​The Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector is big business in California. This dynamic sector is relevant statewide, with most of the major employers concentrated in the southern part of the state. It offers jobs that require a vast range of creative and technical knowledge and skills. In a 2004 national study, almost 550,000 businesses employing almost three million people were involved in production and delivery in America’s creative industries. Flexibility and adaptability to a rapidly changing professional landscape are key elements to an individual’s ultimate success in a career in arts, media, and entertainment. Consequently, most of the professions found in this sector require students to become familiar with information and skills across several different academic disciplines and career pathways as well as within their primary pathway.

The Media and Design Arts career pathway comprises a large number of industry occupations, such as user interface design, digital animation, print design, commercial photography, and cinematography. The Performing Arts pathway focuses on the direct creation of art and entertainment by individual artists and includes professional applications of theatre, dance, and music. And the Production and Managerial Arts pathway focuses on developing the organizational and managerial knowledge and skills needed to bring arts, media, and entertainment to the public as well as on training those who do the behind-the-scene jobs, such as set design, sound design, digital modeling, film editing, and camera work. For most of the skilled and semiskilled occupations in this industry sector, post-secondary education and training are expected.
Vertical Divider

​Arts, Media, and
Entertainment
Industry Sector
Pathways:

  • Media and Design Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Production and Managerial Arts
  • Principles of Design
Entry Level Careers
​Technical Level Careers
​Professional Level Careers
(with high school diploma)
(with AA or AS degree or certificate)
​(with BS or BA degree)
Visual Artist
Stage Manager
​Architect
Photographers Assistant
Special Effects Coordinator
Industrial Designer
Lighting Technician
Web Designer
Publisher
Model
Photographer
​Music Teacher
Makeup Artist
Graphic Designer​/Artist
Technical Writer
Electronic Equipment Operator
Film Maker
Sound Engineer
Sound Technician
Camera Operator
Medical Scientific Illustrator
​Stagehand
​Screen Writer
Sound Design Editor
​​Voice-over Artist
​Photojournalist
​Visual Effects Coordinator

Arts, Media, and Entertainment Courses can be taken at: