woman at a laptop

Digital Media Online Bachelor’s Degree Program

Can Be Completed in as Little as

14 terms*

*2 terms per semester; each term is 7 weeks

Tuition

$335/credit

$1,005 3-credit course

Active Duty Military

truED Preferred Tuition

Credit Hours Required

Summer Term B Application Deadline

June 20

Upcoming Start Dates

Summer B: July 1

Explore Digital Media

Our online Bachelor of Science in Digital Media program equips students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in the realm of digital storytelling. Emphasizing a deep understanding of audience dynamics and messaging objectives, this program empowers students to craft compelling digital content that seamlessly blends creativity with business and marketing strategies. 

Students will actively engage in hands-on projects, gaining expertise in evaluating and delivering branded, strategic, and responsible content. With a deliberate emphasis on building an integrated portfolio and fostering career exploration, students will have the chance to exhibit their skills in digital media and content creation, strategic thinking, and storytelling to prospective employers.

 

Build Your Career 

Future Having a degree can increase both your immediate job prospects and your long-term career potential. With this cutting-edge degree from Champlain College Online, graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers, utilizing digital media content strategies to respond to the needs of diverse audiences, clients, and projects.

Take the next step

Academic Excellence and Recognition

New England Commission of Higher Education Logo

Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education

US News & World Report Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs

Ranked among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report

Military Friendly Badge

Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community

Intelligent.com ranks Champlain College Online among best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees

Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com

What Can I do With a Degree in Digital Media?

The digital media industry represents a dynamic and rapidly expanding sector, attracting a wide array of enthusiastic professionals. This field anticipates significant job growth in various related roles. Among these roles are positions such as social media managers, public relations specialists, and marketing experts, encompassing a broad spectrum of career opportunities.

As of 2021, the digital media sphere boasted over 1,700,000 jobs in these and associated fields, and this number is poised to surge by an impressive 12.7 percent by 2026. This expansion is projected to result in an average of about 115,800 new job openings annually. These opportunities stem from a combination of industry growth and the need to replace those making career changes or retiring.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/home.htm

Career Possibilities for Digital Media graduates include:

  • Digital Media Specialist
  • Social Media Specialist
  • Web Designer
  • Brand Associate
  • Content Marketing Specialist
  • Digital Marketing Specialist
  • Public Relations Specialist
Online leadership graduate certificate student having a friendly discussion with a colleague

Program Details

Learn more about Champlain's 100% online digital media bachelor's degree, designed for working professionals.

Champlain's online business management courses encompass the top skills needed by today's business professionals. Graduates of the program are required to complete the following courses. 

Digital Media Core Courses (21 credits) 

Marketing & Web Development Core Courses (18 credits) 

Portfolio and Capstone Sequence (6 credits)

Program Electives (9 Credits) 

  • Take 9 credits from DGMD, WEBD, MKTG, or MKCM courses

General Education Courses (42 credits) 

General Electives (24 credits)

Digital Media Core Courses

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to create engaging digital media content by focusing on foundational techniques and skills. Students will utilize various digital formats, such as video, audio and interactive content to create digital experiences for specific audiences and purposes. Emphasis will be placed on understanding audience requirements, devising compelling storylines, and making use of a wide range of digital formats. Students will learn how to plan and create a compelling portfolio of their work.

Prerequisites

MKCM 101: Introduction to Video Storytelling and MKCM 102: Foundations of Visual and Digital Design

In this course, students will explore real time digital media production as they create and produce live video, audio and interactive digital experiences for diverse audiences. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by real time media, as well as the importance of audience engagement and interaction. Students will complete projects showcasing their ability to produce and distribute engaging real time digital media content as they continue to develop their portfolio.

Prerequisites

MKCM 101: Introduction to Video Storytelling and MKCM 102: Foundations of Visual and Digital Design

In this course students will gain practice with emergent technologies that are transforming the digital media landscape. Students will learn how to ethically and effectively utilize these technologies to support marketing and business strategies as they explore digital media content that engages audiences. Emphasis will be placed on evaluating the appropriateness of emergent technologies and how to stay current in an ever-evolving digital landscape as students continue to build their portfolio of work.

Prerequisites

MKCM 101: Introduction to Video Storytelling and MKCM 102: Foundations of Visual and Digital Design

This class is designed to provide students who have little or no digital video production knowledge with an introduction to methods and strategies for production of digital video stories. Using the art of telling a story, the class will create educational, informational or personal experience video productions utilizing audio, video, storyboard, scriptwriting and digital editing techniques

This course introduces students to the fundamental language of visual form and basic skills including the industry-standard software applications used to create, acquire, and manipulate digital images. Students will learn about two-dimensional composition and design, color theory and terminology, and will apply these principles to a variety of basic design projects. Color, form and content will be explored in terms of cultural, psychological, physiological, and historical aspects.

