Advance Your Career in Communication Design—Flexible, Online, and Career-Focused
Program Start Dates: Fall, Spring, or Summer
Application Deadlines: June 15, November 1, or April 15
Program Length: 1-3 Years (Part-time)
Location: 100% Online
Gain hands-on experience in visual design, UX/UI, branding, and more with our fully online, part-time program. Designed for working professionals, this program offers flexible learning with evening classes and occasional Saturdays.
Abigail Parker, ’23 Certificate, Communication Design
Zuzana Licko Exhibit Wall, Design mock-up, 2023
Alicia Mason-Guild, ’21 Certificate, Communication Design
Cambridge Science Festival, Web Design, 2021
Liz Higgins, ’21 Certificate, Communication Design
Design101 Project, Design, 2021
What You’ll Learn
Build expertise in app and web design, branding, UX/UI, packaging, and more. Our program is designed for working professionals with weekly evening classes and occasional Saturdays, offering the flexibility to balance learning with your busy life.
Courses include real-world projects like designing for events, publications, and interactive platforms, helping you develop a robust portfolio.
Flexible Learning Pathways
The program offers three stackable certificates, each advancing your skills:
- Level 1: Foundation in graphic design and typography.
- Level 2: Advanced skills in branding, UX/UI, and portfolio building
- Level 3: Master complex design systems and launch your design career
Career-Ready Graduates
Whether you’re a new designer or advancing your current skills, our program will equip you to pursue roles as a graphic designer, UX/UI designer, or brand strategist. You’ll graduate with a strong portfolio and the creative problem-solving skills sought by employers.
There are three stackable Communication Design Certificates.
LEVEL 1 Provides a solid grounding in design and typography skills that can be applied in a variety of design-related jobs and endeavors. Level 1 can be completed as a stand-alone certificate or as a foundation for Level 2.
LEVEL 2 Pushes students to advance their skills in brand design, gain UX/UI design skills, and build a portfolio suitable for obtaining a paid internship or junior designer position.
LEVEL 3 Challenges students to conceive of and design complex design systems at a highly creative and sophisticated level. Students graduate with skills and a portfolio suitable for launching a career as a professional designer.
| Level 1 | Semesters offered |
| Foundations of GD (3 cr) | Fall, Spring (may also be offered Summer) |
| Typography (3 cr) | Fall, Summer (may also be offered Spring) |
| Graphic Design 1 (2 cr) | Fall, Wintersession |
| Intermediate Typography (3 cr) | Spring |
| Level 2 | Semesters offered |
| UX Design (3 cr) | Spring (may also be offered Summer) |
| Graphic Design 2 (3 cr) | Summer |
| Print Production Workshop (NC) | Fall (may also be offered Spring) |
| Intermediate Portfolio (4 cr) | Fall |
| Level 3 | Semesters offered |
| Graphic Design 3 (4 cr) | Spring |
| Advanced Interactive Projects (4 cr) | Summer |
| Final Portfolio (4 cr) | Fall |
Our program offers three start dates throughout the year to fit your schedule.
- Fall Start: Apply between February 1 and June 15 for a September start.
- Spring Start: Apply between September 1 and November 1 for a January start.
- Summer Start: Apply between February 1 and April 15 for a May start.
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis during each cycle.
Schedule SCENARIO A – FALL START
| Year | Semester | Course Name(s) | Level | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall | Foundations of Graphic Design | 1 | start Level 1 |
| 1 | Fall | Typography | 1 | |
| 1 | Winter | Graphic Design 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | Spring | Intermediate Typography | 1 | complete Level 1 |
| 1 | Spring | UX Design | 2 | start Level 2 |
| 1 | Summer | Graphic Design 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Intermediate Portfolio | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Print Production Workshop | 2 | complete Level 2 |
| 2 | Winter | Information Design | 3 | start Level 3 |
| 2 | Spring | Graphic Design 3 | 3 | |
| 2 | Summer | Advanced Interactive Projects | 3 | |
| 3 | Fall | Final Portfolio | 3 | complete Level 3 |
SCENARIO B – SPRING START
| Year | Semester | Course Name(s) | Level | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring | Foundations of Graphic Design | 1 | start Level 1 |
| 1 | Spring or Summer | Typography | 1 | |
| 1 | Fall | Graphic Design 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | Spring | Intermediate Typography | 1 | complete Level 1 |
| 2 | Spring | UX Design | 2 | start Level 2 |
| 2 | Summer | Graphic Design 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Intermediate Portfolio | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Print Production Workshop | 2 | complete Level 2 |
| 3 | Winter | Information Design | 3 | start Level 3 |
| 3 | Spring | Graphic Design 3 | 3 | |
| 3 | Summer | Advanced Interactive Projects | 3 | |
| 3 | Fall | Final Portfolio | 3 | complete Level 3 |
SCENARIO C – SUMMER START
| Year | Semester | Course Name(s) | Level | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summer | Foundations of Graphic Design | 1 | start Level 1 |
| (or Typography) | 1 | |||
| 1 | Fall | Typography | 1 | |
| (or Foundations of Graphic Design) | 1 | |||
| 1 | Winter | Graphic Design 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | Spring | Intermediate Typography | 1 | complete Level 1 |
| 1 | Spring | UX Design | 2 | start Level 2 |
| 2 | Summer | Graphic Design 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Intermediate Portfolio | 2 | |
| 2 | Fall | Print Production Workshop | 2 | complete Level 2 |
| 2 | Winter | Information Design | 3 | start Level 3 |
| 2 | Spring | Graphic Design 3 | 3 | |
| 3 | Summer | Advanced Interactive Projects | 3 | |
| 3 | Fall | Final Portfolio | 3 | complete Level 3 |
The following outcomes represent completion of Level 3; completion of Levels 1 and 2 represent significant progress towards these outcomes.
