EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine February 2019 | Page 32

EDUCATING
T H E
N E X T
GENERATION
by Danielle Anderson
V
By offering non-traditional arts degrees; connections to local business; and real-world work
experience, area institutions of higher learning are playing an important role in the arts.
olusia County is home to exceptional
institutions of higher learning – three of which
offer art programs and degrees designed to
prepare students of today for the challenges and
opportunities they will face tomorrow. These programs
are expanding the horizon beyond the paintbrush
and canvas, to include the digital arts, graphic design,
music, theater, television, photography and more.
Whether choosing the College of Arts and Sciences
at Daytona State College for their two year degree and
Direct Connect to the University of Central Florida;
Bethune-Cookman University’s four year program at
the LaDoris McClaney School of Performing Arts and
Communication; or Stetson University’s Bachelors
of Arts or Liberal Arts degree program, students
Dr. Doug Peterson, chair, Mike Curb College of
Music, Entertainment and Art
| 32 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE
interested in pursuing a career in the arts have a wealth
of options before them.
Advances in technology have made digital arts
a popular program across the board. Described as
“the use of digital technology as a means of creative
expression,” a degree in digital arts is aimed at students
interested in pursuing careers in new media, music
technology, digital video, 3D animation, graphic
design, game design, and audio production. Nathan
Wolek, chair of the creative arts department at Stetson
University, sees collaboration among students new
and developing art disciplines with those focused on
traditional art disciplines as a way for both groups to
enhance their career opportunities.