Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2023-2024 
    
Catalog 2023-2024

Design & Media Studies (A.A.) +



About the Degree
Career Information

Program Requirements  
General Education Requirements  


CCV’s Design & Media Studies program allows students to combine their skills in creativity, communication, design, and technology to find employment in the broad area of arts and media. All students will get a firm grounding in visual and verbal communication, design software, drawing, and the creation of a professional portfolio. Students will expand on this foundation with design & media elective choices that prepare them for further education and career opportunities. Students in the Design & Media Studies degree program may choose to pursue one or more of the following certificates while obtaining their degree: digital media production, graphic design, media communications, or studio art.

All associate degrees include completion of general education requirements which, together with program requirements, constitute a minimum of 60 credits. In some cases program requirements also fulfill general education requirements. You may not use a single course to meet two general education requirements. 

 

Design & Media Studies Semester Map

Students in the Design & Media Studies degree program may choose to pursue one or more of the following certificates while obtaining their degree:

+This program can be completed fully online.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Design & Media Studies program will be able to:

  • demonstrate fluency with technical, conceptual, and formal visual problem-solving skills through the creation of art, design, and/or media projects;
  • demonstrate effective use of digital technologies to create art, design, and/or media projects that incorporate design thinking, visual storytelling, and interactive communications;
  • curate a professional portfolio of selected finished works that effectively communicates readiness for employment or further education;
  • demonstrate academic knowledge required of all CCV graduates, including competency in writing, information literacy, oral communication, and quantitative reasoning; and
  • explore pathways and demonstrate preparedness for educational and career development in the student’s field of study.

The Design & Media Studies program is great for you if: 

  • you want to turn your passion for art, design, technology and communications into a career;
  • you enjoy using art, text and images to communicate visual messages;
  • you are preparing for a career in advertising, publications, marketing, or media;
  • you are preparing for a career in visual arts, art education, art therapy, or technology for teaching & learning.

Key information and advice for students in the Design & Media Studies program:

  • Many of the courses in this program are widely available online and throughout the state and are often taught by professionals in the field.
  • Transfer agreements make it possible to transfer easily to a number of four-year colleges.
  • The degree provides practical experience with industry-standard computer graphic software.
  • Students will learn foundational drawing, design, and technical skills that will help them to create visual solutions for their personal vision and/or potential clients.
  • The required Portfolio & Project Development course provides practical experience in the workplace and can be a stepping stone to employment in the field.
  • The student will create a portfolio of work that can support application into a bachelor’s degree program or direct employment.
  • The associate degree in Design and Media Studies is the perfect balance of liberal arts courses and workplace preparation that will allow students to further their education in a four-year program or join the workforce at an entry level.

The Design & Media Studies program prepares you for careers such as

  • Graphic designer for newspaper, advertising, publishing firm or department.
  • Multimedia Designer at a communications agency
  • Web Publisher
  • Multimedia Educational Specialist
  • Illustrator for Periodicals and Newspapers
  • Gallery Worker

Job outlook in Design & Media Studies in the state of Vermont:

For up-to-date Vermont labor market information, including salary information and growth projections, please visit the Economic and Labor Market Information at the Vermont Department of Labor Website.

http://www.vtlmi.info/


Transfer Options:

CCV programs are designed to make transfer to a bachelor’s degree program seamless, easy, and affordable for graduates. CCV has agreements and 2+2 transfer pathways within the Vermont State College System (VSCS) and other institutions in Vermont and the region. Early planning can help you follow a clear transfer path.

Visit our transfer page for additional information.

General Education Requirements


All associate degrees include completion of general education requirements which, together with program requirements, constitute a minimum of 60 credits. In some cases program requirements also fulfill general education requirements. You may not use a single course to meet two general education requirements.

See the General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees  for requirements and course choices.

Complete at least one course in each of the following:

First Semester Seminar

Introductory Written Expression - VSCS

Digital and Computing Literacy - VSCS

Mathematics - VSCS

Natural Science - VSCS

Social Science - VSCS

Arts & Aesthetics - VSCS

Humanistic Perspectives - VSCS

Communication

Research & Writing Intensive

Seminar in Educational Inquiry

VSCS- These courses meet Vermont State College System General Education Framework.

Electives: 6 credits


Minimum Total Credits in Degree: 60


Note(s)


* You may use a course to meet both a program requirement and a general education requirement; however, you may not use a single course to meet two general education requirements.