The Northwest College Board of Trustees this month approved a new associate of applied science program. 

The college’s program description explains that it prepares students for technical and creative production of online media involving classes in photography, writing, music, math, marketing and web design. 

Gerald Giraud, vice president for academic affairs, said the idea for the program began with NWC instructors Morgan Tyree and Renee Dechert and was then finalized by Elaine DeBuhr, chair of the performing arts division.

All the required classes in the program are already offered at NWC. 

Giraud said the program will use existing resources at the college and therefore require no additional faculty or equipment. 

“We have everything we need to offer this to students,” he told the trustees at their regular meeting in April. 

Completion of the program will require 12 credit hours of practicum in which students will work in an environment where they use the skills they learn in the program. 

“Ideally the students can find paid placements. We’re not requiring that, but we hope students can do it,” Giraud explained. 

He noted that entrepreneurial students who work for their own clients can satisfy the practicum requirements that way. 

The skills the students acquire in the program will allow them to create original messages using a variety of digital media; apply visual design elements to visual presentations; write effectively for online audiences, and understand legal and ethical issues related to digital media. 

The proposal of the program included comments of support from people working in industries that would benefit from graduates with these skill sets. 

“The area of social media, which is coming to dominate the advertising landscape, requires a broad set of skills. Anyone with a foundation in several of these formerly distinct disciplines will, in my opinion, be a highly valued asset,” said Scott Larsen, owner of Powell-based Scott Larsen Design. 

Eric Robirds, president of Vision West Inc., said “This degree also offers the student the tools to participate right away … in the growing creator economy.”

The degree still must meet approval with the Wyoming Community College Commission (WCCC). DeBuhr said NWC isn’t anticipating any problem obtaining that approval. 

Since next year’s college catalog has already gone through the approval process with the WCCC, the program won’t be offered in the 2022-2023 year. 

However, DeBuhr said, the courses for the degree are already offered at the college, so students may begin taking the courses that will satisfy the degree requirements prior to its official approval and offering.