Digital Media Degrees and Certificates

Associate of Arts Degree in UX and App Design

The A.A. degree in UX and App Design prepares students for entry-level positions in the field and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in a like discipline. Students learn foundation skills in strategic thinking, planning, iterative prototyping, and acquiring proficiency with the range of technology platforms used in interactive design. Students plan, develop, test, and market web and app design solutions with an emphasis on visual flow, functionality, and code using optimum parameters, accessibility standards, and user experience guidelines. In completing the program students will have an entry-level portfolio that can help them transition to doing an internship, freelance, or contract positions. The portfolio can also be tailored for applying to bachelor’s degree programs. In either a work or school scenario the portfolio is the aspiring designer’s professional tool for advancement.

Students completing the degree have demonstrated skills in the design and development of digital products including: websites, smartphone and tablet apps, and digital interfaces.

After completing the degree in UX and App Design, a student will be able to:

• Plan, develop, test and market web and app products
• Apply UX and UI standards to digital products
• Apply programming languages to layout and user interactions for digital products
• Follow standard user interface guidelines for accessible interfaces
• Sketch wireframe drawings for interface elements and layout
• Create portfolios in alignment with professional and educational goals and identity

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for employment in web and app design and may be prepared for employment in:

• Front end web developer or designer
• Multimedia Artist
• App Developer
• User Interface Designer
• User Experience Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Interactive Media Designer Digital and Social Marketer
• Visual Designer

Required Courses (28 units)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
ARCH 51	Architectural Graphics: Drawing & Sketching	3 units
DIGM 2	Introduction to Electronic Communication	3 units
DIGM 3	Introduction to Graphic Design	3 units
DIGM 4	Principles of Design	4 units
DIGM 20A	Interface Design	4 units
DIGM 21A	Web Development 1	4 units
DIGM 21M	Introduction to App Design	4 units
DIGM 86	Portfolio Development	3 units

Electives: Choose 5 units

Course Number	Course Title	Units
DIGM 1	Digital Applications Basic	3 units
DIGM 11	Blogs and Site Development: WordPress	1 unit
DIGM 14C	Digital Illustration: Illustrator	4 units
DIGM 21B	Web Development 2	4 units
DIGM 21X	Application Design and Development 2	4 units
DIGM 22A	Digital Video 1	4 units
DIGM 25	Introduction to Internet Marketing	1 unit
DIGM 25A	Advanced Internet Marketing	1 unit
DIGM 25B	Social Media Marketing	1 unit

Total Major Units: 35 units

Total Program Units: 60 units

Certificate of Achievement in Web App and Design

The Certificate in UX and App Design prepares students for entry-level positions in the field and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in a like discipline. Students learn foundation skills in strategic thinking, planning, iterative prototyping, and acquiring proficiency with the range of technology platforms used in interactive design. Students plan, develop, test and market web and app design solutions with an emphasis on visual flow, functionality and code using optimum parameters, accessibility standards and user experience guidelines. In completing the program students will have an entry-level portfolio that can help them transition to doing internship, freelance or contract positions. The portfolio can also be tailored for applying to bachelor’s degree programs. In either a work or school scenario the portfolio is the aspiring designer’s professional tool for advancement.

Students completing the degree have demonstrated skills in the design and development of digital products including: websites, smartphone and tablet apps, and digital interfaces.

After completing the Certificate in UX and App Design, a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to apply UX and UI standards to digital products
• Apply programming languages to layout and user interactions for digital products
• Follow standard user interface guidelines for accessible interfaces
• Sketch wireframes designs for user interface prototypes
• Apply programming languages to deliver web sites and Apps online and in App store
• Write design proposals for marketing, app design, or marketing of digital products

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for employment in web and app design and may be prepared for employment in:

• Front end web developer or designer
• Multimedia Artist
• App Developer
• User Interface Designer
• User Experience Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Interactive Media Designer
• Digital and Social Marketer
• Visual Designer

Major Requirements (17 units)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
DIGM 1	The Creative Suite for Graphic Designers	3 units
DIGM 3	Introduction to Graphic Design	3 units
DIGM 14C	Digital Illustration: Illustrator	4 units
DIGM 20A	Interface Design	4 units
DIGM 86	Portfolio Development	3 units

Choose One Concentration (8 units)

