SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department will offer two course offerings in January for its online Printed Electronics & Functional Imaging professional certificate program. 

The professional certificate program is focused on providing world-class online education in functional printing with an emphasis in printed electronics, security printing, and active and intelligent packaging.

Designed for working professionals, the program is comprised of five courses offered in a sequence allowing the entire certificate program to be completed in 12 months. Courses can also be taken on an individual basis to cater to student interest.

Enrollment will be open in January for two courses:

— GrC 501, Survey of Functional Printing, beginning Jan. 5

— GrC 512, Printing and Coating Technologies, beginning Jan. 20 

Survey of Functional Printing is a prerequisite to all other online courses. To enroll in the classes, students must register by Dec. 30, 2014.

Two courses were offered in the fall, GrC 501, Survey of Functional Printing, and GrC 510, Materials for Functional Printing. Both courses were conducted entirely online and provided students with an interactive, instructor-led class using Cal Poly’s learning management system PolyLearn. The courses used video, simulation, assignments and interactive postings to facilitate learning and student interaction.

“Overall we are very pleased with the launch,” said Professor Malcolm Keif, graduate coordinator of the program. “We had 12 students in our first class and, despite being an online environment, it was remarkable how much the students interacted.”