Graphic Design Course Online GRA 205 – Fundamentals of Design
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Not only is a single course low-commitment, but it’s a fast way to gain skills and college credits and explore what it’s like to take courses at SNHU.
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Course credits may be transferred to a degree program at SNHU or another university, depending on your university’s transfer policy.
GRA-205 – Fundamentals of Design Online Graphic Design Class Built for Your Success
Graphic design is a field that is attractive to many people who are interested in communications, art and technology. To be a graphic designer you'll need design skills, interpersonal skills and computer skills. A good way to start could be Southern New Hampshire University's GRA-205 Fundamentals of Graphic Design course.
This course is included in our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design and Media Arts program. So while it can be taken as a standalone course, its credits can also be applied toward the full degree if you choose to continue.
Skills you'll learn:
- How to convey your message with visual communications
- Interpreting the use of color and typography
- Application of color theory
- Using variations of lines, shapes, space and texture
- How to design a call-to-action poster
- Creating a client presentation document
Deliver high-impact design
Students must have a solid understanding of how the elements and principles work together to create effective visual communication to be successful in the creation of all forms of visual design moving forward in the program and the field.
Sloan Kelly, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts
Career-focused curriculum
GRA-205 Fundamentals of Design is an 8-week course divided into a series of modules and projects that provide a chance to build hands-on skills. You'll examine the basic principles of design and how they are used to create visual communications, with an emphasis on typography and color, and you will learn the foundational knowledge needed for hands-on application and design.
The course uses Adobe Illustrator and students who enroll in the course should be familiar with the Adobe software suite.
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Upcoming term starts: June 30, 2025 | September 1, 2025
Next class starts:
May 5, 2025
College that fits your life
With no set class times and 24/7 access to the online classroom, you can learn on your schedule. Learn more about what it's like to take a class at SNHU.
What does an online course look like?
You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:
- Schedule of weekly assignments
- Discussion boards
- Grades
- Instructor announcements
What support services are available?
- Drop in for tutoring
Work with a tutor, any time of the day or night – no appointment necessary. - Learn from industry professionals
Instructors lead discussions and offer guidance – and they’re just an email away. - Use the online library
Access 600,000+ resources or chat with a librarian 24/7. - Reach out for accessibility help
Receive accommodations as an eligible student with disabilities. - Focus on your well-being
Connect with professionals to improve your health and wellness.
It's easy to get started
Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your education. That’s why we make signing up for individual courses simple.
- Get started by talking to an admission counselor
- Take up to 10 courses without enrolling in a degree program
- High school diploma or GED not required*
*If you are currently a high school student who hasn't graduated yet, you can still take individual courses at SNHU. Please reach out to an admission counselor for documents and forms that may be required.
If you choose to enroll in a degree program in the future, we’re here to help with additional forms, transcripts and other materials that may be necessary. For degree programs, acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.
Why SNHU?
At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 400,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.
Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- U.S. News & World Report
Named SNHU the 2024 Most Innovative University in the North - The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Awarded SNHU the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology - Google.org
Gave SNHU a $1 million grant to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 180,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
PC (Windows OS) Technical Requirements
| Component Type | PC (Windows OS) |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB or higher |
| Hard Drive | 100GB or higher |
| Antivirus Software | Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
| SNHU Purchase Programs | Visit Dell |
| Internet/ Bandwidth | 5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100ms Latency |
Apple (Mac OS) Technical Requirements
| Component Type | Apple (Mac OS) |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Currently supported operating system from Apple. |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB or higher |
| Hard Drive | 100GB or higher |
| Antivirus Software | Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
| SNHU Purchase Programs | Visit Apple |
| Internet/ Bandwidth | 5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100ms Latency |
Additional Information:
- Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.
- Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.
- Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government.
- Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.
Students who have not used Adobe software should not take this course. The course uses Adobe Illustrator which can be difficult to learn for the first time.
Students are required to purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. Note: Creative Cloud licenses are available at an educational discount directly through Adobe. Adobe’s terms and conditions require a full-year contract for Creative Cloud.
What SNHU students are saying
My advisor was holding my hand all the whole way through. He was there. He supported me with getting me the classes and making sure I followed the path.
Jesús Suárez '21
What's next See where a single course can take you
Catch Up or Get Ahead
Online courses can help lighten the course load required by your degree program at SNHU or another university.
Transfer Your Credits
Credits you earn can transfer to SNHU degree programs, or to another university, depending on their transfer policy.
Upskill for Career Moves
For moving up the ladder or changing fields entirely, new skills can help make you more marketable.
Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu
Accreditations
SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online courses are among the lowest in the nation.
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
Please note: Books and materials are not included in the above costs. Federal Financial Aid is not available, but you can use employer tuition benefits or tuition reimbursement if available to you. Contact your employer benefits manager to see if you have funds available, or talk to our admission team to learn about payment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. The online bachelor's in graphic design and media arts is one of more than 200 degrees that SNHU offers entirely online. We've been leaders in online education since we began offering online courses in 1995. That's more than 25 years that we've been working on the best way to deliver affordable, flexible options for online learners.
If what you're looking for is to develop specific skills you need in the workplace or for your own personal projects, or want to dip your toe into online learning to see if it works for you, online graphic design courses might be the perfect choice.
Online courses like GRA-205 Fundamentals of Design are built to present specific, industry-relevant skills so students will gain competencies critical to a role in graphic design. In online courses, you can learn the foundational knowledge needed to succeed beyond the classroom.
You can start out learning graphic design by exploring common software programs and practicing on your own. But if you want to pursue graphic design in a more serious way, especially a graphic design career, you'll want to consider establishing a strong understanding of the theory and science – as well as the art – behind design principles. One way to do that is to pursue a degree like an online bachelor's program.
A degree program can help you develop the skills you need to use graphic design to inspire and capture the attention of your audience, and you'll build a portfolio of work across a variety of storytelling platforms like print, digital and video.
In general, no, graphic design doesn't require coding or special knowledge of programming languages. With that being said, graphic design-related skills are important in fields like web design and user experience design. In fact, both are concentrations available in SNHU's bachelor's in graphic design program.
The web design concentration supplements foundational graphic arts knowledge with digital-focused courses to expand your skills into areas like social media, integrated digital campaigns and more. The user experience concentration introduces design considerations like usability and accessibility. You'll explore the collaborative process that includes internal and external stakeholders in a user experience design process using wireframes, digital maps and prototypes to create user-centric design products.
How long it takes to learn basic graphic design depends somewhat on what your goals are. If you want to spice up the flyers you're making for your neighborhood yard sale, an online tutorial or two might suffice. But if you're interested in a strong and broad foundation of the theory behind basic graphic design, a bachelor's degree program might be of interest.
SNHU's online bachelor's in graphic design program is a 120-credit program that, in general, would take most full-time students 4 years to complete. But that doesn't take into account several ways you can shorten that timeframe, especially with any transfer credits you can apply to the degree. SNHU accepts up to 90 transfer credits towards a bachelor's degree, reducing your timeline – and cost – by as much as 75%.
A course like SNHU's GRA-200 Digital Design Tools could be a good place to start for beginners. The course introduces vital software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign and how to use each for various design mediums. The course covers basic designs as well as revisions and refinements, file formatting for high- and low-resolution graphics and the foundational knowledge you'll need for hands-on application and design projects.