Electives for concentration in Web: DIGM 21A and DIGM 21B

Course Number	Course Title	Units
DIGM 21A	Web Development 1	4 units
DIGM 21B	Web Development 2	4 units

OR

Electives for concentration in App: DIGM 21M and DIGM 21X

Course Number	Course Title	Units
DIGM 21M	Introduction to App Design	4 units
DIGM 21X	Application Design and Development 2	4 units

Total Certificate Units: 25 units

Certificate of Achievement in Graphic Design

TThe Graphic Design Certificate provides the opportunity for students to develop their creative potential, explore design areas, learn foundational design principles and processes and discover career opportunities in graphic design and related design fields. The courses offered in the program balance the basic and vital aspects of graphic design and how they are applied in the field with a grounding dose of historical context so students can appreciate the role graphic design has played over the course of time.

The Graphic Design program focuses on conceptual and creative thinking, visual storytelling, and emphasizes the acquisition of technical skills so students can plan and execute the design of visual communications. Some attention is given to how various media and platforms require specific approaches. The program emphasizes design exploration in print, web, and video. It encourages creative problem solving by focusing on critical thinking and process-oriented design explorations. Upon successful completion of the program, entry-level career opportunities exist in graphic and/or front-end visual design, graphic production, content production for social media and blog development, and emerging positions that deal with managing digital assets. Students also have foundation skills to transfer to four-year graphic design programs or related fields. Upon completing the program students have realized a portfolio of design work tailored to each individuals’ needs.

Upon completion of the certificate students will be able to:

• Plan, develop, design, and pitch graphic design solutions to a client.
• Iterate and prepare designs and digital assets for client and publishing needs
• Communicate effectively to a specific audience using appropriate color strategies, layout, and typographic solutions.
• Utilize the design process in order to realize a design project.
• Be proficient in a range of graphic applications and software, and the various platforms necessary for producing ‘on message’ graphic design solutions.
• Edit and manage a range of digital assets specific to the parameters of a given project.

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for entry level work in graphic design and may be prepared for employment as a:

• Graphic Production assistant
• Front end visual designer
• Graphic Artist
• Content producer for social media and blogging platforms
• Digital asset manager

Required Core Courses (31 units)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
ARCH 051	Architectural Graphics: Drawing & Sketching	3 units
DIGM 1	The Creative Suite for Graphic Designers	3 units
DIGM 2	Introduction to Electronic Communication	3 units
DIGM 3	Introduction to Graphic Design	3 units
DIGM 4	Principles of Design	4 units
DIGM 11	Blogs and Site Development: Word Press	1 unit
DIGM 14C	Digital Illustration: Illustrator	4 units
DIGM 22A	Digital Video 1	4 units
DIGM 86	PPortfolio Development	3 units
DIGM 99	Introduction to Typography	3 units

Total Certificate Units: 31 units

Marketing/Digital Communications Certificate of Achievement

The Marketing/Digital Communications Certificate of Achievement requires the successful completion of 8 required courses (17 units) and 3 units of electives.

This program provides Career Technical Education opportunities in the areas of business communication, marketing, web communications, digital media production, graphic design and web/mobile design. This certificate provides a specialized focus in developing a foundation for implementing marketing ideas and strategies via web and digital platforms. Students have the opportunity to develop ideas and concepts, delineate marketing strategies, construct and present marketing approaches for web and mobile-based campaigns. Emphasis is on researching and writing strategic business and marketing plans, concept and content development, and integrating marketing solutions into digital, mobile and social media environments.

Upon completion of this program a student should be able to implement a marketing and business plan using a variety of digital and new media technologies.

Career opportunities for students with this certificate exist in marketing communications, social media marketing, web and mobile design and production, and other areas in the field of online marketing communications.

Required Courses (17 units)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
BUSN 56	Marketing Principles	3 units
BUSN 78	Business Communication	3 units
DIGM 1	Digital Applications Basic	3 units
DIGM 11	Blogs and Site Development: WordPress	1 unit
DIGM 21A	Web Development 1	4 units
DIGM 25	Introduction to Internet Marketing	1 unit
DIGM 25A	Advanced Internet Marketing	1 unit
DIGM 25B	Social Media Marketing	1 unit

Electives (3 units)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
DIGM 2	Introduction to Electronic Communication	3 units
DIGM 3	Introduction to Graphic Design	3 units
DIGM 99	Introduction to Typography	3 units

Total Certificate Units: 20 units