Art, Media, & Design

Students get real-world training in digital design

We teach real-world design skills in Columbus State's department of Art, Media, & Design. Students get expert instruction and learn the importance of deadlines in Studio 413, our student-run advertising agency. The department includes Digital Design & Graphics, Interactive Media, Digital Photography, and our new associate degrees in Mobile App Design & Development.

The minds behind the designs

Students from the Digital Design and Graphics, Digital Photography, and Video Game Art and Animation programs make up the staff of Studio 413.

Studio 413 is Columbus State's student ad agency that provides advertising and promotional materials to businesses and companies outside of Columbus State, as well as departments and service organizations here on campus. Students deliver everything from graphic design and brand identity to web page development and digital photography for brochures, logos, posters, web advertising and marketing services. This gives students a unique opportunity to participate in all aspects of an advertising agency from initial concept to working directly with the client on the final product. Along with the valuable experience, students produce creative work that they can add to their resume and portfolios.

Cybersecurity

Plugged in. Career connected.

Highly trained experts are needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks. In collaboration with the National Science Foundation and with support from the National Security agency, Columbus State has created a program that is educating the next generation of cybersecurity experts. The field is expected to grow faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The smartest start to a bachelor’s degree

Starting at Columbus State can save 30-60% off the total cost of a bachelor’s degree

When you earn an associate degree at Columbus State, your credits are guaranteed to transfer to any state college or university in the State of Ohio. Our Preferred Pathway partners provide even more benefits like guaranteed admission, academic advising.

Mobile App Design and Development

Mobilize your career as an app designer or developer

In the last decade, the percentage of Americans who own a smartphone jumped from 35 to 85 percent. The mobile industry has created a wide range of career opportunities — companies need tech professionals who can build engaging, easy-to-use mobile apps. Columbus State’s Mobile App Design and Development program offers the opportunity to launch a career in this growing field.

Get Credit for IT Certificates

Already got an IT certificate? Apply it to an associate degree!

Students with industry-recognized credentials have a head start on an associate degree at Columbus State. Our Computer Science department awards college credit for a number of IT certificates from recognized vendors like Cisco and CompTIA. Check out the list of certificates to see if you qualify.

Award-Winning Digital Photography program

Digital Photography has grown into a world-class degree

Columbus State’s Digital Photography program was named one of the top photography degrees in the country by Intelligent.com in both 2020 and 2021. The site ranked programs based on student readiness, return on investment, cost, and other factors. Columbus State’s program was singled out for excellence in an online program.

The program emphasizes the fundamentals, says program coordinator Gene Strickland. Many grads transfer to photography bachelor’s degree programs, where their mastery of craft is a distinct advantage.

“Four-year schools love our grads because they really learn their aesthetic and technical skills,” Strickland says, “and their portfolios are rock-solid.”

Working together to close the skills gap

Close partnerships with area businesses means increased opportunity for our graduates

The demand for IT professionals is huge and two-year degrees are critical to fill the skills gap between the numbers of open jobs and individuals able to fill them. Columbus State students are learn marketable skills that employers are looking, Manifest Solution counts on Columbus State grads to fill their IT positions.