The Certificate of Achievement in Musical Theater is a 44-unit CTE program that will prepare students for careers in the musical theater industry. The purpose of the certificate is to prepare students to succeed in auditions for regional and national shows. Careers in musical theater include: Musical Theater Singer, Dancer, Actor; Floor Shows (Hotels, casinos, clubs); Band Member (Vocalist); Broadway, Off-Broadway, Touring Shows: National, Regional, Local; Voice Over; Recording Artist; Productions, Concerts and Recitals: performer; Music Director (Musical Theater); Community musical theater director; and Musical Theater Teacher: Community School; Parks & Rec Program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Creatively solve problems
🗸 Demonstrate acting, singing, and dancing proficiency suitable for a musical theater audition
🗸 Develop and demonstrate informed artistic choices in performance
🗸 Perform standard musical theater repertoire, solo and ensemble, at a collegiate level
🗸 Demonstrate collaboration and team building skills
🗸 Analyze musical theater literature
🗸 Apply musical theater, music, dance and acting terminology and language to critiques of musical theater performances
🗸 Read music notation with a proficiency level suitable to learn new music quickly

The West Valley College Commercial Music Certificate of Achievement, a 16 to 18 unit program, offers four distinct career paths: Recording Arts, Music Production, Songwriting, and Creating Music for Film, TV & Gaming. The courses are designed for students of all levels, providing hands-on experience and thorough training in the creative and technical challenges specific to commercial music. All of the Commercial Music pathways are designed for completion in a single academic year.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Identify historical trends that shaped the development and dissemination of popular music.
🗸 Demonstrate an understanding of business and marketing strategies in the music industry.
🗸 Demonstrate a conceptual and practical understanding of the basics of audio engineering. (Recording Arts)
🗸 Demonstrate multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) skills specific to recording and mixing. (Recording Arts, Music Production)
🗸 Demonstrate an understanding of business and marketing strategies in the music industry. (Songwriting)
🗸 Write a composition in a commercial song format. (Songwriting)
🗸 Create music for a variety of media. (Creating Music for Film, TV & Gaming)
🗸 Demonstrate multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) skills specific to MIDI, sequencing, composition, and sound design. (Creating Music for Film, TV & Gaming)

The Architecture Certificate at West Valley College provides career technical education in the field of Architecture and primarily prepares students to work as technicians in different areas of the construction industry. The Architecture courses at West Valley cover the following areas of study: building design, graphics, history, practical/technical communication, codes, construction, and structural design. An increasing number of West Valley College courses leverage computer technology as an educational tool. Students, upon successful completion of this certificate, are prepared to work as technicians in the following careers: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Facilities Management, Specification Writing, Structural Engineering, and Architectural Graphics.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Apply building codes, zoning codes, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations.
🗸 Demonstrate creativity and problem-solving abilities in designing residential and commercial buildings.
🗸 Use standard dimensions for space planning and human occupancy using Architectural Graphic Standards.
🗸 Communicate effectively and professionally in the architectural environment through proper use of verbal, written and graphic techniques.
🗸 Apply mathematical skills to solve technical problems associated with architectural drawings.
🗸 Develop architectural drawings including construction drawings and presentation drawings.
🗸 Use computer graphics applications associated with architectural projects.
🗸 Select construction materials based upon their properties and methods of installation.
🗸 Apply principles of structural design.

The curriculum for the Sexual Health Educator Certificate will train students as paraprofessionals in safe and healthy sexuality including violence prevention and intervention, HIV/STI prevention, and the promotion of mature intimate relationships.

The integrated program offers students an opportunity to identify various markers of sexual health, which will enable them to promote healthy and safer sexual relationships in their client populations. They will be able to teach others to negotiate sexual situations with more confidence, knowing their limits, recognizing danger zones, assessing risk factors, and respecting their own and their partners’ needs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Identify the biological, psychological, and social aspects of human sexuality including issues pertaining to reproductive rights and health

🗸 Demonstrate and apply client-centered approaches to providing sexual wellness information, systems navigation and relevant referrals to diverse communities

🗸 Utilize an intersectional feminist lens to analyze how systems of oppression perpetuate abuses of power in interpersonal relationships and identify strategies for prevention and healing from sexual violence

🗸 Use peer education techniques to teach about healthy, nonviolent relationships and to raise awareness of how personal experiences are impacted by social and political realities

The Visual & Interactive Design certificate builds on the Visual Design Foundation Certificate for students interested in working as visual/ interactive designers for communications. It provides advanced study and application of design thinking to a broad range of communications projects (web, mobile and print). Students will refine their skills in Emerge Studio, our on-campus design studio practicum. The CCSF AIGA Student Group provides additional educational, networking and outreach opportunities within the professional design community. The certificate requires key courses, but allows the student to customize the program to meet their personal goals through electives.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Employ and document a structured design process to develop design solutions, working both individually and collaboratively.

