Frequently Asked Questions

• What is included with my tuition?
• Will I be employable?
• What kind of time commitment can a student expect as a participant in one of the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center Programs?
• Will I earn a degree at the end of this program?
• When and where will the courses be taught? What choice do I have?
• How Does DAC Prepare Me For My Career?
• Are there any specific academic admission requirements?
• What makes the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center program different from other schools?
• Who will my instructors be?
• Is financial assistance available?
• When do enrollments in this program begin?

What is included with my tuition?

A great benefit unique to the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center program and unlike competing programs…

With your enrollment in the Casual Game Development program you will receive:

• MacBook Pro laptop computer

• The latest Adobe CS software

• The latest Unity3D Casual Game Development Platform including Web, Mac, Win, and iPhone Publishing

• A yearlong subscription to the latest Autodesk Maya Complete software

• Textbooks and Video Learning Materials

• Tuition locked in for a year

With your tuition into the Digital Graphics & Web Design program you will receive:

• MacBook Pro laptop computer

• Adobe CS. includes: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Flash & Dreamweaver software

• All necessary textbooks

• Digital SLR Camera

• Tuition locked in for a year

With your enrollment in the Video, Sound & Motion Graphics program you will receive:

• MacBook Pro laptop computer

• Apple's Final Cut Studio software. Includes: Final Cut Pro, Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Live Type, Compressor, and Soundtrack Pro,

• Pro Tools LE

• After Effects

• Adobe CS. Includes Dreamweaver and Flash

• Textbooks

• HD video camcorder & tripod

• 1TB firewire/USB external hard drive

• M-Box

• Your tuition will be locked in for the year

Check with the Program Manager for details on book/software versions pertaining to the specific program.

Will I be employable?

That's our primary goal! One of the hallmarks of the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center program is that from the first day, we are grooming you to think, act and deliver like a professional designer. The projects you'll be doing from the very beginning are real-world and we help you develop a portfolio which looks good! Towards the end, we'll be teaching you about resume development and job interviewing, as well as business methods for those who really want to "do your own thing" from your home office. We also offer Externships for graduates who want real, in-office experience. We can also provide one-on-one coaching and career assistance. All the tools are there to help you launch a new career.

What kind of time commitment can a student expect as a participant in one of the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center Programs?

Two of our certificate programs, Digital Graphics & Web Design and Video, Sound & Motion Graphics, currently require participation in twelve classroom/instructional hours per week. Casual Game Development requires participation in eight classroom/instructional hours per week. Additional outside instructional time will be accomplished by utilizing an interactive blog site for project review and evaluation by students and instructors. Generally speaking, a student will be required to match classroom time with outside project production and design time, resulting in a one-to-one relationship. However, having said that, most students become so enthusiastic about the design process, that they devote numerous additional outside design hours to the projects as they strive to become the very best graphic design professionals possible in a reasonably short period of time.

Will I earn a degree at the end of this program?

The DAC program is a non-matriculated program of UC San Diego Extension. What that means is that we do not require certain GPA or SAT scores to enter. It also means that we award certificates for successful completion of all DAC coursework rather than a degree. Each UC San Diego certificate has to meet specific University of California standards. These certificates, along with a personal portfolio, have opened many doors for our students. The UC San Diego Extension certificates that you may earn are:

• Specialized Certificate in Digital Design

• Specialized Certificate in Web Design for Graphic Professionals

• Professional Certificate in Video, Sound & Motion Graphics

• Professional Certificate in Casual Game Development

When and where will the courses be taught? What choice do I have?

In order to get you through the program and out in the field as a design professional, both the daytime and nighttime DAC programs meet year round. All classes meet at Sorrento Mesa Center (near the Qualcomm campus) which has the advantage of being spacious and offering students abundant and free parking. (If you've ever tried parking on campus, you'll really appreciate this.)

• The daytime DGWD program (12 months) meets three mornings per week, 8 a.m. - 12 noon, Tues - Thursday. An evening DGWD program (12 months) meets three evenings per week (Tuesday-Thursday) from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
• An evening DGWD program (12 months) meets three evenings per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m
• The evening VSMG program (12 months) meets three evenings per week (Tuesday-Thursday) from 5:30 pm - 9:30 p.m.
• The evening CGD program (12 months) meets two evening per week (Tuesday & Thursday)
  

Each section of DAC (day or evening) has the same curriculum, number of hours and student learning outcomes. We observe all UC San Diego holidays and there is a break between quarters.

How Does DAC Prepare Me For My Career?

Following successful completion of the Casual Game Development, Digital Graphics and Web Design, or the Video, Sound and Motion Graphics program, students will have acquired extensive digital design knowledge and applied it to numerous professional level production projects.

The Business and Marketing Practices/Portfolio Development Series provides the opportunity to become adept at the basic principles of business, marketing and self-promotional practices. Business strategies, copyright and legal issues, marketing and job placement strategies will be learned and developed. The ongoing evolution of portfolios and presentation skills will continue to be refined while interfacing with various circles of the design community.

Upon successful completion of this Business and Marketing Practices Series, students will:

• Have developed professional level skill sets and be prepared for employment with the refinement of their portfolios and presentation skills
• Understand business/marketing practices as uniquely applied to the digital designer
• Take part in internships / externships (optional)

Based on our real-world professional experience and the knowledge that comes from having taught digital art classes for over 15 years (way back with Photoshop 1.0); we know that the portfolio is the key to getting noticed, jobs, and work. In this unique field of digital arts, what matters is being able to show what you can do! And you can do that most effectively by showing samples of what you have done; showing your portfolio.

In the final quarter of your program, the learning continues full-steam (business concepts, legal issues, resume building, interviewing, internship prep, and more multimedia and design) but you'll also be working on your portfolio. Using what you've learned and projects developed in the program to date (digital photography, page layout, identity projects, web sites, audio/video production and more), you'll develop a "triple-threat" portfolio (print based, web based and interactive DVD based) of which you can be proud. Combine that with UCSD's brand-name Certificates and doors will open.

Are there any specific academic admission requirements?

We are looking for desire. As stated above, joining the UC San Diego DAC program is not dependent on one's grade point average (GPA) or SAT test scores. Nor do we have any specific design background prerequisite. (Although if you have one, so much the better!) We are looking for people who are creative and want a different future. We'll be looking for this in the one-on-one admission interview process.

What makes the UC San Diego Digital Arts Center program different from otherschools?

First, no one in Southern California has UC San Diego's academic prestige. No one has been teaching these technologies for as many years as we have. No one has instructors with more experience than we do. No one includes the notebook computer, the design software, the cameras, and all the textbooks in the tuition. (If you're comparing prices, add $10,000 plus to the tuition price of the "other schools".) This makes UC San Diego's Digital Arts Center program an excellent value.

Every student is unique to us. We only admit a small group of students each September in order to maximize learning. We offer real world projects, an Externship option, and UC San Diego quality.

We think this is the best program at the best price in the region. No one even comes close.

Who will my instructors be?

We're proud of our DAC instructors. Each is a practicing professional - not just a professional teacher. Each brings current methods and experience into the classroom and the sharing of current projects and issues has been found by students to be one of the highlights of the program.

Is financial assistance available?

Yes. Please check with us and we'll put you in contact with our financial aid officer.

When do enrollments in this program begin?

We welcome new students into the DAC program only once a year for the Fall (September). However, DAC Info Sessions start in January and enrollment is open from January onward for the upcoming Fall program.