In this hands-on design course, students will plan, design, typeset, produce artwork, proof, and manage production for brochures, posters, and other communication collateral materials. Students will learn the basic language of design and the overall production process-all to help produce projects or work with design and production professionals to produce complex projects. Some basic art supplies will be required.

This hands-on content production class examines and creates audio and video for an evolving variety of social media platforms. Students will examine, question, critique, draft, and revise text, audio, and video created for specific target audiences.

Prerequisites

Take MKCM-101

The American Marketing Association defines Marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. In this course, students will learn marketing terminology and principles including the marketing mix, marketing segmentation and how external forces impact marketing strategy as well as how marketing fits into the organization.The impact of ethical issues, diversity, globalization and social responsibility on marketing decisions will also be examined.

This course explores the psychological and behavioral factors that influence consumer decision-making. Through a combination of theoretical and applied approaches, students will examine how individuals acquire, process, and use information to make purchasing decisions. Topics include the impact of social and cultural factors on consumer behavior, the role of emotions in decision-making, and the effects of marketing and advertising on consumer choices. Students will apply their knowledge of consumer behavior to the development of buyer personas for an organization.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-200

Effective branding can help an organization differentiate itself from competitors, build brand loyalty, and establish a strong reputation. In this course, students will learn how to create, develop, and manage a brand, from initial concept and positioning to execution. An emphasis on ethical practices in branding, along with an exploration of technological innovation on branding and the branding process, will provide students with skills to build and maintain a brand that is innovative and upholds strong ethical standards.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-210

From storyboard to form creation, students walk through the steps to create a basic four to five-page website to specification in this course that introduces HTML5 and CSS. Hands-on assignments reinforce skills development and best practices in design: navigation, column layout, image editing and usage, fonts and tables.

Websites must balance technology with aesthetics. In this course, students study web design patterns and personas, and then create a wireframe storyboard with at least four panels designed for a standard desktop view. Students use Mockups 3.

Prerequisites

Complete WEBD-110 and WEBD-125

Websites have three functions - to facilitate, enable and persuade - and are only useful if they can connect people and achieve definite goals. In this course, students learn to understand the concept of usability, and the roles of interaction, users, communication and collaboration as well as how to evaluate usability, and observe and test users.

Prerequisites

WEBD-215 OR SDEV-230

In this 7-week intensive workshop, students will apply their accumulated knowledge and skills in digital media to a significant project, while also honing their professional portfolios. Working individually or in small groups, students will develop and complete a project that demonstrates their proficiency in digital media concepts and techniques. Students will also participate in portfolio critique sessions, receive guidance from instructors, and listen to guest lectures from industry leaders to ensure their portfolios are polished and market-ready.

Prerequisites

Completion of 105 credits.

In this course, students demonstrate their expertise in digital media by applying their skills in content creation, design, and strategy to develop and execute a digital media project for an industry partner. The course will emphasize the importance of adapting to client needs and evolving project requirements, preparing students for the digital media industry as they create a final product for their portfolio. Throughout the course, students will receive feedback from both their peers and faculty to ensure continuous improvement.

Prerequisites

DGMD 410: Advanced Project and Portfolio in Digital Media

Complete the following two courses

This course introduces students to the foundational concepts needed to communicate effectively in writing for academic study and professional development. Students will also learn to read critically to evaluate an author's message. Students will be introduced to rhetorical modes and their role in the development of written communication. Students will also learn how to use revision strategies to create written communication that meets its intended purpose for its intended audience

This course builds on students' proficiency in the writing process and rhetorical modes to introduce the use of sources in written communication. Students will practice information literacy as they learn to determine information needs from sources, develop effective search strategies, and incorporate sources in written communication, legally and ethically.

Prerequisites

Complete ENGL-100

Complete the following course

This course draws on fundamental concepts of contemporary communication research to help students identify and develop strategies to become effective and versatile communicators across media and settings. Students will examine and respond to a range of interpersonal situations through the critical evaluation of the three essential components of all communication: its purpose, audience, and context. Students will leave the course with the ability to reflect on and adapt their strategies to successfully and consistently communicate for a range of purposes across diverse settings.

