Digital Arts Programs
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Explore the fundamentals of digital art within Grand Canyon University’s digital arts programs, where the realms of technology and art intersect. Immerse yourself in a creative environment to cultivate innovative skills, gaining proficiency in marketable technical skills. This educational journey can prepare you with the tools to harness your artistic talents.
Digital arts courses focus on:
Use your passion to fuel education and potential career opportunities in areas such as advertising design, digital design and digital film. Explore the many bachelor’s and master’s digital arts degrees available to students interested in the fundamentals and artistic processes of technology needed to create art.
The digital arts degrees offered at GCU teach creative theories and principles to help equip you with skills in the following areas:
Artistic processes of technology
Innovative technology to create art
Strategic collaboration for portfolio marketing
Interactive art
Animation modeling
Design principles
Average median annual wage for art directors, as of May 20232
The median annual wage for special effects artists and animators as of May 20233
At GCU, we recognize the critical role of interpersonal communication in networking for media, marketing and graphic design collaborations. A digital arts and design degree can help equip you with essential skills for advertising, graphic design, animation, screenwriting, game development and interactive media creation.
As a digital arts major, you will have the opportunity to build your digital portfolio to showcase your work by creating multimedia presentations, collaborating with other artists within the program and using the latest technology and software programs.
Explore the world of digital arts with GCU's digital arts degrees. From mastering digital imaging to diving into animation and web design, discover how you can turn your creative passion into potential career opportunities. These programs are crafted to provide a strong foundation in new media arts, including digital and visual media.
Discover creative pathways through our digital arts bachelor's degrees. These programs offer thorough instruction across graphic design, animation, interactive media and game development to help unlock career opportunities within the digital arts industry.
As companies continue to increase their digital presence, design and digital art majors are needed by employers seeking to create visually appealing and effective websites or continuously improve their social media content.4 Whether in graphic design degrees, photography, dance or theatre, these programs teach skills that highlight creativity with technology which employers often look for in portfolios.5
Earning your degree from GCU can demonstrate to employers that you can take a unique perspective and create a product or idea that shows innovative thinking.
You will study ways to integrate the latest technology into your artistic workflows within fields that include:
Digital design
Photography
Digital film
Average median annual wage for web developers and digital designers, as of May 20236
A digital arts degree from GCU can demonstrate to employers that GCU graduates are hard-working, goal-seeking, creative leaders and innovators who think critically with a Christian worldview. Additionally, GCU has held accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission since 1968.
GCU’s interactive digital arts and design courses are designed to help prepare you for the professional sphere. The courses integrate communication and business practices with interactive digital arts, offering an inclusive foundation for entering and navigating the workplace effectively.
GCU’s online digital arts programs can offer the flexibility you need while providing a quality education to help you in today’s complex world. From the comfort of your own home, you can benefit from GCU’s experienced faculty, known for emphasizing servant leadership and fostering an environment conducive to independent learners.
The flexibility and convenience of online digital design programs maintain a high standard of commitment to excellence by using powerful platforms and integrating principles of art as an effective tool of communication.
GCU’s mission is to make private, Christian education affordable and accessible to high-achieving students, regardless of economic status. Therefore, GCU has not increased campus tuition since 2009 as part of our commitment to providing affordable education.
Uncover essential insights and find clarity on various aspects within digital arts and digital design degree programs through these frequently asked questions.
A degree in digital art focuses on creating static content like logos, journals and images using software or electronic devices, whereas a degree in digital media design emphasizes elements such as animations, interactive elements and movies integrating audio and sound effects with visual arts to blend artistry with technology.
Learning traditional art before a digital art degree program is not required, but it can help prepare you with the necessary skills to start drawing digitally. Learning traditional art techniques can provide you with a deeper understanding of the materials and what they can do — but just like anything, learning a new skill takes practice, no matter what experience you have.
These two degrees both require artistic skills — although there is some overlap in skills. A digital art degree focuses on art whereas a graphic design degree focuses on communicating a message using different fonts, graphics, images and sound. A digital art degree places more emphasis on visual stimulation, whereas a graphic design degree focuses more on visual communication.
GCU offers a number of bachelor’s degrees in digital art with the goal of helping to improve communication skills, build creative solutions and open your mind to different perspectives. Many careers in digital arts blend art and communication skills, such as GCU’s bachelor’s in social media and our bachelor’s in advertising and graphic design. GCU art majors have the opportunity to acquire skills that can prepare them for the ever-evolving job market.
After earning a digital art degree from GCU, you may be prepared to use your artistic skills in careers, such as:
You may find a career in digital art to be exciting, challenging and rewarding. Start learning how to apply high design concepts in unique and creative ways by building your portfolio through digital art courses offered at GCU.
Digital arts and design can be a strong career choice that can lead to opportunities in a variety of industries that may require skills such as digital photography, digital painting, videos, animation and moving images, software art or mixed media. In particular, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8,900 new jobs are estimated to open for graphic designers from 2022 to 2032,7 with a median wage of $58,910 as of May 2023.8
If you're an aspiring designer, animator or multimedia artist, discover how GCU's digital arts programs can help you on your career path.
1 Includes students who have graduated or completed their program. Data represents degree-seeking graduates only. This does not include students in Bridge Programs, Certificate Programs, Post-Masters, Education Specialist Programs, High School Dual, Non-Degree Studies or Continuing Education.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Art Directors, as of May 2023, retrieved on May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 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.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Special Effects Artists and Animators as of May 2023, retrieved on 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.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Graphic Designers: Job Outlook. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on Dec. 27, 2023.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Graphic Designers: How To Become a Graphic Designer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on April 26, 2043.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web Developers and Digital Designers, as of May 2023, retrieved on May 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 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.
7 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Graphic Designers, retrieved on May 7, 2024.
8 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Graphic Designers as of May 2023, retrieved on 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 graphic 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.
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