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Art: Digital Media Arts - Certificate (B24)

The purpose of the Digital Media Arts curriculum is two-fold.  First, those who earn the certificate have the minimum requirements needed to secure employment as graphic designers in firms that engage in specialized design services, advertising services, printing services, and publishing. Second, those who earn the certificate may also pursue further education in a number of fields and apply those skills and expertise to in-house advertising and graphic design needs for their employers, particularly those who operate as small businesses.  The Digital Media Arts certificate expands upon the Graphic Design Certificate Specialists skill set into film, video and interactive media.

Work and Employment

The SVCC Digital Media Arts program is designed to prepare individuals to assume employment in the fields of graphic design and desktop publishing; it will also strengthen the marketability of students who complete other fields of study because it will enhance visual communication skills for use in advertising and marketing functions. 

Special Considerations

To obtain employment in this area, most individuals will be required to possess good computer skills, which include typing skills.

Follow this link for career information.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

• Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
• Office of Recruitment, 815-835-6266

Total Hours Required - 24 Hours

Major Field Requirements - 15 Hours

• ART103 - Digital Photography ( 3 Semester Hours)

  An overview of the basic concepts of camera control, lighting and composition for digital photography will be presented as well as shooting techniques for both still and video photography. File management, compression, image manipulation, and printing, of digital images will be included. Prerequisites: None 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

• ART107 - Digital Drawing ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Students will learn how to see a three-dimensional space and translate it to a two-dimensional surface through traditional drawing techniques. Instead of traditional drawing media, however, students will use pressure sensitive pens, tablets and software to input what they see into a computer. Prerequisites: None 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

  OR

  ART113 - Basic Drawing I ( 3 Semester Hours)

  An introduction to drawing through the use of various black and white media, with an emphasis on observational representation through descriptive and expressive means. Topics to be covered include gesture, line, value, perspective, texture, and composition. Class sessions will be accompanied by lectures, demonstrations, and critiques. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week
   

• ART100 - Media Arts ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course is designed to provide students with the necessary computer and design skills to begin a career in graphic design. Various personal and corporate projects on the computer will deal with the generation and manipulation of images as they relate to design layout and production. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

  OR

  ART230 - Graphic Design ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course is designed to provide the students with the necessary computer and design skills to begin a career in graphic design. Various personal and corporate projects on the computer will deal with the generation and manipulation of design images as they relate to layout and production. Prerequisite: ART 101 or consent of instructor 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week
   

• ART231 - Graphic Design II ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Fundamentals of advertising and design. Students continue with advanced studies of design principles, research and formats and layout, and create advertising and editorial designs for magazines and books. Computer graphics software will be used. Prerequisite: ART 230 or ART 100 or consent of instructor 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

• ART237 - Image & Sound Recording ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Production techniques for digital photography, videography, and sound recording will be presented. Advanced principles of lighting and camera control for still and video image acquisition will be examined as well as sound recording for video. Emphasis will be on composition, camera skills, sound recording and mixing that make the product more flattering, more marketable, and more creative. Prerequisite: ART 103 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

Electives - 9 Hours

Students must complete 3 courses from the following list of courses for 9 credits:

• ART105 - Motion Graphics ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Motion graphics seamlessly combines various forms of media to create original and compelling visual art. In this course, students will gain a thorough understanding of input/output techniques, special effects, image compositing, and motion graphics. Students will also learn about the production timeline and graphical requirements of a multimedia project by demonstrating the manipulation of digital images in a studio environment. Students will also use 2D and 3D special effects to produce a television commercial. Prerequisites: ART 100 or ART 230 with a grade of "C" or better 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

• ART236 - Film and Video ( 3 Semester Hours)

  The course will cover both the production of video and sound and how to use the medium as a communication tool. Students taking this course will be introduced to what is required for a career in video and audio media communications and methods to create video programming at a professional level. Prerequisite: ART 100 or ART 230 with a grade of "C" or better 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

• ART238 - Interactive Media Design ( 3 Semester Hours)

  Students will learn how sound, images, text and animation work together dynamically to entertain and educate. Students will continue with advanced studies of design principles and apply them to design of web sites. CD and DVD ROMs, kiosks, and mobile media to advertising and product marketing. Prerequisite: ART 100 or ART 230 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

• ART299 - Topics/Issues in Graphic Desig ( 1-4 Semester Hours)

  A study of a special topic or current issue relating to graphic design. Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be listed in the course schedule. The course may be repeated when topics vary. This course may be taken three times for a maximum of 12 credits. (Topic to be listed on student’s permanent academic record). Prerequisite: None 1 to 4 Semester hour(s) Repeatable: This course may be taken three times for a maximum of 12 credits. Lecture/Lab Hours: 1-4 lec/week

Footnote

*Although students may take up to 9 hours of ART 299, only 3 hours can be counted toward certificate.