This course draws on fundamental concepts of contemporary group communication research to help students identify and develop strategies to communicate effectively in small groups and teams for the cooperative purpose of advancing common goals. Students will draw on listening and responding strategies learned in COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication and apply them to communicating as a leader or member of a small group. They will also learn how to recognize and manage the types of conflicts that can arise in small groups. Prerequisite: COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Complete COMM-130

Students will learn and apply critical inquiry skills to analyze persuasive communication created by others and to develop persuasive communication/arguments of their own to solve problems in professional, civic, social, and personal contexts. Specifically, students will learn to recognize fallacies in logic; apply inductive and deductive reasoning strategies to the interpretation and development of persuasive communication; evaluate the validity of sources; and develop logically sound persuasive communication. Students will explore the roles of self-awareness, empathy, and ethics in the context of critical inquiry and the development of arguments.

Prerequisites

Complete ENGL-110.

Complete one of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course

This course is an historical overview, and examination of the evolution of digital, film, and print media, and their functions. Students will identify and analyze contemporary problems of the media such as the legal, social, economic and psychological implications of their relationships with society. They also will examine the ways in which marketing and PR professionals utilize the mass media channels to reach their intended target audiences.

This course explores the complex and evolving relationship between human beings and technology. Through a multi-disciplinary approach that draws on fields such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history, students will examine the ways in which technology has shaped human culture, identity, and values, as well as how humans have influenced and continue to influence the development, adoption and use of technology.

Complete the following two courses

Mathematical reasoning, when applied to everyday and professional lives, has two dimensions: logic for deterministic situations and probabilities for non-deterministic situations. This course aims to help students develop these mathematical reasoning skills.

Accurate and appropriate visual data representation is increasingly critical in today's work environments. Students will develop skills in data organization, manipulation and interpretation in a way that supports data-driven decision-making and effective communication of numerical data

Complete one of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course

Introduces students to the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition and exercise. Emphasis will be placed on human body systems such as musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory and circulatory, and their relationship to nutrition and fitness. Students will also study the biochemistry of energy conversion as it relates to exercise physiology. Laboratory sessions are designed to reinforce, by a hands-on approach, the principles discussed in lecture. Course includes two laboratory hours per week.

Students learn the biology, genetics, chemistry, and physics involved in the forensic investigation of crimes. A wide range of topics are studied including DNA, entomology, fingerprinting, trace evidence, serology (blood, saliva, and semen), blood spatter, and chemical analysis of drugs, alcohol, and other compounds. Students apply their new knowledge of forensic science through the use of case studies and laboratories. This course includes two laboratory hours per week.

Students will develop the ability to apply scientific methods to understand the natural world, to identify scientific aspects of daily life, and to evaluate the quality of scientific information based on its source and the methods used for its generation.

Complete the following course

This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which civic and professional communities respond to these issues.

Complete any two of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course(s)

With pressure and release, a window opens and closes, recording light on a sensor. The simple action captures the instinct, judgement, and skill of the person behind the lens. This class will begin a study of the art and craft of photography. Students will develop their vision and their understanding of how to achieve it. Solid skills will be learned and many doors will be opened.

A survey of the continuing change experienced in art since the 15th century. Students will examine how an image is achieved as well as the significance of the subject represented. Individual inquiry concerning the nature of art is encouraged.

Students learn to appreciate films through the critical analysis of various elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound. The course introduces the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema, considers the work of one major director (auteur), and surveys selected international and independent films. Students view and discuss films each week.

Students in the course will explore the cultural history of the music genre broadly referred to as rock. Students will explore the social, economic and political contexts that are influenced by and that influenced each style in the United States. By listening, watching, reflecting upon, discussing and writing, students will explore how music takes on meaning, personally, and culturally. Topics and themes include the relationships between and among gospel, country, funk, folk, disco, rap and hip hop; the role of business and technology in those relationships, and political or transgressive elements of rock music.

Students will apply communication theory and research to address the particular challenges to communicating effectively in organizations. Students will learn how to identify organizational communication problems, analyze those problems, and generate effective solutions. Students will examine the relationship between organizational structure and specific communicative practices, and how communication practices by organizational members establish, maintain, or change organizational culture. They will also learn how to anticipate communication deficiencies in organizations, and use communication as a means to facilitate organizational development and innovation.

Prerequisites

Complete COMM-130

Specific application of common tools for writing in the working world. Students will be instructed in rhetorical strategies of professional writing including style, report formats, editing, document design, and integration of visual aids. Students will complete a semester-long writing project; oral and written reports associated with the process of problem-solving within the project will be included.

Prerequisites

ENGL-112 or COR-125

Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.

