Are you looking for a way to put your creativity to work? Learn the practical uses of art, design, graphics and video. Become ready for the job market, start a business, or transfer for further study. Study digital filmmaking, image editing, design principles, business essentials, digital art and so much more. Develop a portfolio and get hands-on experience from leaders in the field.
Careers in Graphic Design, Illustration and Multimedia
- Become a graphic designer or art director with a Graphic Design Certificate or Degree.
- Start your career in animation or gaming with an Illustration Degree or Certificate.
- Become a video editor or web designer with a Digital Media Degree or Certificate.
Academic Plans for Applied Art and Design
Each plan shows all the courses you need to take to complete your goal from start to finish. Map your education by clicking on the Academic Plan for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below.
Note: The academic plans give you an idea of the classes you need to take. However, please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan.
Digital Media—AA/AS Degree
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0070 |
3 |
|
PDEV 0001 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001A |
4 |
|
MATH 0018 or SOC 0015 |
3 |
|
AAD 0060 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
16 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0075 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
|
AAD 0052 or AAD 0012 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001B |
3 |
|
AAD 0085 or AAD 0079 |
3 |
AAD 0085 for students focused on web design. AAD 0079 for students focused on video production.
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0020 |
3 |
|
AAD 0086 or AAD 0087 or AAD 0090 |
3 |
|
BUS 0266 or COMM 0001 |
3 |
|
AAD 0082 or AAD 0093 |
3 |
AAD 0093 offered in fall only and is for film making |
POLS 0001 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 4
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0086 or AAD 0087 or AAD 0090 |
3 |
|
AAD 0054 or AAD 0062 or AAD 0066 |
3 |
|
AAD 0082 or AAD 0089 |
3 |
AAD 0089 is in spring only is for film making
|
(ANTH 0001 and ANTH 0001L) or MECH 0001 or BIOL 0011 |
3-4 |
|
HIST 0018B or HIST 0023 or HIST 0027 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
16 |
|
Film and Video Production—AS Degree
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0079 |
3 |
|
PDEV 0001 |
3 |
|
MATH 0018 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001A |
4 |
|
PHOT 0060A or AAD 0012 or AAD 0075 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
16 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0093 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 |
3 |
|
ASTR 0011 |
1 |
|
ASTR 0010 |
3 |
|
COMM 0001 or COMM 0003 or COMM 0005 |
3 |
|
Any Elective Course |
3 |
Department recommends COMM 0012 or AAD 0012, if not other major elective previously selected. |
TOTAL |
16 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
ENGL 0001B |
3 |
|
AAD 0089 |
3 |
|
AAD 0088 |
3 |
|
SSCI 0050 |
3 |
|
POLS 0001 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 4
Course |
Units |
Notes |
PHOT 0010 |
3 |
|
THEA 0010A |
3 |
|
AAD 0082 |
3 |
|
BIOL 0011 or BIOL 0055 |
3 |
|
HIST 0017A or HIST 0017B or HIST 0018A or HIST 0018B or HIST 0023 or HIST 0027 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Graphic Design—AA/AS Degree
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0060 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001A |
4 |
|
PDEV 0001 |
3 |
|
AAD 0070 |
3 |
|
MATH 0018 or SOC 0015 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
16 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0012 |
3 |
|
AAD 0052 |
3 |
|
AAD 0075 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001B |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
ART 0004A is strongly recommended |
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0020 |
3 |
|
AAD 0054 or AAD 0061 |
3 |
|
POLS 0001 |
3 |
|
BUS 0266 or COMM 0001 |
3 |
|
ESS 0007 or MECH 0001 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 4
Course |
Units |
AAD 0054 or AAD 0062 |
3 |
AAD 0053 |
3 |
HIST 0018B or HIST 0023 or HIST 0027 |
3 |
(ANTH 0001 and ANTH 0001L) or BIOL 0011 |
3-4 |
TOTAL |
12-13 |
Illustration—AA/AS Degree
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0055 |
3 |
|
ENGL 0001A |
4 |
|
AAD0070 |
3 |
|
AAD 0060 |
3 |
|
MATH 0018 or SOC 0015 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
17 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0012 |
3 |
|
