Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
Click here for a PDF of the complete course syllabus
Course Prerequisites
This course is intended as an introductory survey and does not assume any prior knowledge of design or how to use the design software.
Course Materials
- ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD SUBSCRIPTION: To successfully complete this course, you will need access to three programs within the Adobe Creative Cloud—Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. You have two options to access this software:
- If you are in Norman over the summer, you can access these programs for free in the Creative Lab on the second floor of Gaylord Hall (summer hours tbd). First, you will login to the computers in the lab using your OU email address and password, and then you will login a second time when you launch Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign.
- If you are not in Norman over the summer, then you will need access to a personal computer desktop or laptop AND you will need to purchase a personal subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud. There is a student rate of $19.99/month, or $358.99/year, but this will grant you access to all Adobe Creative Cloud applications, not just the three we use in this course. Please note that if you choose to go this route with the plan to cancel after the first month or so, there will be a termination fee that equals half of your remaining months in the subscription. Personally, I believe if you really want to become technically proficient with these applications, then you'll want to keep the subscription so you can practice using the software on your own—at least for a few more months beyond the term of our course. More info and subscribe here: Adobe Creative Cloud Students & Teachers
- NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: Good news: I don't require any textbooks for this course! But if you want to learn more about the principles of design and utilizing typography and grid systems to your advantage, then I recommend the following. You should be able to access them here: https://ou.textbookx.com/
- Making and Breaking the Grid by Timothy Samara
- The Advertising Concept Book 3rd Edition by Pete Barry
- Thinking with Type and Type on Screen by Ellen Lupton
Grades
Breakdown
| Project Name | Points |
|---|---|
|
P0 Principles of Layout Research |
5 |
|
P1 Classical Music Fine Art Posters |
5 |
|
P2 Monograms |
10 |
|
P3 House Drawings |
10 |
|
P4 Custom Icons |
10 |
|
P5 Modern Music Album Artwork |
10 |
|
P6 Movie Logo and Poster Design |
10 |
|
P7 Image-driven Print Media Ads |
15 |
|
P8 Photoshop Mockups |
5 |
|
P9 Business Cards |
5 |
|
P10 Menu Design |
10 |
|
P11 Easy Video Presentations |
5 |
| Total | 100 |
Scale
This course is out of 100 points. It should be noted that there is a distinction between a points-based system and a percentage-based system. In a points-based system, percentages do not exist. Thus, rounding up is not an option.
A: 90 – 100 points
B: 80 – 89 points
C: 70 – 79 points
D: 60 – 69 points
F: 0 – 59 points
Core Values and Competencies (CVCs)
The OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication complies with the national Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accrediting standards designed to help prepare students to be ethically-responsible citizens in a globally diverse world. Of the 12 professional values and competencies that are required by ACEJMC for graduating students, we will focus on the following CVCs in this course:
-
Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information. (CVC 5)
-
Think critically, creatively and independently. (CVC 7)
-
Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work. (CVC 8)
-
Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness. (CVC 10)
-
Apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world. (CVC 12)
Course Policies
Communication
Students are welcome to contact me via Canvas Inbox or email. While I am usually quick to respond to all messages, please allow me 24 hours during week days to respond. If you message on a weekend, please do not expect to not receive a response until Monday morning.
Late Policy
Late work is permitted for partial credit. For every day that a non-exam assignment is late, 25% will be automatically deducted from your highest possible grade. For example, if you make a 100% on a chapter quiz, but you completed two days past the original due date, Canvas will show your score as a 50%.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|