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Certificate Program in Digital Media

Master the art of digital storytelling and media production with our online Certificate in Digital Media.

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Online Certificate in Digital Media

In today's digital-first world, strong visual and audio communication skills are essential for engaging audiences, building brands and sharing impactful stories. The Certificate in Digital Media gives you the technical skills and creative expertise to produce compelling short-format digital content for web, broadcast and social media.

This program is designed for students, educators, content creators and other professionals looking to develop or enhance their skills in video production, audio editing, storytelling and media distribution. Whether you want to advance your career in marketing, communications, design or media production, this certificate gives you the hands-on experience and industry-relevant training to succeed.

Digital Media Career Outlook

With the rise of social media, online advertising and digital storytelling, professionals with strong media production and digital marketing skills are in high demand.

High Growth in the New England Area for Digital Media Employment:

52,988
Jobs (2023)
+9.5%
% Change (2023-2035)
$76.2K/yr
Median Earnings
4,794
Annual Openings
Source: Lightcast, Digital Media Jobs in New England, 2025

Earning a Certificate in Digital Media opens doors to exciting roles in:

  • Digital Content Creation
  • Social Media Management
  • Video and Audio Production
  • Marketing and Branding
  • Journalism and Public Relations
  • Corporate Communications
  • Multimedia Design

What You'll Learn

Through engaging course work and hands-on projects, you will:

  • Create compelling short-format digital content that resonates with diverse audiences.
  • Develop strong storytelling and media production skills using video, audio, and multimedia formats.
  • Master video and audio editing techniques for professional-quality content.
  • Understand digital distribution and marketing strategies for web and social media platforms.
  • Learn ethical media practices, including objective storytelling, intellectual property rights, and audience engagement.

Why Choose the Digital Media Certificate at UMass Lowell?

  • Flexible Learning Options: Take courses at your own pace to fit your schedule.
  • Customizable Course Work: Choose electives in photography, script writing, podcasting, graphic design, and more.
  • Hands-On Training: Develop practical skills in video and audio production, editing, and media distribution.
  • Industry-Relevant Curriculum: Learn best practices for content creation in marketing, education, nonprofit work, and media production.
  • Career-Ready Skills: Gain expertise in short-format storytelling, ethical media production, and digital marketing strategies.

One Success Leads to Another

Students who successfully complete the Digital Media Certificate program can count all of the courses towards UMass Lowell's Bachelor of Liberal Arts: Graphic Design Concentration program.

Curriculum Outline

-Total Courses Required: 6 (18 Credits)

Required Courses (4 Courses / 12cr)

Electives (Choose 2 / 6cr)

Course Descriptions

ARTS.1610 Introduction to Photography (3cr)

Photography for Non Majors. Students learn how to transform the three-dimensional world before their eyes into the two-dimensional world of photography utilizing the human invention of the lens and camera. They come to appreciate the role photography plays in composition, lighting, and concept creation. Does not count towards a BLA minor or a BFA degree. AH.

DGMD.1000 Introduction to Digital Media (3cr)

This foundational course that surveys the history and current state of digital and web-based media from a variety of perspectives: cultural and ethical, as well as the production and monetization of media. Students engage with and become critical consumers of media, learning how we use it to disseminate, market, entertain, influence and disrupt.

DGMD.1210 Introduction to Audio Production (3cr)

This introductory-level production course is designed to engage students in learning techniques and principles of audio production and integration of sound into media storytelling including digital film, commercial media applications, internet production, and many more. Students will learn basic workflows of digital sound recording, processing, editing, and mixing. Likewise, students will be introduced to the aesthetic properties of sound and discuss various applications and form through the study of existing works. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to in-the-field and in-the-studio hands-on experience (both individual and in-group). No prior experience with the medium is necessary. The course is required for Digital Media BA majors but is open to anyone.

DGMD.2100 Introduction to Multimedia Production (3cr)

This is a practical, introductory course that gives a fast-paced overview of a broad range of topics related to contemporary digital media. Students should expect to gain foundational level skills with still image capture, video recording, sound recording, and video editing. The course will equip students with an understanding of the basics of visual storytelling through practical exercises in each stage of production, Given the power of modern personal computers, all course topics apply to both professional production environments and personal media projects alike. By the end of the course, students can expect to understand common production workflows for a wide array of digital media including social media, digital photography video production and audio recording.

DGMD.2200 Screenwriting (3cr)

In this class students will be immersed in the art and craft of creating compelling stories for the screen in both fiction and nonfiction genres. As it has been said many times about media making, the story is the heart of media production. Students will develop screenwriting abilities through gaining knowledge of and experience with story conception and development: character development; story structure; dramatic action; dialogue; scene/sequence construction and writing for emotional impact.

