Multimedia Design Degree Ranked Among Nation’s Top 15
Visual Arts Chair Cece Wheeler is flanked by students in the College's green screen studio.
Thomas Nelson Community College has been named among BestValueSchools.org's Top 15 Schools for an Associate in Multimedia Design in 2021. The College ranked seventh on the Utah-based entity's list.
Elated by the news, Visual Arts Department Chair Cece Wheeler thanked College leaders and the Information Technology team for their continued support that enables the program to offer "students some of the most updated graphics labs and software possible, including a large green screen video studio for special effects" every year.
"We have worked very hard over the past years to build a comprehensive curriculum to ensure our students are prepared for working in the design industry. Classes cover all aspects of design work, from photographic design, typographic design, digital illustration, web design, video production to motion graphics and advertising strategies," said Wheeler, who also is a professor of art at Thomas Nelson.
"Our advisory board and professionals in the community, along with four-year school colleagues, consistently comment on how well-prepared our students are for the workforce and transfer. Our graduates work as graphic designers for Riverside Health System, William & Mary, (and) NASA to name a few, as well as many graphic design firms across the state," she added.
Ursula Bock, the College's dean of Arts, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences, is equally thrilled about the national recognition. She highlighted the program's cost-effectiveness as a major benefit, saying that is "multiplied by the cutting-edge education and training the students receive at (a) great value."
Bock holds the multimedia design program's faculty in high regard.
"Prof. Wheeler and her colleagues Janice Hathaway and Dave Rueckert have been very diligent about keeping the program relevant. They are constantly monitoring new software releases and incorporating the latest into their courses. In effect, they are continuing to learn constantly," she said.
BestValueSchools.org researches thousands of colleges and universities to find the best schools that meet prospective students' most important needs for the best possible price. It also compiles resources to help college-bound individuals select their ideal school, find a degree that fits their interests, locate distance-learning and online schooling opportunities, and even obtain financial aid.
As for reasons to choose an Associate in Multimedia Design, BestValueSchools.org indicates that this degree equips students with skills that help them gain entry-level employment or expand their options in their current career fields. Further, notes the organization, many students initially take the associate, find work, and then continue to obtain a bachelor's degree.
In addition to Thomas Nelson, others on its Top 15 list (in order of rank) are Crafton Hills College, New England Institute of Technology, Cincinnati State, College of the Canyons, California University of Pennsylvania, Arapahoe Community College, Fremont College, Lynn University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Lone Star College, Wright State University, Rasmussen College and Portland Community College.