Digital Media Arts
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Digital Media Arts is designed for the student who wishes to develop skills in the area of graphic design, imaging, photography, animation, time-based, interactivity, and media production. The program emphasizes critical thinking, written communication, and teamwork by challenging students to develop their own design method, production workflow, and conceptual aesthetic. The program provides students with a broad understanding of media design and its place in society as a means to communicate. It allows for the development of an individual's personal interest in this area, prepares students for employment, and upgrades skills of those already employed in this field. Upon completion of the program, students will have compiled a professional portfolio. Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to, graphic design, animation, web design, and video production. Based on course selections, students may also pursue transfer opportunities.
Details
Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Digital Media Arts (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3567
Total credits required
66-74
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
What You'll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Create media designs to project specifications demonstrating professional competence in research, planning, production, and presentation.
- Apply critical thinking skills, the design process, and historical and media literacies to solve design problems.
- Critique media designs to evaluate their effectiveness.
- Research and apply industry standard tools to develop effective media, designs, and workflows.
- Demonstrate professional and collaborative practices, such as communication, time management, organization, and legal and ethical considerations, in diverse settings.
- Communicate design ideas and solutions that recognize diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences.
- Create a portfolio of work that reflects current industry practices.
- Contribute to a client-based comprehensive project for industry, organization, or community use.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.
Art Directors
$83,430 Show expanded career information for Art Directors
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$64,680 Show expanded career information for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Graphic Designers
$50,740 Show expanded career information for Graphic Designers
Special Effects Artists and Animators
$81,310 Show expanded career information for Special Effects Artists and Animators
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| Mathematics | Mathematics area | Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area; MAT14+ recommended for students planning to transfer to a four-year university | 3–6 | ||
| SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
| AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | 1 | |||
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
| FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| ART111 or ART116 | Drawing I or Life Drawing I | 3 | |||
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 | |||
| AVC200 | Animation and Interactivity | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
| ARH102 or ARH110 or HUM/THF205 | Art from Renaissance to Modernism or History of Graphic Design or Introduction to Cinema | Students who intend to transfer should choose either ARH102 or HUM/THF205 to fulfill the HU requirement for transfer | H, HU or None or HU | 3 | |
| AVC/MMT184 | Digital Animation I | 3 | |||
| JRN213 | Writing for Online | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | 3 | |||
| AVC280AC or ART297++ | Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Computer Graphic Design Internship | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC/MMT185 | 3D Modeling and Animation I | 3 | |||
| AVC210 | Design Tools for Imagery, Production, and Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC240 | Cinematography and Directing for 2D/3D Animation | 3 | |||
| CIS133DA | Internet/Web Development Level I | 3 | |||
| FMP108 | Video Production | 3 | |||
| FMP215 | Digital Video Effects | 3 | |||
| MUC191 | Electronic Music I | 3 | |||
| MUC122 | Sound Design I | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC169 | 2D Media Design | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| AVC100 | Introduction to Digital Arts | 1 | |||
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC177 | Digital Photographic Imaging I | 3 | |||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART111 or ART116 | Drawing I or Life Drawing I | 3 | |||
| Mathematics | Mathematics area | Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area; MAT14+ recommended for students planning to transfer to a four-year university | 3–6 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC142 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 3 | |||
| AVC181 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC/MMT184 | Digital Animation I | 3 | |||
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARH102 or ARH110 or HUM/THF205 | Art from Renaissance to Modernism or History of Graphic Design or Introduction to Cinema | Students who intend to transfer should choose either ARH102 or HUM/THF205 to fulfill the HU requirement for transfer | H, HU or None or HU | 3 | |
| AVC200 | Animation and Interactivity | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JRN213 | Writing for Online | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 |
Term 9
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC248 | Design Self Promotion | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 10
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 11
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC280AC or ART297++ | Digital Media Arts and Design Capstone or Computer Graphic Design Internship | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC182 | Graphic Design II | 3 | |||
| AVC/MMT185 | 3D Modeling and Animation I | 3 | |||
| AVC210 | Design Tools for Imagery, Production, and Publishing | 3 | |||
| AVC240 | Cinematography and Directing for 2D/3D Animation | 3 | |||
| CIS133DA | Internet/Web Development Level I | 3 | |||
| FMP108 | Video Production | 3 | |||
| FMP215 | Digital Video Effects | 3 | |||
| MUC191 | Electronic Music I | 3 | |||
| MUC122 | Sound Design I | 3 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=182616).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.