Arts & Communication

Arts and communication careers are related to humanities and the performing, visual, literary and media arts. These careers are interesting to people who value creativity, are imaginative and innovative, enjoy communicating new ideas to others, are skilled writers, and/or seek self-expression through singing, dancing or acting.

Center for New Media
The following programs make up part of the Center for New Media (CNM). The Center
for New Media is an academic unit consisting of programs in animation, e-business, graphic design, illustration, web design, web development, video game art and visual communications. The specific degree and certificate programs are listed in this section and in the Business section located on page 28. The Center is a high quality/high value training and development ground for the next generation of media professionals who want the most effective path for immediate employment or continuation of their studies.

Animation — Associate of Applied Science
This program prepares students for entry and advancement within a wide range of industries including entertainment, software and game development, marketing, education, commerce, and training. Students learn life drawing, 3-D Studio Max, Flash and Multimedia animation, Adobe After Effects, and electronic artistry.

Digital Prepress — Associate of Applied Science
This program prepares students for employment within the graphics and production departments in the prepress and printing industry, as well as relevant positions in desktop publishing and other production artist positions. Students learn graphic design fundamentals, a wide range of software (including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign; along with Quark), and art production and printing technical details, techniques, and processes.

Graphic Design — Associate of Applied Science
The Graphic Design program is a broad-based interdisciplinary, career-focused program offered to train or retrain in design, typography, layout, illustration, computer graphics and electronic publishing. Students follow a set curriculum that is a combination of foundational, software-specific and elective classes.
Illustration — Associate of Applied Science
The program prepares students for entry and advancement within a wide range of industries including entertainment, software and gaming development, marketing, education, commerce, and training. Students learn illustration using traditional and digital media including painting, graphic design, watercolor, life drawing, and Adobe Illustrator.

Video Game Art — Associate of Applied Science
This is a professionally-based program for students interested in pursuing a career in graphics development specifically for an interactive, 3D environment. Combining 2D environmental graphics with 3D character development, this program teaches students to develop graphic systems, characters, and environments for the video game environment. Skills learned in this program can be readily applied to other fields such as advertising, multimedia graphics, web design and development, education, entertainment, and other industries which utilize video game style graphics. This program was developed using an international curriculum model developed by International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and in concert with existing and emerging programs at the 4-year level. To increase their skill sets and marketability, graduates of this program are encouraged to continue their studies with pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in a specialized field.

Visual Communication — Associate of Applied Science
This program incorporates presentation design, animation, illustration and graphics, as well as the theory and practices of visual presentation. In addition, students receive instruction in core eBusiness principles and technologies. Graduates of this program will be able to assist in analyzing business processes and preparing electronic presentations to convey concepts or ideas using a full spectrum of new media and electronic communication technologies. Graduates will be ready for employment in presentation design and visualization supporting a variety of business applications.

Web Design/Interactive Media — Associate of Applied Science
This program prepares students for advanced web design with an eye on how a website "looks" as well as how it "works". Graduates are prepared for entry and advancement into virtually any industry employing web-based communications. Significant training is provided in layout, information architecture, navigational structure, graphics and multimedia applications and dynamic content. Students learn to program and write code, develop data-based applications, use graphics, develop multimedia and streaming media applications, and observe principles of good design.

Graphic Design — Certificate
The Graphics Design certificate is a vocational program which develops or improves skills in computer graphics and electronic design. It is appropriate for new-to-college students or persons interested in upgrading skills for current employment or retraining for a new position.


Animation — Post Associate Certificate
This program offers competencies beyond the associate degree and offers students opportunity to upgrade current skills, become up-to-date with industry standards, or become highly specialized in a particular discipline. Awarding a post-associate certificate requires that students earn a minimum of an associate degree in a related field, have prior work-related experience, or obtain instructor approval. All credits in this program apply directly towards the Animation AAS degree.

Illustration — Post Associate Certificate
This program offers competencies beyond the associate degree, providing students an opportunity to upgrade current skills, become up-to-date with industry standards, or become highly specialized in a particular discipline. Awarding a post-associate certificate requires that students earn a minimum of an Associate Degree, prior work-related experience, or instructor approval. It is recommended that students take at least three full terms to complete all the classes in this program.