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Design Communication Arts Certificate: Courses with Prerequisites

  • Updated

The Design Communication Arts certificate program consists of courses which progressively build technical skills and design knowledge, and therefore, it is highly recommended to follow the sequence found on the certificate planner on the website or on the Help Center article titled: “Design Communication Arts Certificate: Course Sequencing.”

The courses listed below have recommended or required prerequisites. Prerequisites can also be found in the “About This Course” section on the individual course pages.

  • DESMA X 481.99Z InDesign: Recommended prerequisite: Familiarity with Photoshop. It is suggested that you take DESMA X 481.11 Photoshop I if you have no prior experience with Photoshop.
  • DESMA X 479.6E Design II: Collateral Communication: Required prerequisite: DESMA X 479.6A Design Fundamentals, DESMA X 481.99Z InDesign and DESMA X 479.4A Typography; or equivalent experience.
  • DESMA X 479.2D Design III: Branding: Required prerequisite: DESMA X 479.6A Design Fundamentals; DESMA X 479.4A Typography; proficiency with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
  • DESMA X 479.3D Design History and Context: Required prerequisite: DESMA X 479.6A Design Fundamentals, DESMA X 481.99Z InDesign and DESMA X 479.4A Typography.
  • DESMA X 479.6P Design IV: Capstone: Required prerequisite: All core design courses or departmental approval (including the Design Toolkit courses and Core Design Concept courses).

If you have equivalent experience, up to three required courses may be substituted with advanced electives, subject to department approval. Courses cannot be waived. 

Please note that the department does not review transcripts or portfolio work to determine eligibility for a course substitution. As a first step, please contact advising@uclaextension.edu and provide a brief description of your relevant experience, along with the courses you would like to substitute. The department will then determine whether a substitution may be appropriate.