Oct 18, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Calendar

HELP

2024-2025 Academic Calendar [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication Design Diploma

Connect with an audience by creating visual solutions to communication goals. Explore principles of communication design and critical skills in web programming. Pursue careers in communication and graphic design, front-end web design and development, user experience design and more.

Admission Requirements

C in English 12 or equivalent or successful English assessment

Effective September 2025, Admission Requirements to the Design and Development Stream will increase to also include:

C+ in Math 10 or equivalent or successful Math assessment

Upgrade with us

Course Requirements

Design and Development Stream - Year 1

DGL - 101 Digital Culture
DGL - 102 Graphic Design Foundations
DGL - 103 HTML and CSS
DGL - 105 Digital Graphics
DGL - 111 User Experience and Interface Design
DGL - 112 Typography
DGL - 113 Introduction to Javascript
One of the following:
BUS - 152 Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management or
BUS - 162 Principles of Marketing
One of the following:
ENG - 104 Foundations of Academic Writing
ENG - 107 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction & Non-Fiction
ENG - 108 Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry & Drama
ENG - 115 Essay Writing and Critical Analysis
ENG - 116 Essay Writing & Indigenous Perspectives
ENG - 117 Academic Writing
ENG - 122 Reading Literature
ENG - 127 Indigenous Literatures in Canada
ENG - 160 Effective Organizational Writing
ENG - 170 Writing Digital Content
*Students intending to complete the Bachelor of Design program at VIU under our block transfer agreement must take either ENG 104 , ENG 115 , ENG 116 , or ENG 117 to meet the ENGL 115 requirement at VIU. ENG 170 is recommended for students intending to enter the industry immediately after graduation.
Plus one elective from Business (BUS), DIGITAL Design + Development (DGL), or Fine Arts (FIN).

Year 2

DGL - 123 Introduction to PHP
DGL - 202 Graphic Design and Branding
DGL - 203 Advanced CSS
DGL - 209 Capstone Project
DGL - 211 Project Management for Digital Product Development
DGL - 221 Introduction to Social Media
DGL - 222 Advanced Topics in Design
DGL - 223 WordPress Development
DGL - 233 Advanced WordPress Development
Plus one elective from Business (BUS), DIGITAL Design + Development (DGL), English (ENG), or Fine Arts (FIN).

* Students intending to complete the Bachelor of Design program at VIU under our block transfer agreement must take ENG 160 to meet the ENGL 204 requirement at VIU.

Recommended electives: BUS 368 , DGL 213 , FIN 200 , FIN 201 , FIN 217 , or FIN 247 .

Design and Media Stream - Year 1

DGL - 101 Digital Culture
DGL - 102 Graphic Design Foundations
DGL - 103 HTML and CSS
DGL - 105 Digital Graphics
DGL - 111 User Experience and Interface Design
DGL - 112 Typography
FIN - 247 Introduction to Digital Photography
One of the following:
BUS - 152 Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management or
BUS - 162 Principles of Marketing
One of the following:
ENG - 104 Foundations of Academic Writing
ENG - 107 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction & Non-Fiction
ENG - 108 Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry & Drama
ENG - 115 Essay Writing and Critical Analysis
ENG - 116 Essay Writing & Indigenous Perspectives
ENG - 117 Academic Writing
ENG - 122 Reading Literature
ENG - 127 Indigenous Literatures in Canada
ENG - 160 Effective Organizational Writing
ENG - 170 Writing Digital Content
* Students intending to complete the Bachelor of Design program at VIU under our block transfer agreement must take either ENG 104 , ENG 115 , ENG 116 , or ENG 117 to meet the ENGL 115 requirement at VIU. ENG 170 is recommended for students intending to enter the industry immediately after graduation.

Plus one elective from Business (BUS), DIGITAL Design + Development (DGL), or Fine Arts (FIN).

Year 2

DGL - 202 Graphic Design and Branding
DGL - 203 Advanced CSS
DGL - 209 Capstone Project
DGL - 211 Project Management for Digital Product Development
DGL - 221 Introduction to Social Media
DGL - 222 Advanced Topics in Design
DGL - 223 WordPress Development
FIN - 200 Video + Sound 1
FIN - 201 Video + Sound 2
Plus one elective from Business (BUS), DIGITAL Design + Development (DGL), English (ENG), or Fine Arts (FIN).

* Students intending to complete the Bachelor of Design program at VIU under our block transfer agreement must take ENG 160 to meet the ENGL 204 requirement at VIU.

Completion Requirements

This program is designed to be completed within two years of full-time study. To complete this program students must successfully complete all required courses within five years.