Digital Media and Film Production Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Digital Media and Film Production major teaches you to create video, audio, animation and interactive media. Digital media and film programs cover video and audio production, editing, motion graphics, storytelling and media technology.

A Digital Media and Film Production major includes coursework in video production, audio production, editing, motion graphics, and screenwriting and storytelling and more. You build skills such as camera operation, video and audio editing software, storytelling, and collaboration. Programs often include building a portfolio. Typical degrees: certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees.

Typical courses include video production, audio production, editing, motion graphics, screenwriting and storytelling, and media technology. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Digital Media and Film Production is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees. In the latest federal data, 196 colleges reported certificate awards, 181 colleges reported associate awards, 341 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 111 colleges reported master’s awards, and 14 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to digital media and film production include video editor, camera operator, producer and director, animator, sound engineer, audio and video technician, and broadcast technician. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include video editor (typical training: 4 years or portfolio-based training), camera operator (typical training: 4 years or on-set experience), producer and director (typical training: Years of production experience), animator (typical training: 4 years plus reel), sound engineer (typical training: 6 months–2 years), and audio and video technician (typical training: 3–12 months).

Digital Media and Film Production majors build skills such as camera operation, video and audio editing software, storytelling, collaboration, and meeting deadlines.

Good pairings include Marketing (connects your production skills to brand content), Professional Writing (strengthens scripts and storytelling), and Business (useful for freelance and production company work).

Often, yes. Programs commonly include building a portfolio. Ask each college how its program arranges hands-on work.

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as video editor, camera operator, and producer and director, and enjoy subjects like video production and audio production. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes video production, audio production, and editing; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

630 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (60), New York (57), Pennsylvania (34), Florida (32), and Texas (29), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

565 of the colleges that offer digital media and film production also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Digital Media and Film Production teaches you to create video, audio, animation and interactive media. Communications studies how people create, share and interpret messages in person and through media. Digital Media and Film Production leads to careers such as video editor and camera operator, while Communications leads to careers such as public relations specialist and technical writer.

Digital Media and Film Production teaches you to create video, audio, animation and interactive media. Journalism teaches you to report, write and produce news across print, broadcast and digital media. Digital Media and Film Production leads to careers such as video editor and camera operator, while Journalism leads to careers such as journalist and editor.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to digital media and film production, such as Video Editor Training.