Students who earn an associate degree in multimedia design at Flint Hills Technical College can easily transfer to Emporia State University to complete a bachelor’s degree in communication under a new agreement between the two institutions.
During four semesters at FHTC, multimedia design students do hands-on learning from digital storytelling, video editing and graphics to animation. At Emporia State, the students move into four semesters of courses that focus on written and oral communication including practice, theories and multicultural perspectives.
“With the everchanging world, especially now with COVID-19, being able to communicate with internal staff or customers with a video or graphic/animation is needed more than ever,” said Casey Wilson, FHTC multimedia design instructor. “The digital world we live in is exciting time for those who want a career in communication.”
Heidi Hamilton, chair of the ESU Department of Communication, agreed the two programs dovetail nicely.
“We see this degree as a cohesive blend of the technical skills, the application, and the theory,” she said. “When students in this 2+2 program complete their bachelor's degree, they will have a solid framework in message construction, including not only the multimedia skills but also an understanding of when and how to use those skills to create compelling and persuasive messages.”
The four-year program, according to Hamilton, should appeal to those interested in emerging careers in digital content/social media such as digital content managers and social media analysts, those wanting to start their own small businesses or be entrepreneurs in a related multimedia field and those interested in public relations.
The articulation agreement between the two institutions was completed in late 2020 and is available to students now.