Instructor-Led Digital Media Program
Professional Certificate in Multimedia Arts
Expand your creative, technical, video, and motion graphics skillsENROLL NOW for our next start:
Program Overview
In the Sessions College Professional Certificate in Multimedia Arts program, students build proficiency in software programs for creating digital art, movies, and animations, acquiring professional techniques for video production and editing. Students will learn how to create and edit effective movies and motion graphics for the Web and beyond.
- Gain a foundation in visual design, motion graphics, and digital video.
- Learn techniques for Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and After Effects.
- Create engaging and interactive multimedia pieces.
- Build a foundation in digital media editing and creation.
Instructor-Led Program
- Project-based courses from industry-leading design and digital media professionals.
- Learn at your own pace—no mandatory logins or preset meeting times.
- Build skills through mentoring and critique from expert instructors.
A Better Way to Learn
Online
Study 100% online from anywhere with 24/7 access to classes.
Self-paced
Complete your program on your own time in 9 months or less.
Industry Relevant
Develop in-demand skills for your creative field.
Customizable
Customize your program with added courses and concentrations.
Multimedia Arts Courses
Program Curriculum
Designed for the busy adult learner, the Professional Certificate in Multimedia Arts is a 360 clock hour program completed in nine months studying part time.
Level 1
- 4218 Photoshop Basics - 60 hours
- 4226 Illustrator Basics - 60 hours
- 6225 Digital Video Editing I - 60 hours
Level 2
- 4023 Design Foundations - 60 hours
- 8040 Digital Video Production - 60 hours
- 6010 After Effects I - 60 hours
PROGRAM FACULTY
Get expert feedback in classes taught by our industry-leading faculty.
Andrew Shalat
Andrew Shalat is an author, designer/illustrator, educator, and Mac expert. Since 1985 he has been designing and writing articles about Macintosh, Mac software, and publishing technologies that have appeared in Macworld, maccentral.com and macweek.com (for which he was a columnist writing "Shalat's Web"). He has been a regular speaker/faculty member at Macworld Expo since 2001 and has written three books: How to Do Everything with Online Video (McGraw-Hill, Osborne), Do It Yourself Mac Projects (McGraw-Hill), and MacDesign Out of the Box (Peachpit). Andrew is a regular contributor to design and Macintosh related sites including Inside Mac Radio, InDesign Magazine, and Creativepro.com. His design work covers a large range of media including book, CD and DVD covers, brochures, catalogs, outdoor signage, print ads, artwork, logos, Flash and Web design, and grocery lists. Over the past two decades, Andrew has taught literature, writing, Web design, and print design.
Bruce Bicknell
Bruce Bicknell is a writer, instructor, illustrator, animator, Web designer, video editor, marketing pro, and graphic designer based in Tampa, Florida. In his career he has worked on projects for Adobe Systems, ATI, Photoshop Elements Techniques, MacTribe, Yellow Machine, and Mac Design, to name a few. Bruce has Associate degrees in Computer Animation and Web Development from The International Academy of Design and Technology.
Kevin Hedgpeth
Kevin Hedgpeth is an Arizona native who makes his home in Phoenix, where he actively writes and illustrates in addition to teaching college-level visual arts courses. He is co-author of “Exploring Drawing for Animation” and “Exploring Character Design” for Cengage Learning and illustrated the book, "Raising Unicorns: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Running a Successful - and Magical! - Unicorn Farm" for Adams Media.
Natalie La Scala
Natalie La Scala is a Denver-based media artist with 20 years of work experience in creative direction, project management, and higher education. Natalie's passion is to create dynamic content that people can put to use. Some recent clients include Z1CareerZone, Engage, LLC, and the Performing Arts Academy. As an educator she has provided innovative organizations consultancy on instructional design, curriculum development, and software training.
Piper Nilsson
Piper Nilsson is a graphic designer and educator. Piper was greatly influenced by studying art history at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and learned to apply principles of fine art to graphic design. She has over 10 years of experience teaching at Sessions. Piper has been working with the Web since 1997, when she began her career at a leading Web design agency. Working in various roles as a designer, programmer, and information architect, she blueprinted sites for such global clients as MetLife, Pepsi, ETS, and Citibank. Piper is currently working as a freelancer, based in Valencia, Spain. Her recent projects include a Spanish language podcast and travel app. Piper received a Sessions College outstanding instructor award in December 2011 and won a USDLA Platinum Award Best Practices Awards for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching in April 2012. Piper holds an Associate's degree in Graphic Design from the Pratt Institute.
View All faculty.