- Design complex visual communications systems including consumer brands, print and digital publications, promotional and information campaigns, websites, apps, packaging and signage.
- Develop and apply original, engaging design concepts that effectively communicate an intended idea and/or message to a defined audience
- Apply visual design skills (including composition, color, and type/image integration), information design skills, professional typesetting techniques, and creative typography to a variety of communication design projects
- Apply principles and processes of UX and UI design to the planning and design of interactive experiences for desktop, mobile, and other screen-based media
- Identify a community problem or need and research, develop, and design an effective solution.
- Employ skills in collaboration by effectively providing critical feedback to others and integrating feedback from various sources into one’s own designs.
- Practice professional design process including research, idea generation, design iteration, presentation, incorporation of feedback, technical execution, and craft to a variety of communication design projects.
- Utilize industry-standard design software and art media in creating designs, mock-ups, and prototypes.
- Create an entry-level portfolio suitable for job search in professional Communication Design, UX Design and Graphic Design
Program Costs & Enrollment
Program Costs
LEVEL 1: $6370 (4 Courses, 11 credits)
LEVEL 2: $5,930 (4 Courses, 10 credits)
LEVEL 3: $6,615 (5 Courses, 12 credits)
Because of the format of the Communication Design Certificate, students in this program are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Program Start Dates: Fall, Spring, or Summer
Application Deadlines: June 15, November 1, or April 15
Application Requirements:
- $35 Application Fee
- Statement of Purpose
- Official Transcripts
If you believe you are qualified to be admitted directly to Level 2 or Level 3, please contact the Program Director, Alisa Aronson at alisa.aronson@massart.edu to determine appropriate placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students need to have basic drawing skills (from direct observation in three dimensions), and a working knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
All program placements and pre-program transfer credit approvals are determined from the applicant’s communication design portfolio. Students who submit design work that demonstrates equivalent skill to a course(s), may be eligible to receive credits in place of the course(s), or to begin the program at Level 2 or 3.
Two of the required program courses (6 credits) may be taken before applying. To be eligible for pre-program transfer credit, the course(s) must be taken in the correct sequence, and have a final grade of B+ or better.
MassArt’s Communication Design Certificate is a rigorous program that requires commitment and independent work outside of class.
Level 1 has 10-12 hours of weekly homework assignments. Levels 2 and 3 have 15-18 hours of weekly homework assignments.
The required courses for each level are listed above under Program Courses by Level. To receive the Level 1 Certificate you need to achieve the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA (note: MassArt does not calculate GPAs) based on your final grades in the four Level 1 courses. To achieve a Level 2 or Level 3 Certificate, you must complete the courses required for that level and pass a culminating Portfolio Review for that level, following completion of coursework.
To automatically advance from Level 1 to Level 2, you must complete the four Level 1 courses with a final course grade of B+ or higher in each Level 1 course. Students who don’t meet this benchmark and wish to advance to Level 2 may be required to do remedial coursework to advance, and/or may advance with permission of the Program Director. To advance from Level 2 to Level 3, students must complete all required Level 2 coursework and receive a “Pass” at their culminating Level 2 Portfolio Review. Students who do not pass Level 2 review and wish to advance to Level 3 are required to do remedial coursework and must then receive a “Pass” at a second Level 2 Portfolio Review.
Please write to ce@massart.edu if you have more questions.