🗸 Combine appropriate aesthetic form and content to create effective design solutions.

🗸 Select appropriate tools, materials and processes for a range of interactive and print projects.

🗸 Critically analyze and discuss the merits of design work, using relevant concepts and terminology.

🗸 Employ professional design/production studio practices, such as project management, record keeping, asset management, file naming and archiving.

🗸 Develop and maintain a professional portfolio of work.

This certificate program is designed to prepare Visual Media Design students to engage in the world of entrepreneurship. The program’s interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship equips students with relevant tools in exploring various pathways to entrepreneurship such as full-time business ownership, sub-contracting (freelancing), consulting, corporate intrapreneurship or mission-driven social entrepreneurship. 

This interdisciplinary certificate provides basic knowledge, processes, principles and skills for visual design and production for print and interactive communications.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Apply an entrepreneurial mindset that breeds creativity and innovation in the field of visual media design.

🗸 Use terms and concepts related to functional areas of entrepreneurship necessary for startups.

🗸 Analyze the marketing environment to identify entrepreneurial opportunities and areas for growth and development.

🗸 Develop an agile and lean business plan for startup project/ enterprise that is ready for pitching.

🗸 Compare different entrepreneurship pathways in relation to a project or business idea.

The Digital Illustration certificate builds on the Digital Art Foundation Certificate for students interested in digital illustration for a variety of applications. The Digital Illustration Certificate Program combines the study of illustration, art and design with digital tools and techniques to create communicative imagery that is disseminated through all forms of visual media. This certificate prepares students for freelance illustration positions in print and interactive media publishing, web and mobile design, advertising, animation, and gaming.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Use an iterative process including research, sketching, development and refinement to create original illustrations

🗸 Produce original illustrative work using appropriate software

🗸 Critique illustration work in verbal and written form

🗸 Prepare a portfolio of illustration work

The Digital Art Foundation certificate provides essential knowledge and skills for digital artists. It can serve as a stand-alone certificate, or as the basis for continued study in digital illustration, animation, gaming or other areas.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Apply an iterative design process to creative projects.

🗸 Employ the elements and principles of visual design in creative work.

🗸 Employ drawing techniques in various areas of design practice.

🗸 Analyze and apply color in creative work.

🗸 Use industry-standard digital media software to create and edit files.

🗸 Critique, verbally and in writing, visual media design work.

The Visual Media Production certificate builds on the Visual Design Foundation Certificate for students interested in visual media production for screen and print communications. Production artists are proficient with industry-standard software, tools, and techniques, and have a working understanding of design processes, layout, type, and color. The program prepares students to enter the workforce in a range of production jobs for interactive and print work. Students will refine their skills in Emerge Studio, our on-campus design studio practicum that provides quality communications pieces to the campus community. They also have the option of supervised work experience in a local firm. The certificate requires key courses, but allows the student to customize the program to meet their unique goals through electives.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Apply appropriate design and typographic principles to create, edit, and troubleshoot files for a variety of media.

🗸 Demonstrate proficiency with current tools, materials and processes for a range of screen and print projects.

🗸 Analyze and discuss the merits of visual communication work, using relevant concepts and terminology.

🗸 Produce visual communication work independently and as a member of a collaborative team

🗸 Employ professional design/production studio management practices.

🗸 Develop and maintain a professional portfolio of digital media work

The Visual Design Foundation certificate provides essential knowledge, processes, principles and skills for visual design and production for print and interactive communications. It can serve as a stand-alone certificate, or as the basis for advanced study in graphic design, visual media production or other areas.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Employ an iterative process to develop design solutions.

🗸 Apply the elements and principles of visual design.

🗸 Select and use type effectively in design work.

🗸 Select and use computer tools and processes.

🗸 Evaluate design work in verbal and written critiques