Course Descriptions
4218 Photoshop Basics
Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere image-manipulation tool for print design, Web design, and photography. You’ll learn to choose and use the best techniques for common Photoshop jobs including selecting and isolating objects, creating image composites, masking and vignetting images, setting typography, and improving images with retouching and effects. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program. Learn more
4226 Illustrator Basics
Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer’s vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool, transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application. Learn more
4023 Design Foundations
Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios.Learn more
8040 Digital Video Production
Learn how to control white balance, aperture, and shutter speed, to get high quality images from your digital video camera. You’ll explore the different types of shots and camera motion techniques used by the pros and learn how to do location scouting, plan props, wardrobe, and sets, and work with talent. Course lectures challenge you to think about different storytelling conventions in narrative and documentary movie-making and address the fundamentals of sound recording. You’ll script and storyboard short movie sequences and develop an understanding of the various roles in the video post-production process. Learn more
6225 Digital Video Editing I
Learn how to control white balance, aperture, and shutter speed, to get high quality images from your digital video camera. You’ll explore the different types of shots and camera motion techniques used by the pros and learn how to do location scouting, plan props, wardrobe, and sets, and work with talent. Course lectures challenge you to think about different storytelling conventions in narrative and documentary movie-making and address the fundamentals of sound recording. You’ll script and storyboard short movie sequences and develop an understanding of the various roles in the video post-production process. Learn moreLearn the art and craft of editing videos from two award-winning filmmakers. The course explores techniques that can be applied in a range of non-linear editing programs, including Adobe Premiere Pro. Yet the main focus is not just on developing software skills; it’s on exploring the magic behind video editing. Challenging projects including editing a commercial, an interview, a narrative scene, a music video, a video diary, and a text title sequence. Learn more
6010 After Effects I
Learn how to use After Effects to create sophisticated motion graphics—using text and object animations, compositing videos and images, and adding audio and effects. You’ll learn how to set keyframes on a timeline and work with transform properties, motion paths, masks, and effects, developing a solid foundation in this increasingly popular and versatile program. Learn more
Build Your Own Learning Path
This program is adaptable to a wide range of experience levels. Choose the option(s) below that best meet your learning goals.
Option 1
Specialize
New to the field? Simply complete all required courses in the certificate program.
Option 2
Customize
Already have some industry and/or software experience? Customize up to 50% of your programChoose from courses in Web Design, Software, Illustration, and more by choosing alternate courses.
Option 3
PLUS
Need more training? After you've completed your program, add concentrations at reduced tuitionChoose from concentrations in Graphic Design, Digital Photography, Fine Arts, and more to enhance your creative skills.
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Professional Certificate in Multimedia Arts students develop the following competencies:
1. Video
Shoot and edit engaging videos utilizing skillful production, camera, audio, and non-linear editing techniques.
2. Technology
Create images, animations, and movies by effectively and efficiently using creative software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, and other industry technologies.
3. Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling work by applying knowledge of color, typography, and composition.
4. Storytelling
Conceptualize, compose, and deliver images, animations, and movies demonstrating an effective use of visual communication and storytelling.
Sessions Student Work
Student Work
Career Outlook for Digital Media
Digital Media professionals produce creative work such as motion graphics, animations, special effects, digital graphics, video production for web, television, social media, and live streaming. These creatives can serve in multiple roles such as special effects artists, animator, motion graphics artist, cinematographer, director, editor, camera operator, and more. Professionals in this field need to possess artistic talent, communication skills, computer skills, creativity, and time-management skills.
Job Titles
Graduates could be employed as Special Effects Artists, Animators, Motion Graphics Artists, Camera Operators, Film and Video Editors, Producers, and Directors.
Median Annual Wage
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual salaries in May 2023 were as follows:
| Camera operators, television, video, and film | $61,800 |
| Film and video editors | $66,600 |
| Producers and directors | $85,510 |
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,060 |
Job Projections
From 2022 to 2032, employment opportunities are expected to grow as follows:
- Film and video editors and camera operators: jobs are projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032.
- Producers and directors: jobs are projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032.
- Special effects artists and animators: jobs are projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032.
About 9,400 openings for special effects artists and animators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Based on Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data for camera operators, film and video editors, producers and directors, and writers and authors and Indeed Job Outlook on video production and computer animation.
What Students Say
I appreciate the professional instructors teaching real-world content. I love working with texture, whether tactile or digital. I have my own design studio, so I’ve added my new multimedia skills to my box of tricks.
Getting Started
Our Multimedia Design Certificate online application process makes getting started easy, fast, and convenient.
What's the Admissions Process?
Open Admissions.
The Professional Certificate is open admissions, with classes starting each month. To apply for the program, simply complete our free, no-obligation application and select your program options. Applicants are expected to have graduated high school.
How Long is the Program?
Nine Month Program.
The program can be completed in nine months studying on a part time schedule. Since you study at your pace, you may complete it sooner! If you need more time to complete, there is a painless extension policy for an additional 6 months of access for students who qualify based on academic progress.
Will the Program Fit My Schedule?
There are no set login times, so you can complete your program at your own pace in our most flexible program. A designated Student Advisor will track your progress from class to class, providing you support and motivation.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
To take this program, you’ll need the following:
- Mac or Windows computer with an Internet connection.
- A digital video camera and ability to connect it to a computer to capture footage.
- Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere CC.
- Your computer must meet software manufacturer requirements.
- An ad-free Web hosting account (free services are available).
There are no textbook or course material costs to participate in this online program. Student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud software is available to enrolled students.
What are the Program Costs?
Sessions College programs are flexible and affordable. There are no textbooks required; tuition costs include all digital materials.
| Tuition and Fees | Professional Certificate | Professional Certificate PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,550 | $3,550 |
| Registration Fee | $200 | $200 |
| Total Cost | $2,750 | $3,750 |
Paid in Full Discount: Total cost is $2,700 (regularly $2,750) for Professional Certificate students who pay in full. Total cost for Professional Certificate PLUS students who pay in full is $3,700 (regularly $3,750).
Enrollment in any certificate program requires a $200 registration fee (non-refundable after 5 days of enrollment in the program). All tuition and fees must be paid on time, including those paid by third parties.
Can I Use a Payment Plan?
Most definitely. Affording your education is easier with our Payment Plan.
- Pay for your Professional Certificate with 11 monthly payments of $250, or pay for your Professional Certificate PLUS with 13 monthly payments of $288.
- Once you’ve set up your plan, your payments are automatic.
- Your first payment which includes a $200 Registration Fee.
Accreditations
