Instructor-Led Graphic Design Certificate Programs
Professional Certificate in Graphic Design
Expand your creative, technical, and design skills
Program Overview
In the Sessions College Professional Certificate in Graphic Design program, students learn the software programs that every graphic designer needs to know: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Students discover how to produce digital images, illustrations, and page layouts, addressing concepts of color, typography, and composition. Class assignments involve hands-on photo editing, logo design, poster design, magazine design, and more.
- Train in techniques using today's design software tools Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Learn fundamental concepts in color, typography, and composition.
- Create digital images, illustrations, and layouts.
- Gain design project knowledge, including photo editing, logo design, poster design, magazine layout, more.
Instructor-Led Program
- Project-based courses from industry-leading design and digital media professionals.
- Learn at your own pace—no mandatory logins or preset meeting times.
- Build skills through mentoring and critique from expert instructors.
Program Curriculum
Designed for the busy adult learner, the Professional Online Graphic Design Certificate is a 360-hour program completed in nine months or less studying part time, at your own pace.
Level 1
4218 Photoshop Basics - 60 Hours
Adobe Photoshop is the premiere image manipulation tool for print design, Web design, and photography. You can learn to tame this creative powerhouse of a program in this online Photoshop course. Working with a design pro, you’ll learn the best techniques for common Photoshop jobs including selecting and isolating objects, creating image composites, masking and vignetting images, setting typography, and improving images with retouching and effects. Photoshop Basics course syllabus
4226: Illustrator Basics - 60 Hours
Adobe Illustrator is a powerful and versatile tool for creating illustrations, logos, and graphics for print and the web. You can learn to produce detailed and scalable art in this online Illustrator course. Working with an expert instructor, you'll build a strong foundation, exploring shape tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool (a lesson unto itself) as well as transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Hands-on illustration projects include creating a robot, a series of album covers, a marketing postcard, an advertisement vehicle wrap, and a company logo. Illustrator Basics course syllabus
4023: Design Foundations - 60 Hours
Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios. Design Foundations course syllabus
Level 2
4228: InDesign Basics - 60 Hours
Layout designers today need the skills to move seamlessly between print and digital projects. Luckily, Adobe InDesign can handle it all. In this online InDesign course, you’ll explore a host of essential InDesign techniques and focus on developing efficient workflows. The course will impart a working knowledge of InDesign's main capabilities, everything from basic features to using parent pages, importing and manipulating objects, controlling text flow and style, and organizing content with tables, layers, links, and conveyor tools. Projects give you training in a range of real world print/digital publishing projects, from brochures to catalogs, magazines to ePubs, and even an interactive folio for the iPad. InDesign Basics course syllabus
4302: Typography II - 60 Hours
Typography, technology, and culture are intertwined. Type has the power to communicate meaning and mood through its quirks and beauty, its history and diversity. In this advanced online typography course, you'll learn advanced concepts in typography, building your portfolio through hands-on projects. You'll experiment with type fusion, learn the details of text layout and information hierarchy, create a visual identity for product package and a civic authority, and even design your own currency. Typography II course syllabus
4013: Graphic Design I - 60 Hours
Graphic designers today must be ready to tackle a wide range of projects from identity design to editorial design to product and packaging design. In this online graphic design course, you'll establish a firm foundation for professional design work. Gain insights from industry veterans and explore the challenges of designing posters, logos, magazine covers, book layouts, 3D designs, and brand identities. Hone your design process, as you research each project, develop concepts, work with expert instructor feedback, and begin to develop pieces for your portfolio. Graphic Design course syllabus
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Professional Certificate in Graphic Design students develop the following competencies:
Technology
Create images and design layouts by effectively and efficiently using design software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, and other industry technologies.
Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling work by applying knowledge of color, typography, and composition.
Design Process
Develop strategic and compelling designs for a variety of audiences and social contexts.
Projects
Produce and present a range of standard professional graphic design projects including graphics, posters, ads, logos, page layouts, and packaging.
A Better Way to Learn
Online
Study 100% online from anywhere with 24/7 access to classes.
