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Graphic Communications Management

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Technology (BTech)
Program Website: ryersongcm.ca (external link, opens in new window) 
Administered by: School of Graphic Communications Management
Program Format: Full-time, four-year program.

The printing industries are among the most important and the largest employers in Canada. These industries produce all of the printed materials which play significant roles in our lives from marketing materials, direct mail, packaging, point of purchase displays, books and magazines.

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U English and one Grade 11 U or M or Grade 12 U Mathematics course (one of MCF3M, MCR3U, MHF4U, MCV4U, MDM4U).

Notes: 
  1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
  2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 65-70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
  3. Students are encouraged to take Grade 12 M Principles of Financial Accounting (BAT4M) and/or Communication Technology (TGJ4M).
  4. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

Ryerson’s Bachelor of Technology (Graphic Communications Management) program aims to graduate individuals who will become effective professionals in the printing industries and who will have a foundation upon which they may develop themselves as managers. Naturally, the program cannot produce instant managers or executives. Graduates must gain acceptance and prove capability before winning the opportunity to acquire managerial responsibility.

The program curriculum reflects the opinions of industry managers regarding the educational content required to produce capable, knowledgeable graduates. The program stresses the application of theory to practical problems. Emphasis is placed on business and management subjects, which account for about half of the curriculum. The balance between technology and business management in the program makes graduates versatile and therefore flexible in terms of career development.

In laboratories, students operate equipment similar to that used in the printing industries, learn the fundamental principles underlying industry processes, and acquire practical insight into production problems by completing projects which simulate industry conditions. State-of-the-art equipment and instruments in the labs enable students to investigate materials and processes in detail.

Between third and fourth years students are involved in a mandatory internship, as an employee in industry.

Fourth year features a course involving the preparation of a complete business plan for a new manufacturing business or a thesis.

Liberal Studies

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Fall 2015 and after admits: PHL 214 is not available for credit.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

1st & 2nd Semester

Revised 2017-2018.

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

GCM 110 Introduction to Graphic Communications
GCM 120 Graphic Communications Processes 1
GCM 130 Design and Layout
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

CMN 279 Introduction to Professional Communication
GCM 111 Graphic Communication Technologies
GCM 121 Graphic Communications Processes 2
GMS 200 Introduction to Global Management
SSH 105 Critical Thinking I

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

Last offered Fall 2017. Students admitted Fall 2017 and after, see revised curriculum below.

REQUIRED:

GCM 230 Typography
GCM 240 Material Science for Print
GCM 250 Binding and Finishing
MKT 300 Marketing Metrics and Analysis

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

Revised 3rd Semester curriculum begins Fall 2018 for students admitted Fall 2017 and after. 

REQUIRED:

GCM 230 Typography
GCM 240 Material Science for Print
GCM 250 Binding and Finishing
MKT 300 Marketing Metrics and Analysis

OPEN ELECTIVE: One course from Open Elective Table (opens in new window) .

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

ACC 100 Introductory Financial Accounting
GCM 210 Consumer Packaging
GCM 220 Graphic Communication Processes 3
GCM 260 Digital Premedia Workflows

OPEN ELECTIVE: One course from Open Elective Table.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2017-2018.

An optional Concentration may be selected from Core Elective Table I starting in 5th Semester.

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

GCM 350 Estimating and Selling for Graphic Communications
GCM 360 Colour Management for Graphic Communications
GCM 370 Management Studies
GCM 375 Project Management for Graphic Communications

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Core Elective Table I.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

GCM 320 Digital and Variable Data Printing
GCM 362 Web and Cross Media
GCM 372 Operations and Process Management

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Core Elective Table I.

OPEN or CORE ELECTIVE:
One course from Open Elective Table or Core Elective Table I.

  

Spring/Summer after 6th Semester

Revised curriculum begins Spring/Summer 2018.

