Students interested in the Interactive Design & Digital Arts Programs at SUNY Westchester Peekskill can immerse themselves in new technologies and art forms. Students can take courses such as animation, introduction to Chat GPT, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.
There are also eight certificate programs available for students, including 3D animation, web design, digital photography, and mixed reality, to name a few.
Incorporating AI
All of the programs incorporate industry-standard software and AI features, says Sherry Mayo, director of the Peekskill Extension Center. By using AI in Adobe and 3D animation, students get hands-on experience with the latest technology, she adds.
The program also started offering an AI certificate for business owners. It’s a six-course, 18-hour program designed to help working professionals understand and navigate the AI landscape. It covers topics in marketing and social media, business growth, ethics, and foundational AI concepts.
“By integrating AI into both creative and business-focused curricula, we ensure our students are prepared for the future of digital arts and technology,” says Mayo.
Skills for Life
After completing digital programs using new technologies, students gain a number of skills. Whether they continue school or enter the career field, they can walk away from the program with a focus in studio art, digital imaging, digital illustration, 2D or 3D animation, digital photography, web design, social media, mixed reality, and game design.
“What sets us apart is our exceptional facility equipped with industry-standard hardware and software, including 3D printing, which provides a top-tier learning experience,” says Mayo.
Beyond the opportunity to use advanced technology, Mayo says the staff and technical support team make the program at SUNY Westchester Peekskill special. The program also works to meet the needs of different students, which is why it offers both credit and non-credit digital arts programs.
A Summer Program That Inspires
Students can pursue an associate degree in interactive technology or choose from various workforce opportunities. The program also offers courses for youth and teens such as robotics, comic illustration, coding, and game design.
“We have a great summer program, and the kids really bond and collaborate,” says Mayo. “They work with professional artists and work on projects that mean something to them.”
The students get a lot of freedom in the summer to decide which skill they want to focus on and can fully immerse themselves in digital projects that interest them. At the end of the program, Gallery Day allows the kids to share their work with family and friends, celebrating their achievements.
“We’ve seen firsthand how this experience shapes their futures,” says Mayo. “Some students from our youth program later pursue digital arts in college, while others gain the confidence to explore creative technology on their own.”
Many of the young students who joined the summer program said they struggled to teach themselves different software independently online. However, they found support and clarity through the Peekskill courses. The hands-on approach of the program pushed them and also provided them with additional responsibility and creativity.
All of the youth programs are popular, Mayo shares. Teens love game design, while kids seem to love coding, and both groups are interested in robotics.
Next Steps
People who enter digital media are normally artists who like to integrate the computer and digital practices into their art making and creative processes, Mayo says. The programs at SUNY Westchester Peekskill aim to foster arts technology integration in arts education, she explains.
Those interested in enrolling in the Interactive Design & Digital Arts programs should visit the school’s registration page and email peekskill@sunywcc.edu to learn more and get started.
If young people want to get involved in the youth arts technology program, they should visit the youth registration page and contact peekskill@sunywcc.edu soon, since summer is quickly approaching.
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