Digital Arts
Turn Your Creativity into a Career
The Digital Arts program prepares you to join fields such as television, film, commercial photography, and motion graphics. A successful career in any of these areas requires expertise in media arts and a foundation in information technology and business.
Our full-featured, two-year program includes courses in photography, studio lighting, audio/video production, entrepreneurship, web design, graphic design, and many more.
Once completed, a digital arts degree from Kirkwood tells employers you've developed a dynamic and desirable skillset.
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Artists and Related Workers
- Photographers
- Film and Video Editors
- Producers and Directors
- Reporters and Correspondents
- Camera Operators
- Media and Communication Workers
Graduates of the Digital Arts program will be able to:
- Design marketing strategies that integrate core business principles to achieve desired promotional outcomes.
- Create professional-quality digital photographic images for print or web output.
- Design websites following industry trends and standards.
- Create two- and three-dimensional artworks using a variety of digital processes.
- Create professional graphic presentations used in 2D design, print, web, and motion graphics.
- Operate a variety of audio and video equipment to convey a message or tell a story.
- Edit audio, photographic imagery, and video using a variety of editing techniques and software.
- Set up lighting equipment for different photographic and video production scenarios.
- Digital Photography
- Mass Media
- Video Production
- 2D Design
- Digital Photography II
- Digital Art
- Advanced Television
- Audio Production
Students in Kirkwood's Digital Arts program are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), the only national Career and Technical Student Organization with the family as its central focus.
FCCLA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
Design Discovery Days
Paired up to follow our Spring 2025 Kirkwood Campus Visit days, we offer Design Discovery Days. This is your chance to explore the spaces where ideas come to life, meet our passionate faculty, ask questions, and see the inspiring projects our students are working on.
We offer Design Discovery sessions following the conclusion of campus visit days on the following dates:
- Friday, March 28 at 1 p.m.
- Friday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
- Friday, May 2 at 1 p.m.
Sign up here. Once you conclude your campus visit, please go to the 3rd floor Nielsen Hall atrium at 1 p.m. on the day that you selected! A Kirkwood staff member will be present to help you get where you need to go.
Arts & Design Day April 4
Are you a high school students interested in exploring music, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, interior design, or apparel merchandising? Come to Arts & Design Day on Friday, April 4.
Held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., students will tour learning spaces, meet with faculty and current students, and explore projects and career paths within these fields. Lunch is provided.
High school seniors will have the opportunity to audition for music and theatre scholarships during the afternoon session. Visual arts students are encouraged to bring a portfolio of work for review.
Register here.
Program Costs
Digital Arts A.A.S.
School Year: 2024–25
Program Entry Semester: Fall, Spring
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours per Semester | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 64 |
| In-State Tuition | $3,255 | $3,906 | $3,472 | $3,255 | $13,860 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $200 |
| Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Conferences/Seminars | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) | $360 | $465 | $340 | $525 | $1,690 |
| Course/Section Fees | $165 | $130 | $0 | $20 | $315 |
| Laptop (required devices) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Testing Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Third Party Credentials | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Tool Sets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Uniforms | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other | $550 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $550 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $4,380 | $4,551 | $3,862 | $3,850 | $16,643 |
Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $217 (In-State), $290 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).
Fees and costs are subject to change. To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.
Scholarships
At Kirkwood, we award more than $3 million in scholarships for students every year! You only need to apply once to be considered for all scholarships you may be eligible for, so complete your application today!
Scholarships for Digital Arts Students
- Must be pursuing an A.A. degree with career interest in music—with preference given to a band student.
- Must be enrolled in at least eight semester hours and pursuing a degree with career interest in music, theatre or art as well as degrees with other academic interests.
- Talent, reliability, grade point average and level will be considered.
- Must maintain at least eight semester hours including at least one course in a subject other than music or theatre (need not be pursuing an A.A. degree with career interest in music or theatre to apply).
- Must maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
- Must actively contribute to the music and/or performing arts program, including enrollment in ensembles and/or productions.
- An initial audition is required.
- Must maintain at least eight semester hours, including at least one course in a subject other than music, theatre or art.
- An initial audition and/or portfolio review is required.
- Applications are screened each term to determine continuing eligibility.
- Fine and Performing Arts scholarships are awarded to students pursuing an A.A. degree with career interest in music or theatre as well as those pursuing degrees with other academic interests.
- Must maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
- Must actively contribute to the music, theatre and/or art programs, including enrollment in ensembles and/or productions.
- Must be pursuing an A.A. degree with career interest in art, music or theatre.
- Must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
- Must demonstrate financial need.
- Must be a graduate of a high school in Linn County, Iowa, with preference for Cedar Rapids Community School District graduates.
- Preference given to a student pursuing a degree with career interest in fine arts.
- Must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
- Must demonstrate financial need.
- Must be pursuing an A.A. degree with career interest in the arts
- Must be a second year student.
- Must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
- Must indicate future plans, including how you will be associated with art on a continuing basis.
“I was definitely one of those people that was like, 'Oh, I don’t know about college. What if that’s not right for me?' Going to Kirkwood is just a different experience from all the other colleges that I visited. ”
Marissa Cline,
Kalona, Iowa