course, MATH 2060 , MATH 2070 , MGT 3060 , MGT 3070 , MGT 3100 , MGT 3120 , MGT 3170 , MGT 3180 , MGT 3900 , MGT 4000 , MGT 4020 , MGT 4040 , MGT 4080 , MGT 4110 , MGT 4120 , MGT 4150 , MGT 4160 , MGT 4220 , MGT 4230 , MGT 4240 , MGT 4270 , MGT 4310 , MGT 4350 , MGT 4550 , MGT 4560 , MKT 3020 , MKT 3140 , MKT 3210 , MKT 3310 , MKT 4200 , MKT 4230 , MKT 4240 , MKT 4250 , MKT 4260 , MKT 4270 , MKT 4280 , MKT 4290 , MKT 4300 , MKT 4310 , MKT 4330 , MKT 4340 , MKT 4430 , MKT 4500 , ML 1010 , ML 1020 , MSE 2100 , PHIL 3440 , PKSC 2020 , PKSC 2040 , PKSC 2060 , PKSC 3200 , PKSC 3680 , PKSC 4220 , PKSC 4300 , PKSC 4540 , PRTM 4450 , PSYC 3300 , PSYC 3680 , PSYC 3690 , RUSS 1010 , RUSS 1020 , SOC 2010 , SOC 3300 , SOC 4300 , SPAN 1010 , SPAN 1020 , SPAN 1040 , STAT 3300  or STAT 4110 . NOTE: A maximum of four credits of BIOL, CH and PHYS courses, a maximum of one credit of LS courses, a maximum of six credits of ECON courses, a maximum of three credits of PSYC courses, and only one of ENSP 4000  or ENSP 4720  may be used to satisfy this requirement. For a language course to count toward the fullfillment of a major requirement, the student must complete a two-semester sequence.

³ Select any ENGL course from General Education Arts and Humanities (Literature) Requirement.

⁴ One internship must be in a fall or spring semester (summer -at least 12 weeks; fall/spring-at least 15 weeks). GC 4550  will not substitute for GC 4500 .

⁵ See General Education Requirements . This course or three elective credit hours must also satisfy the Cross-Cultural Awareness Requirement.

⁶ Select from GC 1990 , GC 2400 , GC 2990 , GC 3990 , GC 4070 , GC 4450 , GC 4510 , GC 4900 , GC 4990