Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement

The Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement provides the foundational skill sets to translate traditional and non-traditional concepts in digital media to create non-photographic illustrative content for print and digital purposes. Students learn how to work with basic illustrative digital tools such as vector, raster, and bitmap graphics. The certificate explores different techniques of modifying existing drawings and photo modification/manipulation for illustrative purposes. Students gain skills in project management, color-theory, content creation, and industry-standard software, such as Adobe.

This certificate prepares students for entry-level digital illustration careers in graphic design, desktop publishing, multimedia design, motion graphics, product design, user interface and experience, and more. It provides the skills to increase value in current employment and marketability for students who may already be employed in these fields.

The certificate program is expected to have an enrollment of 10 to 20 annually with about 5 to 10 annual completers. The program expects annual growth in enrollment and completion.

Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement in Career Education.  The Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to take advantage of rich new employment opportunities in the established fields of graphic design, digital publication, and desktop publication. The Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement provides students with  foundational concepts in web design, accessibility best practices, and the skills to identify the needs of the end user in real-world applications. The certificate is designed to prepare students to work in the growing field of publication design, whether they enter the workforce directly or seek a degree at Cabrillo or at a transfer institution. 

The need for workers in the diverse field of digital publication has been advocated for by local businesses in digital media program advisory boards and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 0614.00).  The Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement  is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill the workforce needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to move onwards to a two year degree, a four-year institution, or excel in the workforce. 

There are 12 required units in digital media and 3 required units in art along with 1 unit in counseling/guidance for information on career pathways.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
CG51	Planning for Success	1.00	S1
ART4	Beginning Design: Design and Color	3.00	S1
DM1	Intro to Digital Media	4.00	S1
DM4	Digital Graphics	4.00	S2
DM11	Digital Illustration	4.00	S2

The Digital Illustration Certificate of Achievement is a new certificate program that combines several previous skills certificates into one certificate of achievement. The certificate is based in digital media with cross-departmental collaboration in course offerings in three departments: counseling and guidance, art, and digital media. This certificate is also packaged as part of a focus group in the Graphic Design - Associate in Science.   

There are not any other programs under this TOP code in Cabrillo College's service area.