Certificate of Achievement, Digital Media: Comics & Animation

This certificate prepares students for entry-level or self-employment in comics production and the animation fields. Students will explore aspects of 2D and 3D animation, storyboarding, character design, title creation and publication. 

Program Outcomes: 

-Demonstrate an understanding of the core principles of animation and visual storytelling 

-Possess the necessary technical knowledge to produce and publish, web comics, graphic novels, and animated videos.

Long Beach City College expects to award 5-10 Certificates of Achievement in Digital Media: Comics and Animation in the beginning years with high potential for grown based on student interest and demand.

The CTE Digital Media: Comics and Animation program at Long Beach City College gives students the tools for self-expression in the most impactful forms of popular art in the global creative market. The program offers students an appreciation of the history and continuing cultural impact of visual storytelling in media as well as providing foundational instruction in the latest practices, industry standards, and emerging technologies and trends in the industry to prepare students for entry-level work or transfer to continuing programs of study. 

The DMA program upholds the LBCC Mission and ‘is committed to providing equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities.’ In particular, the area of Comics and Animation represents an opportunity to give visibility, through digital story-telling, to our diverse student body. While traditionally underserving non-majority groups, the mainstream comics and animation field, this industry is currently in a transformative moment where we are celebrating diverse narratives and raising up talent from the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. This new certificate program helps to raise our students up to be a part of this transformative moment in a highly influential and fast-growing industry that finds its center largely in Los Angeles and the wider Southern California community.

Program Requirements 

Required Courses:

DMA 1, Introduction to Computer Graphics 3 units

DMA 4, Introduction to Typography 3 units

DMA 5, Graphic Design: Branding 3 units

DMA 6, Graphic Design: Publication & Production 3 units

DMA 15, Interaction & Web Design 3 units

Complete TWO courses from the following:

DMA 2, Introduction to Digital Media Arts 3 units

DMA 3, Digital Illustration 3 units

DMA 25, Motion Graphics 3 units

PHOT 43, Photoshop and Lightroom Management 3 units

DMA 90, Special Studies: Design & Multimedia 3 units

Total Required Units: 21

Course numbering has been revised to show proper sequence within required courses. The certificate is easily achievable in 2 years.

This program creates a content focus within Digital Media Arts, distinguishing Graphic Design from the Interaction/Games and Comics/Animation courses & certificates. While some of the core course overlap for fundamental DMA skills, this certificate specifies a path for students interested in commercial applications in branding, typography, packaging, & print production. In addition to supporting DMA students, it also gives collaboration opportunities for faculty and students in the drawing, painting, illustration, and photography areas which also deal with communications through visual image.

• Pasadena City College: Design Media Art - Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement • Cerritos College: Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design • Rio Hondo College: Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design, Certificate of Achievement- Graphic Design, • Santa Monic College: Associate in Science Degree - Graphic Design, Certificate of Achievement - Graphic Design • CSULB: BFA program: Graphic Design • Cal State LA: BFA program: Graphic Design

100-300