Digital Arts
Associate in Arts School of Arts and Social Sciences · Merced College · 2026-2027 Catalog
School of Arts and Social Sciences
The study of digital art keeps students knowledgeable about cutting-edge artistic developments in our increasingly visual world. An education in digital art prepares students to produce media for print publication and screen-based output. The state-of-the-art classroom and digital art lab provides students with hands-on experience in digital art, graphic design, digital publishing, three-dimensional modeling, motion graphics, interactive media, multimedia, and web software techniques.
The Digital Art Program provides thorough preparation for careers and visual expression in digital art fields. The Associate of Arts Degree in Digital Art is available for students who meet the graduation requirements and complete the 30-unit curriculum listed below, with a minimum grade of a “C” (or P) in each course in the degree and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
A. Analyze historical, technical and current cultural approaches while utilizing computers, peripherals, screen-based media, the Internet and digital media tools to create digital art.
B. Demonstrate visual thinking ability in still and time-based digital art forms.
C. Appraise digital art industry trends through various multimedia formats.
Program Requirements:
Program Core: (18 Units)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARTD-08 | History of Animation | 3 |
| orARTD-07 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART-15 | Design: 2-D Foundations | 3 |
| ART-24A | Fundamentals of Drawing | 3 |
| orART-26A | Introduction to Figure Drawing | 3 |
| ARTD-40A | Introduction to Digital Art | 3 |
| ARTD-41A | Introduction to Graphic Design: 2D Foundations | 3 |
| ARTD-45A | Animation I: Introduction to 2D Animation | 3 |
| orARTD-42A | Introduction to Motion Graphics | |
| Plus 9 units from the following courses: | ||
| ARTD-40B | Intermediate Digital Art | 3 |
| ARTD-41B | Intermediate Graphic Design: 2D Foundations | 3 |
| ARTD-45A | Animation I: Introduction to Web Design and 2D Animation | 3 |
| ARTD-45B | Animation II: Intermediate 2D Animation | 3 |
| ARTD-47 | Typography I: Introduction to Type Design | 3 |
| ARTD-42B | Intermediate Motion Graphics | 3 |
| Plus 3 units from the following courses: | ||
| PHOT-11A | Introduction to the Digital Camera | 3 |
| CPSC-05A | Application Development and Programming | 3 |
| MKTG-33 | Advertising( 3) | |
| MGMT-37 | Small Business Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| VIRT-50 | Virtual Office | 3 |
| VIRT-51 | Social Media | 3 |
| AOM-58A | Website Development | 2 |
| MGMT-50A | Challenges of Leadership: Difficult People/Tough Conversations | 0.5 |
| MGMT-50H | Customer Service | 0.5 |
| Total | 30 | |
Completion of MCCD-GE Breadth : (24 units)
Elective (as needed to reach 60 units) Units: (6 Units)
Total Degree Units: (60 Units)