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The digital world is constantly expanding to include a variety of areas, such as production, social media, web design, animation, print design and film production. Undergraduate digital design degrees from Grand Canyon University feature coursework in computer-generated arts and can provide an opportunity to explore and express your artistic talents through various digital platforms.
Discover your creative passions through GCU’s diverse array of digital media degrees, encompassing specialized concentrations in various forms of artistic expression using digital technology.
GCU offers digital media degrees intended to help prepare you for a career through comprehensive and collaborative educational experiences. The interactive courses within the digital design degrees and media programs are designed to help equip graduates with the skills and experience relevant to diverse industries, including but not limited to, arts, media, marketing, production, technology and business sectors.
The digital media and communication arts major focuses on the intersection of the internet, digital video, audio and photography within an increasing array of delivery systems, including video production, digital photography, graphic design and web design. GCU’s College of Arts and Media includes concentrations in advertising design, digital design and digital film, as well as digital media opportunities in theatre, dance and music programs.
Students can jump in quickly and develop a strong design foundation in the areas of:
If you appreciate the finer details in any art form, digital design degrees or film production degrees can give you an all-encompassing environment with opportunities to gain design experience while building your portfolio.
Through hands-on projects and practical experiences, you have the opportunity to gain applicable experience that can help prepare you for the landscape of digital media and film production.
Whether your passion lies in crafting captivating graphics, designing immersive user experiences or bringing cinematic stories to life, these degrees teach the skills and knowledge needed to compete in today’s creative industry, such as:
Collaborating with industry professionals
Harnessing modern technology
Exploring innovative techniques
Creating impactful visual content
Average median annual wage for special effects artists and animators, as of May 20231
Average median annual wage for media and communication workers, as of May 20232
GCU offers modern design and film production degrees that can equip graduates with comprehensive knowledge and advanced skills. Our degrees in digital design and film can offer students who are passionate about the arts and entertainment field a gateway to a myriad of possibilities.
GCU’s digital media and film production degree programs can provide a combination of foundational creative skills and practical design solutions to help you prepare a strong portfolio.
These skills have applicability across various career paths, which may include:
Special effects artist
Animator
Graphic designer
Film and video editor
Advertising and promotions manager
Postsecondary communications teacher
Average median annual wage for arts and design occupations, including graphic designers, as of May 20233
Digital media majors at GCU have the opportunity to grow into creative leaders and innovative designers who think critically with a Christian worldview. Holding accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968, many of GCU’s academic programs embody the highest standards of quality. We are proud to showcase the accolades of our digital media degrees faculty, students and alumni, which illustrate the contributions within our university community.
Learn from experienced faculty in GCU’s digital media degree programs. Many of our digital media degrees and film production degrees offer online and on-campus classes to provide you with maximum flexibility to work toward reaching your educational goals.
GCU has not increased campus tuition since 2009 as part of our commitment to providing affordable private education.
View our list of frequently asked questions when deciding which digital media degrees to pursue.
Digital media is content you create or design — such as videos and graphics — that are transmitted as digital data. Digital marketing involves communicating promotions or brands to consumers using digital channels such as websites, mobile devices or social media as a platform. GCU’s BA in Social Media degree addresses both media- and marketing-driven individuals who want to help companies bridge these two digital disciplines.
GCU has several digital art degrees to choose from, and deciding on the digital design degree that sparks your interest and fuels your passion is no easy choice. Digital design degrees can allow you to work toward pursuing careers such as animation and web development. According to the BLS, web developers and digital designers had a median annual wage of $92,750 as of May 2023.4
On-campus and online digital media programs can help prepare you to showcase your talents and pursue creative careers such as professional writing, digital film and screenwriting. As of May 2023, special effects artists and animators had a median annual wage of $99,060, according to the BLS.1
Certain types of digital media degrees may be earned online with classes that focus on readings, lectures, visual development and rendering techniques, Photoshop and web design.
Taking digital media courses may have the potential to add a new dimension to the way we live our lives. It can foster the development of unique communication abilities while offering numerous ways to make entertainment accessible to all.6 Digital media continues to transform our world by facilitating social connections across the world.
Getting your foot in the door may be the most challenging step. When you pursue a digital film degree at GCU, your professors will teach you about using your personal network, volunteering or interning where you’d like to work, or joining online forums.
Yes, but very little. Digital media majors can expect some basic science and math to earn undergraduate film production degrees or digital media degrees. Whether you want to become a director, cinematographer, editor or producer, you may need to study math at a basic level.
The time needed to complete digital design or film production degrees can vary based on factors such as program structure, course load and individual progress. Additionally, transfer credits from previous coursework can impact the timeframe required to earn the degree. Each program is designed to provide a comprehensive education in digital design or film production, ensuring students have the opportunity to develop the necessary skills and knowledge in their chosen field.
Additionally, the BLS states that art directors had a median annual wage of $106,500 as of May 2023.5 Fill out the form on this page to speak to a university counselor to better understand how long it takes to earn digital media degrees.
Grand Canyon University's online and evening programs offer the flexibility you need to get ahead, providing a quality education to help you thrive in today's complex world.
1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Special Effects Artists and Animators as of May 2023, retrieved May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as special effects artists and animators, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Media and Communication Workers as of May 2023, retrieved May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as media and communication workers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Arts and Design Occupations as of May 2023, retrieved May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as arts and design occupations, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Web Developers and Digital Designers May 2023, retrieved May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as web developers and digital designers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
5 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Art Directors as of May 2023, retrieved May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as art directors, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
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