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
  • 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 wages* for this degree. 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. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Art Directors

$79,070

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

$66,570

Graphic Designers

$56,090

Special Effects Artists and Animators

$56,690

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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 Degree Progress Report 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AVC142 Introduction to Digital Photography 3
AVC181 Graphic Design I 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
JRN213 Writing for Online 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AVC248 Design Self Promotion 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 11

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
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.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Digital Media Arts