General Technology, Concentration in Digital Rendering and Gaming with Secondary Specialty in Advertising Design or Photography, A.A.S. - GDRA
The A.A.S. degree in General Technology with a concentration in Digital Rendering and Gaming with secondary specialty in Advertising Design or Photography provides additional training and hands-on experience for those students who plan to operate a freelance business or find employment with gaming industry, advertising agencies, printing firms or in-house marketing departments.
The core training received in these programs will prepare the degree student with skills in character rendering, layout and design, color and composition, a familiarity with many styles of art and a portfolio of finished professional work for interviews in the job market.
Requirements
| Courses | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Courses | ||
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or ENG 165 | Professional Communications | |
| Lab Science/Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Mathematical Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Elective Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 15-16 | |
| Required Core Subject Areas | ||
| ARV 120 | Drawing | 3 |
| ARV 121 | Design | 3 |
| ARV 124 | Sequential Drawing | 3 |
| ARV 125 | Drawing for Animators | 3 |
| ARV 222 | Computer Animation | 3 |
| CPT 160 | Digital Vector Graphics I | 3 |
| CPT 161 | Introduction to Digital Raster Graphics I | 3 |
| CPT 288 | Computer Game Development I | 3 |
| CPT 295 | Desktop Publishing Applications | 3 |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| Secondary Specialty | ||
| Choose 12 credit hours from one of the following groups: | 12 | |
| Photography | ||
| Photography I | ||
| Composition and Color | ||
| Photography II | ||
| Photography III | ||
| Typography I | ||
| Advertising Design | ||
| Computer Graphics I | ||
| Composition and Color | ||
| Graphic Reproduction I | ||
| Advertising Design I | ||
| Advertising Design II | ||
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Other Courses Required for Graduation | ||
| Choose 12 credit hours from: | 12 | |
| Seminar in Graphics Art | ||
| Introduction to Business | ||
| Small Business Management | ||
| Customer Service Techniques | ||
| Advertising | ||
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 66-67 | |
Graduation Plan
Our semester-by-semester graduation plans will show you when required courses in your major are offered. Following this plan will help you stay on track and graduate on time.
Digital Rendering with Advertising Design, Fall Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ARV 110 | Computer Graphics I | 3 |
| ARV 120 | Drawing | 3 |
| CPT 160 | Digital Vector Graphics I | 3 |
| CPT 161 | Introduction to Digital Raster Graphics I | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ARV 123 | Composition and Color | 3 |
| ARV 124 | Sequential Drawing | 3 |
| ARV 125 | Drawing for Animators | 3 |
| ARV 261 | Advertising Design I | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| ARV 222 | Computer Animation | 3 |
| ARV 262 | Advertising Design II | 3 |
| CPT 288 | Computer Game Development I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ARV 121 | Design | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| Mathematical Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ART 101 | Art History and Appreciation | 3 |
| ARV 266 | Seminar in Graphics Art | 3 |
| BUS 101 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| Lab Science/Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 12-13 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| CPT 295 | Desktop Publishing Applications | 3 |
| MGT 120 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| MKT 240 | Advertising | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 66-67 | |
Digital Rendering with Photography, Fall Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ARV 114 | Photography I | 3 |
| ARV 120 | Drawing | 3 |
| CPT 160 | Digital Vector Graphics I | 3 |
| CPT 161 | Introduction to Digital Raster Graphics I | 3 |
| CGC 106 | Typography I 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ARV 123 | Composition and Color 1 | 3 |
| ARV 124 | Sequential Drawing | 3 |
| ARV 125 | Drawing for Animators | 3 |
| ARV 214 | Photography II | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| ARV 222 | Computer Animation | 3 |
| ARV 262 | Advertising Design II | 3 |
| CPT 288 | Computer Game Development I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ARV 121 | Design | 3 |
| ENG 101 or ENG 165 |
English Composition I or Professional Communications |
3 |
| Mathematical Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ART 101 | Art History and Appreciation | 3 |
| ARV 266 | Seminar in Graphics Art 2 | 3 |
| BUS 101 | Introduction to Business 2 | 3 |
| Lab Science/Mathematics | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| CPT 295 | Desktop Publishing Applications | 3 |
| MGT 120 | Small Business Management | 3 |
| MKT 240 | Advertising | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 66 | |
¹ Choose CGC 106 in Fall OR ARV 123 in Spring. Only 1 is required.
² MKT 135 can substitute ARV 266, BUS 101, MGT 120, OR MKT 240
Application and Advising
If you are ready to start your education, there are a few simple steps involved in enrolling at Piedmont Technical College.
Advising Information
The following information provides a guide for advisors who are helping students enroll in this program.
Program Notes
The best time to start this program is fall, however students can start any semester if they have the required prerequisites for the classes they want to take. Note that even though many ARV classes have no prerequisites, a very good grasp of basic computer use and navigation along with basic verbal, grammar and spelling skills are required for success in this curriculum.
Some level of proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite is highly recommended. If a student has had none or limited exposure to this software, CPT 160 or CPT 161 is recommended prior to enrollment in ARV courses.
Students will be responsible for obtaining a quality digital single lens reflex or mirrorless camera, a subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of products, and access to a color printer. The instructor will provide details as necessary.
Several investments must be made for a future in commercial arts, including a computer, a specialized digital single lens reflex or mirrorless camera, portable external hard drives, jump drives, etc.
Notes About Individual Classes
BIO 112, which provides a basic understanding of bone and musculature structure that is useful in accurately rendering the human form in drawings and design, is the recommended course for any ARV student in an associates program. However, BIO 101 will also meet the requirements for this degree. Different prerequisites, which are listed in the Academic Catalog and which should appear in DegreeWorks, are required for each science class.
PSY 103, PSY 201, or any other social science will be acceptable for the social science general education requirement.
Program Purpose
The A.A.S., General Technology with a primary specialty in Digital Rendering and Gaming Development and secondary specialization in Advertising Design or Photography provides an opportunity for students to pursue multiple areas of specialization and earn an associate degree by completing additional course work in general education. The degree may prepare graduates to transfer and continue their education at the baccalaureate level upon graduation or to become employed in the digital content creation or gaming industry, advertising design agencies, printing firms, photographic businesses, or in marketing and marketing development.
Student Program Learning Outcomes
For more information, review the learning outcomes for the corresponding certificates.