Ethics refers to accepted standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do in various contexts, typically in relation to rights, obligations/duties, benefits to society, fairness, consequences, and virtues. In this course, students will explore both theoretical and practical dimensions of ethics in order to 1) define ethics and identify ethical positions and principles, 2) critically reflect on how ethics impacts individual and collective responsibility, decision-making, and action, and 3) apply ethics to the personal, civic, and professional contexts.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110

This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of technical writing (clear, concise, and targeted)that are common among seven forms of technical communication: email correspondence, editing,employment communication, proposals, long, formal reports,oral communication, and inventions. Through peer reviews and writing workshops, students develop the ability to write and edit text that precisely targets its audience. This course emphasizes deepening and broadening students' writing, speaking, and thinking abilities in a non-lecture-based, hands-on, discussion-centered classroom.

Prerequisites

ENGL-112 or COR-125

Complete any two of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course(s)

Provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals of substantive criminal law. Students will learn the essential elements of crimes and the rationale underlying criminal law. The nature of jurisdiction, the criminal act, the criminal state of mind and matters affecting responsibility for criminal conduct are included.

This course focuses on the rules and procedures governing how the American criminal justice system must process individuals suspected, accused, and convicted of law violations.

This course provides students with a broad overview of the history, theory, and fundamentals of criminal investigation. Students are introduced to the basic responsibilities of investigators and protocols for report writing, evidence collection, and preparation of cases for trial. They also learn specific investigative techniques for different types of crimes, such as crimes involving violence and property, terrorism, and hate crimes, and, where appropriate, compare investigative protocols from other legal cultures.

Prerequisites

Take CRIM-120, CRIM-121.

Principles of Economics introduces the fundamental concepts of economics - the study of how people manage resources, and how they react to scarcity. This course focuses on both microeconomics (the behavior of consumers and companies) and macroeconomics (large-scale economic factors such as employment and interest rates), so that you'll gain a broad understanding of how a modern market economy functions, how decisions in business settings are informed by economics, and how economics applies to your everyday life.

Students will study important themes in the social history of the United States since the Civil War. This course allows students to expand their critical thinking skills through an examination of primary and secondary sources. Themes might include: the evolving status of women; the immigrant experience; the concept of the American dream; the paradox of freedom vs. slavery; the minority experience; the tensions between social classes. Students will be evaluated primarily on writing assignments.

In this course, students will explore broad, foundational knowledge in psychology, including its history, major theorists and a survey of psychology subfields such as developmental, cognitive and social psychology. Students will also describe and assess the role of ethics and social responsibility in the study and application of psychological theory and practices.

In this class, students will explore how social relationships, groups, societies and culture develop and change over time. From a sociological theory foundation and employing the sociological imagination, students will examine the impact of social structures, institutions, and systems on individual lives. Students will apply sociological research methods to investigate sociological phenomena in their own lives.

Graduates of the digital media bachelor's online program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:

  • Determine the audience, content, purpose, goals and success measures of a messaging project or initiative (Evaluate).
  • Identify and critically evaluate the impact of digital media on society, culture, and ethics to inform responsible media production and consumption (Inquire and Evaluate).
  • Create compelling narratives in diverse digital formats for specific audiences and purposes to persuade, educate, inform or entertain (Create).
  • Adapt to the changing technical environment of digital media through research, experimentation, and application of emergent platforms (Create and Apply).
  • Identify and differentiate how digital media is used within varying business models and marketing strategies to meet project and/or client needs (Analyze and Evaluate).

 

Champlain College Online's digital media faculty, led by Elaine Young, PhD, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s marketing and communication professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the field, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.

Increasing your career mobility is at the center of everything we do. As an online bachelor's degree student, you get free access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle for getting noticed and getting hired, taught by Jen Morris, a leading executive career coach that partners with us to support our students in their job search journeys. 

Tuition & Costs

Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25

$335 per credit
$1,005* per course
$290** per credit for Champlain alumni or associate degree graduates from any college or university
$250 per credit for military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150 One-time graduation fee

*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits

** Starts Summer 2024, not retroactive 

See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here

What To Expect at Champlain Online

Expect Convenience

Go to school wherever and whenever is best for you, on the device of your choice.

Expect A Career Focus

Relevant and immediately applicable coursework gets you ready for your next career move

Expect Support

Your dedicated academic advisor provides the support you need to meet your academic goals

Expect Superior Faculty

Learn from practitioner faculty working in the field, with real-world experience and knowledge.

From Our Blog

You may also be interested in

Learn More About The BS in Digital Media Program

Learn what you can expect from our online bachelor's in digital media program.

Sunset over Lake Champlain from Champlain College campus in Burlington, Vermont

Download Program Guide

I acknowledge that, by clicking the "submit" button, I am giving my express written consent to Champlain College and its representatives to contact me about educational opportunities via email, text, or phone, at the phone number above, including my mobile phone, using an automatic dialer, or pre-recorded message. Message and data rates may apply. I understand that my consent is not a requirement for enrollment, and I may withdraw my consent at any time.