Self-paced
Complete your program on your own time in 9 months or less.
Industry Relevant
Develop in-demand skills for your creative field.
Customizable
Customize your program with added courses and concentrations.
Build Your Own Learning Path
This program is adaptable to a wide range of experience levels. Choose the option(s) below that best meet your learning goals.
Option 1
Specialize
New to the field? Simply complete all required courses in the certificate program.
Option 2
Customize
Already have some industry and/or software experience? Customize up to 50% of your programChoose from courses in Web Design, Software, Motion & Video, and more by choosing alternate courses.
Option 3
PLUS
Need more training? After you've completed your program, add concentrations at reduced tuitionChoose from concentrations in Web Design, Digital Photography, Illustration, and more to enhance your creative skills.
Sessions Student Work
Student Work
Career Outlook for Graphic Designers
Graphic Designers produce creative work for a myriad of industries and design for print, web, and a variety of media including television, film, and live streaming. Graphic Designers need to possess technical expertise, analytical skills, artistic ability, communication skills, creativity, time-management, and well-developed attention to detail.
Job Titles
Graduates could be employed as a Graphic Designer, Brand Identity Designer, Web Designer, UX/UI Designer, Production Artist, Desktop Publisher, or Digital Designer.
Median Annual Wage
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for graphic designers was $58,910 (as of May 2023).
Median annual wages for graphic designers in top industries (in which they work):
| Specialized design services | $62,330 |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | $56,970 |
| Publishing industries | $54,450 |
| Printing and related support activities | $44,500 |
Job Projections
Employment opportunities for graphic designers are projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032.
There are about 22,800 projected openings for graphic designers each year, on average, over the decade.
Based on Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed Job Outlook data.
What Students Say
For me, the best thing about Sessions College is definitely the instructors. They are very helpful and don’t simply grade your work, but also give excellent feedback. Their feedback really pushed me to produce my best work and I believe it really helped me to learn to critique my own work as a designer.
Getting Started
Our Graphic Design Certificate online application process makes getting started easy, fast, and convenient.
What's the Admissions Process?
Open Admissions.
The Professional Certificate is open admissions, with classes starting each month. To apply for the program, simply complete our free, no-obligation application and select your program options. Applicants are expected to have graduated high school.
How Long is the Program?
Nine Month Program.
The program can be completed in nine months studying on a part time schedule. Since you study at your pace, you may complete it sooner! If you need more time to complete, there is a painless extension policy for an additional 6 months of access for students who qualify based on academic progress.
Will the Program Fit My Schedule?
There are no set login times, so you can complete your program at your own pace in our most flexible program. A designated Student Advisor will track your progress from class to class, providing you support and motivation.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
To take this program, you’ll need the following:
- Mac or Windows computer with an Internet connection.
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign Creative Cloud software.
- Your computer must meet software manufacturer requirements.
There are no textbook or course material costs to participate in this online program. Student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud software is available to enrolled students.
What are the Program Costs?
Sessions College programs are flexible and affordable. There are no textbooks required; tuition costs include all digital materials.
| Tuition and Fees | Professional Certificate | Professional Certificate PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,550 | $3,550 |
| Registration Fee | $200 | $200 |
| Total Cost | $2,750 | $3,750 |
Paid in Full Discount: Total cost is $2,700 (regularly $2,750) for Professional Certificate students who pay in full. Total cost for Professional Certificate PLUS students who pay in full is $3,700 (regularly $3,750).
Enrollment in any certificate program requires a $200 registration fee (non-refundable after 5 days of enrollment in the program). All tuition and fees must be paid on time, including those paid by third parties.
Can I Use a Payment Plan?
Most definitely. Affording your education is easier with our Payment Plan.
- Pay for your Professional Certificate with 11 monthly payments of $250, or pay for your Professional Certificate PLUS with 13 monthly payments of $288.
- Once you’ve set up your plan, your payments are automatic.
- Your first payment which includes a $200 Registration Fee.
Accreditations