AAD 0075 or AAD 0052 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
ART 0004A is strongly recommended as it can be double counted in GE. |
ENGL 0001B |
3 |
|
PDEV 0001 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0071 |
3 |
|
AAD 0062 |
3 |
|
POLS 0001 |
3 |
|
MECH 0001 or ESS 0007 |
3 |
|
BUS 0266 or COMM 0001 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15 |
|
Term 4
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0083 or AAD 0095 |
3 |
|
PHOT 0060A or Any Elective |
3 |
PHOT 0060A is recommended if student did not take ART 0004A. |
HIST 0018B or HIST 0023 or HIST 0027 |
3 |
|
(ANTH 0001 and ANTH 0001L) or BIOL 0011 |
3-4 |
|
PSYC 0103 or SSCI 0050 or ANTH 0002 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
15-16 |
|
Digital Media—Certificate of Achievement
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0060 |
3 |
AAD 0070 |
3 |
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
TOTAL |
9 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0052 or AAD 0012 |
3 |
AAD 0083 |
3 |
AAD 0085 or AAD0079 |
3 |
AAD 0075 |
3 |
TOTAL |
12 |
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0089 or AAD 0093 |
3 |
|
AAD 0062 |
3 |
|
AAD 0082 |
3 |
AAD 0082 if focused on video or filmmaking.
AAD 0093 is for filmmaking.
|
AAD 0086 or AAD 0087 or AAD 0090 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
12 |
|
Film and Video Production—Certificate of Achievement
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
PHOT 0060A |
3 |
|
AAD 0079 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
6 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0093 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 |
3 |
|
AAD 0012 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
9 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0089 |
3 |
|
AAD 0088 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
6 |
|
Term 4
Course |
Units |
Notes |
THEA 0010A |
3 |
|
AAD 0082 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
6 |
|
Graphic Design—Certificate of Achievement
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0060 |
3 |
|
AAD 0070 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
ART 0004A is strongly recommended as it can be double counted in GE if student decides to pursue degree. |
TOTAL |
9 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0062 |
3 |
AAD 0052 |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Term 3
Course |
Units |
AAD 0054 |
3 |
AAD 0061 |
3 |
AAD 0020 or AAD 0085 |
3 |
TOTAL |
9 |
Term 4
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0053 |
3 |
|
AAD 0066 or AAD 0085 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
6 |
|
Illustration—Certificate of Achievement
Term 1
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0055 |
3 |
|
AAD 0060 |
3 |
|
AAD 0070 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
9 |
|
Term 2
Course |
Units |
Notes |
AAD 0012 or AAD 0052 or AAD 0075 |
3 |
|
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
ART 0004A is strongly recommended as it can be double counted in GE if student decides to pursue a degree. |
AAD 0062 or AAD 0071 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
9 |
|
Term 3
Course |
Units |
AAD 0020 |
3 |
AAD 0083 or AAD 0094 |
3 |
AAD 0062 or AAD 0071 |
3 |
TOTAL |
9 |
Term 4
Course |
Units |
AAD 0066 |
3 |
AAD 0083 or AAD 0094 |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Digital Animation—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0094 |
3 |
AAD 0093 |
3 |
AAD 0083 |
3 |
AAD 0079 |
3 |
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
TOTAL |
15 |
Digital Illustration—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0062 |
3 |
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0055 |
3 |
AAD 0071 |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Graphic Design—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0060 |
3 |
AAD 0070 |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0052 |
3 |
AAD 0075 |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Video Production and Editing—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0079 |
3 |
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0075 |
3 |
AAD 0082 |
3 |
AAD 0093 |
3 |
TOTAL |
9 |
Visual Arts and Media—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Unit |
AAD 0012 |
3 |
AAD 0044 or ART 0004A |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0070 |
3 |
PHOT 0060A |
3 |
TOTAL |
6 |
Web Design—Skills Certificate
Term 1
Course |
Units |
AAD 0085 |
3 |
TOTAL |
3 |
Term 2
Course |
Units |
AAD 0086 |
3 |
AAD 0087 |
3 |
AAD 0090 |
3 |
TOTAL |
9 |
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