2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Nov 16, 2024  
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2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

New Media and Digital Design AAS Course Map

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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time.

While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate of Applied Science- New Media and Digital Design, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements.

Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Total Credits: 92

Program Code: 504

ctcLink Plan Code: COGDDAPT

1. College Success

  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

  •  

  • Note: 

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • A COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. Introduction to Digital Design

3. English Composition I

  • Course purpose: Develop written communication skills in order to create content for clients, employers and businesses in a clear, concise and professional manner.

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  • Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.

     

    Note: If transferring to Evergreen State College, you must complete ENGL&101 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

Note: If transferring to Evergreen State College, four criterion must be met:

  1. Earn a technical associate degree from a regionally accredited Washington community or technical college. Eligible degrees include: AAS, ATA, AAT, or AAS-T degrees.
  2. Complete ENGL&101 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  3. Complete a minimum of 20 academic, quarter hours of college-level credits with a GPA of 2.0 or higher in each course. No more than 10 credits earned in the same subject area can count toward the 20 credit minimum.
  4. Have a cumulative, college-level GPA of 2.5 or higher.

4. Layout and Typography

5. Digital Photography and Adobe Photoshop

6. Art Course Recommendations

Choose one

7. Introduction to New Media

  • Course purpose: This course covers the historical elements and a solid working knowledge of the development of new media. Students will explore technical, social, cultural, ethical and economic aspects of new media technologies, such as advertising, branding, mass media, UX/UI design, and production design.

8. Introduction to UX/UI Design

  • Course purpose: This class develops a solid understanding of the field of the communication, storytelling, visual design, UX/UI design and web development. Students establish their personal creative process that they can carry through to their career. The course explores a historical and theoretical overview and a case study for a product design.

9. Math Course Recommendation

Choose one

  •  

  • Or

  •  

  • Course purpose:

    This course provides the foundation of math skills needed in a business environment. 

     

    Note: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options. 

10. Production Management

Action Item

You can take the following DDSGN 151 and DDSGN 215 elective courses if you are interested in UX/UI Design field or completing 1 year UX/UI Certificate. Meet with your advisor for assistance. UX/UI Design Certificate Course Map 

11. Elective Courses

Start taking your elective courses. You will choose three electives courses in total from the list of fourteen below. 

 

The electives are broken up into emphasis groups below to help you chose the three courses that best meet your goals. You do not have to pick one emphasis; you can choose courses from several different emphasis groups. Note that some courses are only offered once per year. Meet with your advisor for help arranging your education plan and/or see the course schedule on the Digital Design website.  

Traditional Graphic Design/Photography Course Recommendations

Choose courses from this emphasis if you’re interested in becoming a traditional graphic designer and/or illustrator. 

User Experience (UX)/User Interface (UI) Course Recommendations

Choose courses from this emphasis if you’re interested in becoming a user experience/user interface (UX/UI) designer and/or web designer. 

  • Course purpose: This course examines how to design mobile user interface (UI) prototypes applying user-centered design, human-centered design, process of UX design, and interaction design to provide user friendly products and services. 

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  • Course purpose: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to plan, design, and implement responsive website using current industry standards and modern responsive front-end framework. 

Social Media/ Marketing Course Recommendations

Choose courses from this emphasis if you’re interested in social media and/or marketing jobs. 

Multi-Media/Motion Graphics Course Recommendations

Choose courses from this emphasis if you’re interested and animation, game design, and/or film. 

Action Item: Search for an Internship

Begin searching for an internship. You are required to complete 90 hours of design work in a supervised internship. Meet with your advisor for assistance. 

12. Human Behavior Course Recommendations

Choose one

13. 3D Modeling and Animation

  • Course description: Teaches the creation of 3D models and how to texture, light, and animate them. From game design to graphic design, 3D modelers, texture artists, and animators are always in-demand. 

14. Video Production

  • Course purpose: Covers script writing, camera composition, post-production editing, and enhancement. These skills will set you apart in a crowd of designers. 

15. Choose Second Elective

Choose an elective course from the emphasis groups listed in #11.

The electives are broken up into emphasis groups below to help you chose the three courses that best meet your goals. You do not have to pick one emphasis; you can choose courses from several different emphasis groups. Note that some courses are only offered once per year. Meet with your advisor for help arranging your education plan and/or see the course schedule on the Digital Design website.

16. Portfolio

  • Course purpose: This portfolio preparation course can help you take your skills to the next level and develop a portfolio for application to further studies or to go directly into professional practice.

17. English/Journalism Course Recommendations

Choose one

Action Item

To complete the UX/UI Design Certificate, you can take the following DDSGN 151 and DDSGN 215 elective courses. Meet with your advisor for assistance. UX/UI Design Certificate Course Map 

Action Item: Internship

Secure an internship. Meet with your advisor for assistance.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.

18. Third Elective Course

Choose an elective course from the emphasis groups listed in #11.

Finish taking your elective courses. You will choose three electives courses in total from the list of fourteen below. 

The electives are broken up into emphasis groups below to help you chose the three courses that best meet your goals. You do not have to pick one emphasis; you can choose courses from several different emphasis groups. Note that some courses are only offered once per year. Meet with your advisor for help arranging your education plan and/or see the course schedule on the Digital Design website.

 

19. Supervised Internship

  • Course purpose: You will apply the skills you learned throughout the Digital Design Program in a real-world work setting. It is a 90-hour commitment that is designed to give you work experience to prepare you to apply for jobs after graduation. 

20. Communication/Language Course Recommendations

Choose One

Total Credits: 92

Program Code: 504

Program Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate creativity and innovation skills.      
  2. Communicate design concepts and ideas effectively. 
  3. Collaborate with others to reach a common goal. 
  4. Apply strategic design thinking processes for product solutions. 
  5. Create human-centered design solutions to problems. 
  6. Establish career goals and paths prior to graduation. 

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