Overview

This course is a practical introduction to the core features and concepts within Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign (also referred to as the core three Creative Cloud (CC) applications). Each software program will be broken into two modules (beginner and intermediate features). Students will be tested on their ability to demonstrate how each of these features works or what the concepts mean.  

Requirements

Prerequisites

You must be an Art Major, Web Design & Development Major, or an Art Cluster major to take this class. Otherwise, you are required to get instructor permission. If you have been added to this course and are not one of these majors, please note that we are attempting to prepare art majors for a career in art, and as such, you may not be our target audience. Along those same lines, if you have much experience with the Adobe products, this class is probably not for you as it is an introductory class.

Required Resources

There is no textbook required for this course.

To complete this course, you will need the following:

1. 1. A computer or a laptop
      • Minimum recommended specs:
        • 2.0+ GHz processor
          • Intel i5 processor or better
          • AMD Ryzen 5 or better
        • 8 GB Ram
      • NOTE: Chromebooks are generally not powerful enough to run InDesign and are therefore unsuited for this class.
      • NOTE: Surface Pros are not recommended for this course.
   2. Adobe Products (Free from BYUI):
      • Illustrator 
      • Photoshop 
      • InDesign 
   3. LinkedIn Learning access (Free from BYUI):

Structure

Course Outcomes (CO)

1. Learn the basics of the 2D computer programs.
2. Demonstrate basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop through basic assignments.
3. Demonstrate basic knowledge of illustrator through basic assignments.
4. Gain an understanding of computer hardware.
5. Gain an understanding of creating art using the computer and programs.

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes (CO).

Major Assignments

Major Assignment	Description	CO#
Weekly Projects	Weekly projects that help you apply specific skills for either Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop	1,2,3,4,5
Midterm Project	Demonstrate specific skills for either Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop	1,2,3,4,5
Final Project	Demonstrate specific skills for either Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop	1,2,3,4,5

Weekly Patterns

The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions. 

Weekly Patterns

Due Date*	Learning Model	Activity Title	Description
Midweek	Prepare	Overview	A brief overview of the Adobe CC skills covered that week.
Midweek	Teach One Another	Support Forum	A support form for Adobe CC.
End of Week	Prepare	Activity	An activity basic on that week's skills.
End of Week	Prove	Quiz	A quiz to demonstrate your understanding of Adobe CC products.

*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Learning Model

In this course, you will have overviews and activities that will prepare you for the end of the week projects. You will get to interact with classmates and your instructor on the weekly support forum to ask and answer questions.

Expectations

Feedback

You can expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the due date for all assignments.

Workload

Plan on dedicating 9–12 hours per week to complete each week's work.

Resubmitting Work (Repentance)

If you are unsatisfied with the grade you received on a weekly activity or project (that was turned in on time), you may redo the project as often as you like prior to the last two weeks of class and receive a new grade. 

Quizzes, discussion boards, midterms, and tests may not be redone for a better grade.

Late Work

Projects and assignments that are not handed in on time will receive a five-point deduction in the score for each day that they are late with a maximum deduction of 20 points per assignment. Late projects or assignments will not be allowed to be redone for a better grade.

Quizzes and tests cannot be redone for a better grade.

Extra Credit

No extra should be given. See the information under "Resubmitting Work."

Grading Scale

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percent
A	100%–93%
A-	92%–90%
B+	89%–87%
B	86%–83%
B-	82%–80%
C+	79%–77%
C	76%–73%
C-	72%–70%
D+	69%–67%
D	66%–63%
D-	62%–60%
F	59% and lower

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Accessibility Services Office at 1-208-496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Accessibility Services Office.

This course requires students to use Adobe Creative Suite. If you have a disability that prevents you from accessing this software, please contact Accessibility Services.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Accessibility Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at 1-208-496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.