IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE TRANSITION TO CT STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
As part of the consolidation of Connecticut’s Community Colleges, Middlesex Community College and The Center for New Media will be transitioning our programs and courses to the new consolidated college, CT State, beginning with the Fall 2023 semester. All currently existing Middlesex Community College programs will end in summer 2023.
All “Digital Media Production” associates degrees and certificates will become “New Media Production” retaining the same specialization areas, e.g., Audio & Music, Film & Video, etc. The Communication Studies degree will keep the same name but have minor changes to program requirements. A new Communication degree will be available at the Middlesex campus with specializations in Journalism and Media Production. A new associates degree program in music production called, Music Industry, will also be available at the Middlesex campus.
All courses will have new numbers and some courses will have changes to the titles. Some courses currently classified as “Communication” (COM) will convert to NMP (New Media Production).
Degree requirements for the new CT State programs are available on the CT State draft catalog (link below). There will also be crosswalk documents available to help students transition from the current Middlesex programs to the new CT State programs. Students are strongly encouraged to confer with an advisor regarding transitioning to the new one college.
All students should have their Middlesex transcripts automatically converted to new CT State transcripts so they can seamlessly continue their education.
A draft of the new CT State catalog is available here.
This program prepares students for careers in the field of interactive multimedia used in business, marketing, education, entertainment and the World Wide Web. Students learn interactive multimedia, authoring and production including graphics, audio, video and animation.
Graduates leave with a portfolio of work and experience that prepare them for careers as multimedia producers, web designers, project managers or media production specialists. COM*287 Advanced Media Production and COM*295 Internship act as capstone courses providing students with portfolio work and on-site work experiences in preparation for employment.
Upon graduation, students will receive an Associate’s degree in New Media Production and an occupational certificate in Multimedia attesting to their specialized knowledge and skills in this area.
Degree Requirements
The New Media Production A.S. degree program requires 61 credits, including program requirements, electives and general education courses. In their first year students learn the foundations of media production through courses in writing, media studies, aesthetics and production. The second year is devoted to the selection of a series of specialized classes in preparation for a senior thesis project and internship.
As the certificate is comprised entirely of courses within MxCC’s New Media Production A.S. degree, students may switch to pursue the full degree instead of or in addition to the certificate with no penalties.
Certificate Requirements
This 30-credit certificate program is intended as a stackable credential for students looking to specialize in interactive multimedia.
When enrolling in this program as a standalone occupational certificate, it is recommended that students entering the program either have an associate’s degree or higher or are enrolled in the New Media Production Associate’s degree program to improve employability upon graduation.
The certificate should not be taken by a student who has no experience in design. It is only meant to teach the technical skills not design skills and is not recommended unless the student already has some sort of degree or experience.
A Certificate in Multimedia is broad and can’t cover all of the necessary skills to work in most positions, students should consider transferring to a four-year college or art school, which has specialized programs within Multimedia. The credits from this certificate will transfer into the Multimedia Degree.
SALARY INFORMATION
Most graduates holding associate degrees will be seeking entry-level positions, which pay about $25,000 per year, depending on several factors. Pay increases with the employee’s level of education and experience. Often students find employment after graduation through their student internship experiences.
National Average Salaries for the year 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Designer – $54,999
Graphic Artist/Illustrator – $48,780
Multimedia Artists and Animators – $74,999
Web Developer – $74,999
Programmer – $78,840
Sound Technician – $42,550
Video Technician – $59,040
The overall job outlook in this field is favorable, although competition is strong for positions at all levels. For the latest, detailed salary information, visit: www.bls.gov.
For more information, contact:
RICHARD ERIKSEN
Professor, New Media Production
Phone: 860-343-5795
Email: reriksen@mxcc.edu 
Office Location: Chapman 606
See office hours here
