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Hone Your Digital Media Arts and Communications Skills

We live in an increasingly visual society. Do you love to draw and create? Are you fascinated by imagery, photography and design? Do you dream of turning your love of art and aesthetics into a rewarding professional career? If this sounds like you, then a career in the digital media arts and communications field could be your calling. Encompassing a diverse array of elements, disciplines, and perspectives, this program offers a strong canvas on which to create your own digital media or design career.

What You'll Learn

From 9th grade upward, enroll in A-G approved courses to start preparing for your career in the digital media arts and communications fields. Classes include:

  • CTE Concentrator Commercial Digital Media and Design Honors (Year 1)
  • CTE Capstone Advanced Digital Media Arts and Communications (Year 2)

What You’ll Do

Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the ever-evolving field of digital media arts and communications. Hands-on, immersive experiences include:

  • A broad understanding of design theory and execution
  • Leadership roles and opportunities
  • Field trips to local design and advertising businesses
  • Guest speaker visits

Who You Can Be

Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The Commercial Art program prepares you for potential careers such as:

  • Commercial Artist
  • Studio Artist
  • Art Gallery Professional
  • Graphic Designer
  • Art Director
  • Advertising/Marketing Professional
  • Architect

Industry Average Wages: $54,000 - $90,000

Projected Industry Growth: 2%

What You Need to Know

VUSD’s Commercial Art CTE pathway prepares students for successful careers in the field of digital media arts and communications. Students (9th grade and up) are introduced to the fundamentals of art and graphic design, becoming intimately familiar with the elements and principles of art and design. The program is based at Foothill Technology High School and consists of two sequenced year-long courses, a concentrator followed by a capstone.

Students get a hands-on entry to this field by engaging in the production of original works in multiple media, with a specific focus on digital media arts and communications. The advanced capstone course evolves the understanding and experience provided to students, who are encouraged to find and express their own artistic voice and style. Students emerge from this program with enhanced skills, insight, confidence and relationships.

Next Steps

Once you have gained the skills and knowledge in this pathway, there are many options for your next steps after high school - some you can even begin pursuing before you graduate!

1 year

Media Arts, Certificate of Achievement - Moorpark College

2 year

Studio Arts, Associate in Arts for Transfer - Ventura College

Studio Arts, Associate in Arts for Transfer - Oxnard College

Media Arts, Associate in Science - Moorpark College

4 year

Art, Bachelor of Arts, Art Studio Emphasis - California State University, Channel Islands