REQUIRED:

WKT 608 GCM Internship


WKT 608 is graded on a pass/fail basis.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last Offered 2017-2018 to students admitted before Fall 2015.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

GRA 704 Management of Workflow I
GRA 741 Management Studies III
GRA 743 Managing Advanced Technology I

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table I.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

GRA 804 Management of Workflow II
GRA 841 Management Studies IV
GRA 843 Managing Advanced Technology II

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table I.

Revised 7th & 8th Semester curriculum begins 2018-2019 for students admitted Fall 2015 and after.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

GCM 420 Advanced Print Production Processes
GCM 460 Asset Management for Graphic Communications

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Core Elective Table I.

OPEN or CORE ELECTIVE:
One course from Open Elective Table or Core Elective Table I.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

GCM 461 Workflow Automation

REQUIRED GROUP 1: One of the following:

GCM 470 Business Plan
GCM 490 Thesis

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Core Elective Table I.

OPEN or CORE ELECTIVE:
One course from Open Elective Table or Core Elective Table I.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

A Concentration is a structured plan of study within a program (6 to 12 core or professional electives) that provides an opportunity for advanced or in-depth study in a particular area of interest.

The following optional Concentrations may be selected from Core Elective Table I:

Concentration in Digital Graphic Output

Required (3):

GCM 754 Sign and Display Graphics
GCM 802 eBook Production and Publishing
GCM 854 Advanced Material Science

Plus three (3) of:

GCM 804 Non-traditional Printing Applications
GCM 806 Advanced Typography
GCM 810 Creativity, Clients and Design
GCM 850 Directed Studies I: Issues and Trends
GCM 852 Directed Studies II: Issues and Trends
GCM 858 Advanced Workflows
GCM 860 Advanced Variable Data Printing

Concentration in Leadership

Required (3):

ACC 406 Introductory Management Accounting
ENT 601 Identifying Opportunities
FIN 300 Managerial Finance I

Plus three (3) of:

FIN 401 Managerial Finance II
FIN 510 Small Business Finance
GCM 746 Sustainability in Print and Packaging
GCM 816 Sales and Customer Relationship Mgmt GCM
GCM 850 Directed Studies I: Issues and Trends
GCM 852 Directed Studies II: Issues and Trends

Concentration in Packaging

Required (2):

GCM 800 Tags, Labels and Bags: Flexo Processes
GCM 808 Outside the box: Package Prototyping

Plus four (4) of:

GCM 740 Accessibility for Graphic Communications
GCM 746 Sustainability in Print and Packaging
GCM 750 3D Printing
GCM 804 Non-traditional Printing Applications
GCM 806 Advanced Typography
GCM 810 Creativity, Clients and Design
GCM 854 Advanced Material Science
GCM 856 Colour Theory and Measurement

Concentration in Publishing

Required (3):

GCM 720 Magazine Production and Publishing
GCM 722 Book Production and Publishing
GCM 802 eBook Production and Publishing

Plus three (3) of:

GCM 730 Fulfillment: Signed, Sealed and Delivered
GCM 738 Photoshopped! The Art of Image Retouching
GCM 740 Accessibility for Graphic Communications
GCM 746 Sustainability in Print and Packaging
GCM 806 Advanced Typography
GCM 810 Creativity, Clients and Design
GCM 812 Out of a bind: Adv Binding and Finishing

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see  (PDF file) Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Richard Armstrong
Past President
Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited

Robert Cockerill
Past President
Schawk Canada Inc.

Michael Collinge
President & CEO
Webcom Inc.

Andrew Dunkerly
Director, Trade Marketing, Ontario
Constellation Brands

Marie Eveline
Strategic Planning and Education Training Consultant

Don Gain Sr.
President
Harmony Printing Limited

Michael Hill
Director of Sales
Alcan Packaging

Terry Pitchford
VP, Strategic Development
Paperlinx of Canada, Spicers

Ruben Silva
Managing Director
Agfa Graphic Systems Canada

Dr. Patricia Sorce
Chair Emerita, School of Print Media
Rochester Institute of Technology