As the digital world keeps expanding, so does interest at Jefferson College.
The college introduced its first digital communication degree in the 2025-26 school year.
The digital communications program began this school year with four majors; there are 19 students enrolled in the program for the spring 2026 semester.
Joanne Fish, associate dean of humanities, said the degree had been in the works for a few years.
“We had a (former) communication faculty member who had written (and submitted) a capital funds grant to upgrade our media studio,” she said. “When I came in, I was introduced to this upgraded studio.”
When Fish was named dean, she helped rework the college’s existing media degree to better use the newly upgraded studio and equipment.
“I worked with faculty and worked with Kenny Wilson, the dean of instruction …(and) we put together this degree plan to help students have some choices moving forward.”
The digital communication degree requires students to learn many aspects of developing and understanding different types of media creation. Because this degree was set up as an associate of applied science, students do not have to take general education courses that are required for a regular associate’s degree.
“If you look at (the degree plan), you’ll notice that there are different tracks that (students) can take so they can go more into business and marketing … podcasting, multimedia and journalism … or they can go into like film and content creation,” she said. “We wanted to give students choices in different pathways, or they can combine some of those things.”
Both TV production 1 and TV production 2 classes are a part of the digital communication degree. These courses introduce students into the world of visual and audio production by using the Jefferson College studio. Though they are separate courses, the classes meet at the same time. The classes include some different coursework, but they do collaborate on projects.
Victoria Avis, 23, is expected to be the first digital communication graduate in December.
“I am actually a returning student; I had graduated with the fine arts degree in 2024, and then they announced the digital communication degree,” she said. “I thought (the degree) was really cool, it was actually what I wanted to do out of high school.”
Students Riley Hunt, 18, and Jay Outland, 19, said they have always been passionate about the digital degree.
“It’s such a big part of our life now and how digital the world is becoming, and I’ve always just had an interest in being creative in digital means,” Hunt said. “I think that digital communication is really worth it. So far with everything I’ve done, I’m very excited to graduate with the full degree.”
Similarly, Outland was excited to find out Jefferson College offered this program. She graduated from high school with the “A-Plus program,” which would pay her tuition at Jefferson College.
“I’ve always wanted to go into TV production and media, so when I found out that they had a digital communications degree, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. I can still do this and do what I want to do while using my A-Plus,’” she said. “I’m just really excited about it.”
Fish said they are renaming the Area Technical School program from the digital media technology program to the digital communication program for the 2026 fall semester.
“This renaming helps to create a clear pathway for our ATS students who want to transfer credits into the college digital communication program,” she said.
The high school students in ATS can transfer credits into their future Jefferson College academic plan toward their digital communications degree.
Additionally, Jefferson College graduates with an associate in applied science degree in digital communications will be able to transfer academic credits through several articulation agreements the college has with Webster University. The transfers will allow Jefferson College graduates to complete a bachelor’s of arts degree or a bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Webster University.
This summer, the digital communications program will hold a “Digital Creator Camp” for middle through high school students.
The camp, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8-10, is designed for students from seventh to 12th grade and will offer lessons in video editing, social media strategies and the ability to practice technical skills of podcast production. Registration will cost $150.
In June, the college will find out if its program will qualify for an enhancement grant through the Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education for both the ATS and digital communication programs.
The grant would allow the college to expedite updating and purchasing equipment and software, she said.
For more information on the digital communication program, visit jeffco.edu/program/communication or contact jfish@jeffco.edu.