If you’re interested in getting an associate’s degree that will allow you to work in a field that is a bit out of the box, then you might want to think about getting your associate degree in digital media.

What Is A Digital Media Associate’s Degree?

Digital media is a term used to describe several different technologies such as graphic design, web design, video, computer animation, image manipulation, and more.

With a digital media associate degree you’ll be learning about all these different technologies and how to use them in art, broadcasting, and business to start an exciting career.

Digital Media Associate Degree Programs: What You’ll Learn

As you can probably guess, getting an associate degree in digital media means that you’re going to be spending a lot of time on the computer.  Because digital media professionals use so many different computer programs to do their job, a large part of your education will be devoted to learning how to use these programs.

You’ll get to work with some pretty amazing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and CAD.

And because this is an art-centered degree, you’ll also have plenty of classes on color theory, design, drawing, and digital design.  There’s no doubt that digital media is a fun, very creative avenue for those of you who are artistically inclined.

Careers With A Digital Media Associate’s Degree

One of the biggest advantages to getting a digital media associate degree is that it’s an art degree you can actually earn a living with.  Sure, we’d all love to major in painting or 3-D sculpture, but you might find yourself flipping burgers once you graduate.

Digital media, on the other hand, is highly applicable in the business world. You can work as a web designer, a graphic designer, an illustrator, or a computer animator.

Professionals that work in digital media are responsible for planning and developing a company’s multi-media projects.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the field of digital media is going to grow about as fast as most other fields through 2014.

As far as how much you can earn with an associate degree in digital media, a lot depends on what you actually end up doing.

The Department of Labor lists these careers with salaries, all of which fall under the skills you’ll learn with a digital media degree:

  • Multi-Media Artist or Animator – $40,182
  • Graphic Designer – $40,800
  • Producer – $60,310
  • Audio and Video Equipment Technician – $39,790

Also, many professionals in the digital media field are able to work from home, so this makes it a very attractive option for people who are tired of working in a traditional office.

And if you’re interested in working for yourself, then you’ll be happy to know that this is a great field to start a business in. Many digital media professionals work as freelancers, and once you put the time in to build a client base, you can expect to earn much more than you would working in a corporate environment.