DGMD.2310 Media, Law and Ethics (3cr)

This course explores key legal issues likely to confront journalists, mass media professionals or students interested in learning more about the relationships between law, media and ethics in this global community. Nonetheless, students are challenged to think critically about the applicability of those issues to individuals and to media institutions that transmit information via spoken communications, writing, traditional media, mobile messages, social network sites, or e-mail messages.

DGMD.3000 Multimedia Storytelling (3cr)

This course will facilitate a deeper understanding of the uses of online and multimedia communication technologies in a democratic society and the impact of such technologies on the way we communicate The course will provide students with the opportunity to develop professional knowledge and skills with the tools used in online and multimedia creation. Students will develop a critical understanding of multiplatform and multimedia technologies and will learn how to use video, digital photography, audio, video, social networking and other new technologies.

DGMD.4200 Podcasting (3cr)

In this class, students will create audio segments in the style of a Podcast, each executed with increasing complexity. Students will use the language of cinema, television, print, and the web. They will conduct research, scriptwriting, producing, location scouting, and organize scheduling. Students will use current technology to record a location-based audio program.

ENGL.2240 Business Writing (3cr)

Studies the theory and practice of writing letters, memoranda and reports on specific business and technical problems. Registration preference for students enrolled in Business programs.

Notes:

Note: Students may not receive credit for both ENGL.2240 and ENGL.2260

GRFX.2000 Introduction to Graphic Design (3cr)

Exercises, lectures and projects will introduce students to graphic design principles and techniques. Course will begin with a fundamental study of image, form, and space relations, then cover such topics as working with grids, typography basics, page layout, the introduction of color, rendering techniques, history, and more. Students will be assigned a series of projects to enhance their visual communication skills. Formerly 70.291 & 70.210. 3 credits/3 contact hours.

Requirements:

Basic Computer Prof. (CSCE)

GRFX.2020 Fundamentals of Typography (3cr)

Studies typographic concepts, techniques, and the creative use of type in visual communication. Emphasis will be placed upon the history of type design and its context within the graphic design industry. Formerly 70.240. 3 credits/3 contact hours.

Requirements:

Basic Computer Prof. (CSCE)

GRFX.2030 Photographic Imaging (3cr)

Covers the fundamentals of image enhancement, image manipulation, scanning, digital capture and using industry-standard photo imaging software. Image preparation for a variety of media will also be explored. Formerly 70.262. 3 credits/3 contact hours.

Requirements:

Basic Computer Prof. (CSCE)

GRFX.2120 Website Design (3cr)

This course will focus on the creation of visual content for the web and will explore what constitutes a visually exciting and engaging site. Other topics that will be covered are: file formats, compression, web color strategies, and platforms standards. Formerly 70.379 3 credits/3 contact hours.

Requirements:

HTML & Photoshop (CSCE)

GRFX.3150 Design for Advertising (3cr)

Instruction in the design and layout of commercial advertisements as well as the creative aspects of advertising are integral parts of this course. Practical problems and technical guidance from preliminary layouts to finished work will help preliminary layouts to finished work will help prepare students for the commercial art field. Students will prepare an advertising campaign concept and translate it into a professionally-designed commercial series for use in their portfolios. This course will focus on the integration of design with the overall advertising message. Formerly 70.392. 3 credits/3 contact hours.

Requirements:

GRFX 2000&202,Familiarity/Adob

MKTG.2010 Marketing Principles (3cr)

The role of marketing in the economy. The elements of the marketing mix--product, price, distribution, and promotion--are discussed in the context of social and political constraints on marketing activity.

Requirements:

ENGL.1010/S College Writing I, or ENGL.1020 College Writing II, or HONR.110 First Year Seminar in Honors:Text in the City.

Undergraduate Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete all courses and maintain a grade point average of 2.000 or better to earn the certificate. All certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period.

Certificate Completion

Students who successfully complete the certificate program should submit a Certificate Petition Form to have their certificate mailed to them.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Summer 2025 Tuition

Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Undergraduate

Online and On Campus $385 $1,155
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.

Additional Costs

Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

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Applying into an Undergraduate Certificate Program

Apply to an undergraduate certificate program using the Online Application Form or by printing and completing the Undergraduate Certificate Application Form in .pdf file format. Applicants will be required to have either their official high school transcript, HiSET®, GED® or their most recent college transcript if applicable, sent to Graduate, Online & Professional Studies at the address below. Applications, transcripts, and other correspondence should be sent to:

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies
Undergraduate Admissions
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854

Undergraduate certificate applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and there is no fee to apply. You will be notified upon acceptance.

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Questions Regarding Your Undergraduate Application?

Email OCE_Admissions@uml.edu or call 978-934-2474.

For General Assistance:

Call the Advising Center at 978-934-2474 or 800-480-3190. Our academic advisors are here to help!

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