Program Development

Currently my department is in the process of updating our three certificates and AAS degree. As of right now there are two tracks, “Web Development” and “Digital Media”. If a student were to pick to take one of the two tracks, they cannot additionally get an AAS in the other track. The closest they can get is to complete the corresponding certificate for that track. To do so requires the student to use all their program electives, plus additional credits, to complete both sides.

Additionally we have found that there is low enrollment in some of our upper level courses, in particular on the digital media side.

The changes I plan to adopt to the curriculum will solve both of these issues. First we will reduce the number of upper level courses that are only tied to the AAS degrees. In the future students will have one unique advanced class tied to their track in addition to the Capstone course both sides will take. They will also take some shared courses in general education and a user experience class.

For the middle certificates there will be more overlap in what will be required (SEO, CSS Techniques and Projects, etc.) This will make it easier for students to switch areas of student, and allow them to use all their program electives to get both the AAS and the certificate for the other track without taking any additional courses.

I am also looking into adding more program electives that will help students if there were to get a bachelors degree in the future. For now students just need an AAS, but bachelors degrees are getting increasingly common, so I am adding electives that could potentially transfer to a four year school to help ease that transition (e.g. Programming Fundamentals).

These changes should go into effect in Fall 2026.

Curriculum Development

Changes to the courses are being made to help support the program changes. I have also been in the process of updating all the digital media and UI/UX courses that I teach so that the curriculum is current with the software and current best practices.

One of the biggest changes I have made is to the course Web 233 which will adopt sections from Web 121 (which is getting removed).

I am also developing two 1 credit courses. The first is on audio software to help supplement Web 233. The second is on working with prototyping software, a need to help with our students as well as those in Graphic Design who are wanting more practice with software like Figma.

These changes should go into effect in Fall 2026.