Degree Overview: Associate of Multimedia Technologies
Majors Overview August 5, 2013Schools usually offer associate’s degree programs in multimedia technologies as Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees in digital media and multimedia technology. Students enrolled in these degree programs can seek work in multimedia or motion picture production, television and advertising. Students who complete the program can seek entry-level jobs in the field or pursue continued education.
Associate Degree Program in Multimedia Technologies
Program curricula include core coursework that impart multimedia production skills that can be applied to various digital design settings. Elective courses are then chosen by students in a specific area of production such as video production, graphic design, game design and web design. Students enrolled in these programs are generally instructed about how to use industry-standard software programs. Students also learn how to build digital portfolios that demonstrate their work.
Employers of graphic designers, animators and multimedia artists usually expect candidates to hold at least a bachelor’s degree (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Graduates from an associate’s degree program may seek entry-level technical jobs at media outlets such as motion picture studios, animation studios, television studios and advertising agencies. Alternatively, these graduates could seek continued education through enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program. Admission criteria to an associate’s program typically require applicants to hold a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma.
Program Coursework
Program course topics may include the following:
•Game development
•Web design
•2-D and 3-D animation
•Audio editing
•Video editing
•Graphic design
•Digital media
•Typography
•Digital imaging
Career Options
Students who have earned their associate’s degree can obtain the following job titles:
•Video production technicians
•Multimedia production specialists
•Video game design technicians
•Web design technicians
•Graphic design technicians
Information on Continuing Education
Graduates from an associate’s program can continue their education through enrollment in a four-year bachelor’s degree program in multimedia or a related area. Coursework in a bachelor’s degree program is a continuation of development of the practical skills and theoretical knowledge garnered through the associate’s degree program. Bachelor’s degree program graduates can seek continued education by pursuing a master’s degree program in multimedia or a related area. Students gain advanced skills and knowledge in a multimedia production through the degree program where they can pursue postsecondary teaching opportunities or production-oriented careers.
