Degrees
At Polk State College, we offer three Digital Media degree options:
- ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (TRANSFER INTENT)
- ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE (CAREER INTENT)
- CERTIFICATES (PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT)
Associate of Arts (AA) – University Transfer
A Digital Media elective concentration for transfer to four-year institutions
Polk State College offers an Associate of Arts (AA) degree for students who wish to complete their first two years of college and then transfer to a four-year institution for a bachelor’s degree. The costs for courses are lower at Polk State, and the associate degree may be transferred to any state university in Florida.
AA degrees require 36 hours of general education courses and 24 credit hours of electives, for a total of 60 credit hours. We encourage students with an interest in Digital Media to enroll in digital media and art courses for their electives. These courses are required by most universities offering Digital Media programs of study, so students interested in digital media should enroll in the digital media courses listed below, plus other art courses for their elective options.
Check with your university advisers about course recommendations, as these will change, depending on your academic major.
AA | COURSES
| DIG 2000C | Introduction to Digital Media |
| DIG 2030C | Digital Video and Sound |
| DIG 2109C | Digital Imaging Fundamentals |
| GRA 2120C | Page Design and Layout |
| DIG 2500C | Fundamentals of Interactive Design |
Choose ONE group of art courses
| ARH 1050 | Intro to Art History I | equivalent to UCF’s ARH 2050 |
| ARH 1051 | Intro Art History II | equivalent to UCF’s ARH 2051 |
| ARH 1201C | Design I | equivalent to UCF’s ART 2201C |
| ARH 1203C | Design II | equivalent to UCF’s ART 2203C |
| ARH 1300C | Drawing and Composition I | equivalent to UCF’s ART 2300C |
| ARH 1301C | Drawing and Composition II | equivalent to UCF’s ART 2301C |
To learn more about the general AA degree and requirements, please select this link.
Associate of Science (AS) – Job Skills
For students seeking entry-level jobs in graphic design and video production
Polk State offers the following Associate of Science degrees:
The Associate of Science degree is a two-year degree designed for students who are seeking skills for employment. This degree is not intended for students who wish to transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree. The Digital Media Technology degree is a 60-credit hour program that may be completed in two years if students follow the recommended class schedule and meet all prerequisites.
AS students are eligible for initial employment as multimedia managers, audio/visual production managers, video editors, filmmakers, graphic designers, photographers, content creators, illustrators, and related digital media fields. Graduates are also qualified to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.
Students who are employed may take classes part-time while they gain valuable experience on the job.
Students who score below the required levels on state-mandated placement tests in writing, reading, and mathematics must enroll in and complete the appropriate college preparatory courses before they enroll in some required program courses.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
- Incorporate principles of good design, composition, lighting, interactivity, usability, typography, artistry, creativity, and aesthetics using appropriate tools and techniques to produce pleasing products.
- Develop targeted messages and use industry-standard tools to create, manage, and communicate that message using appropriate formats, channels, and messaging techniques.
- Collaborate within a multimedia team or group in a manner that demonstrates good soft skills, pleasing attitude, clarity of thought, and mutual respect to produce a common output that provides good aesthetic appeal and conforms to industry standards.
- Create, manipulate, manage, and distribute digital media using existing and emerging technologies that conform to industry standards of good design.
- Use multimedia tools for web, video, audio, imaging, animation, and programming to create products that meet clients’ requirements and conform to good standards of design, usability, and visual appeal.
- Critique the process of communications history, ethics, and mass media to evaluate their current effects on communications and technology.
- Employ good business and technology practices to evaluate project needs and resources, manage project workflows and deliverables, and market finished products or capabilities.
AS | DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Associate of Science degree in Digital Media Technology includes 60-credit hours that include the following:
- General Electives courses (18 credit hours)
- Digital Media core courses (24 credit hours)
- Specialization courses (18 credit hours)
Certificates – Professional Development
Improve job skills or personal development in graphic design and video production
For working professionals or students wishing to add to their existing digital media skills, we also offer three certificate options that may be completed in two semesters. Please select this link to learn more.
View/Download PDF Copy of Program Maps
Select each link below to view ALL course requirements for each degree program. Enroll in courses in the suggested sequence and graduate on time.
