Multimedia Storytelling Certificate

Register for Summer and Fall 2026 classes
Get registration details and learn how to apply.
- Summer classes start Monday, June 8. Flexible-start classes begin later. View Summer term classes
- Fall classes start Monday, Aug. 17. View Fall semester classes
Campus buildings are closed Fridays and weekends June 8 to July 31, 2026. View summer hours

Tell powerful stories across media platforms

Craft compelling content to engage, inform and inspire audiences. Learn to use text, images, graphics, audio, video and interactive platforms to help organizations tell their stories to achieve their goals. Develop your digital media production skills for today’s evolving communication industries.

Within one year, the Multimedia Storytelling Certificate prepares you for storytelling roles in corporate communications, content creation, social media strategy, media production, game writing and other multimedia communication fields.

Develop technical and narrative skills through courses in:

creative writing
communication studies
professional writing
digital media and design

Develop writing and digital design skills by doing

Build a professional portfolio of print and digital content. Showcase your skills with potential employers by producing real-world multimedia projects for diverse audiences through hands-on, project-based work.

Get publishing experience. Submit your writing and creative work to:

The Chronicle — CLC's award-winning student newspaper
Prairie Voices and Willow Review — CLC’s award-winning literary magazines

Launch, level up or chart a new career

Whatever your career goals, the Multimedia Storytelling Certificate readies you for your next role in a creative or communications field:

Prepare for an entry-level job
Shift your career focus
Upskill for a new position

You also can use the certificate as a launchpad to further your education. Stack credits toward earning your Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) in Technical Communications degree.

Highlights

Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Explore ways to pay for college (based on need/achievement).
Stackable Credentials

Earn college credits and learn as you go with stackable credentials.
Career Certificate

Gain in-demand technical and job-ready skills by earning a certificate in 1 year or less.
Program Length: 1 Year

Finish in 1 year as a full-time student.
Online Classes Available

Most classes can be completed online.

*Estimated cost is based on the minimum number of credit hours to complete the program. This estimate includes in-district tuition and comprehensive fees for the 2026-2027 academic year, before financial aid, including grants, loans and scholarships, is applied. Actual cost may vary to include additional fees, materials and other cost of attendance factors such as living expenses, transportation, etc. Explore opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about the Cost of Attendance.

Career Outlook

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $40,000
  
  Median
  
  $73,491
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $134,790
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $19.22
  
  Median
  
  $35.33
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $64.80
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  81.7%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  18.3%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $88,813
  
  Median
  
  $161,439
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $243,449
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $42.69
  
  Median
  
  $77.61
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $117.04
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  3.53%
  
  Some college
  
  2.8%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  3.03%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  55.76%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  34.88%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $38,412
  
  Median
  
  $76,323
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $164,129
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $18.46
  
  Median
  
  $36.69
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $78.91
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  31.19%
  
  Some college
  
  14.99%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  1.82%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  52%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $28,889
  
  Median
  
  $42,640
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $119,885
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $13.88
  
  Median
  
  $20.49
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $57.64
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  11.21%
  
  Certificate
  
  6.24%
  
  Some college
  
  12.04%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  23.2%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  47.3%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $76,010
  
  Median
  
  $130,254
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $222,863
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $36.54
  
  Median
  
  $62.62
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $107.14
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Some college
  
  11.18%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  77.32%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  11.51%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $41,688
  
  Median
  
  $69,260
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $134,082
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $20.04
  
  Median
  
  $33.30
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $64.46
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  90.91%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  9.09%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $45,317
  
  Median
  
  $78,626
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $147,893
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $21.78
  
  Median
  
  $37.80
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $71.10
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  4.35%
  
  Certificate
  
  8.7%
  
  Some college
  
  17.39%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  21.74%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  47.83%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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enroll in first-semester classes
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Recommended Pathway

This pathway serves as a guide for students to complete the degree or certificate assuming full-time enrollment (registered in 12 or more credit hours per semester) with Semester 1 typically representing a Fall term.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. For a more comprehensive list of course options and degree requirements, see the CLC college catalog.

View program in catalog

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Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Global citizenship
Online/Virtual options available

Course Code	Course Title	Credits	Course Highlights
CLC 120	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.	2	Dual credit options available Online/Virtual options available
CMM 128	CMM 128 Interviewing Practices Class Description Techniques and skills to improve fluency, accuracy, and persuasiveness in one-to-one communication. Covers all types of interviewing and process of dyadic communication.	3	Online/Virtual options available
ENG 266	ENG 266 Professional Communication Class Description Professional Communication is a sophomore-level course designed for students who are interested in furthering their professional and workplace communication skills. Students will develop a mock business related to a field of interest and create communication materials related to that business, such as blog posts, a newsletter, podcast, research-based article, and other workplace communication documents. Students will develop skills in digital media production and effective storytelling techniques for the benefit of businesses and organizations.	3	Online/Virtual options available
ENG 234	ENG 234 Storytelling for Digital Platforms Class Description In this course, students will learn the fundamental aspects of creative storytelling for digital platforms and online environments, including character development, narrative arc, and how to incorporate multimedia elements. Students will develop fiction and nonfiction narratives using contemporary tools, techniques, and technologies. Projects will focus on fostering community within online creative writing spaces, and might include scripting for a web series, writing nonlinear narratives, developing a podcast series, or creating digital stories.	3
	ENG writing elective?	3
	DMD elective?	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	CLC 120
Course Title	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.
Credits	2
Dual credit options available
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	CMM 128
Course Title	CMM 128 Interviewing Practices Class Description Techniques and skills to improve fluency, accuracy, and persuasiveness in one-to-one communication. Covers all types of interviewing and process of dyadic communication.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	ENG 266
Course Title	ENG 266 Professional Communication Class Description Professional Communication is a sophomore-level course designed for students who are interested in furthering their professional and workplace communication skills. Students will develop a mock business related to a field of interest and create communication materials related to that business, such as blog posts, a newsletter, podcast, research-based article, and other workplace communication documents. Students will develop skills in digital media production and effective storytelling techniques for the benefit of businesses and organizations.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	ENG 234
Course Title	ENG 234 Storytelling for Digital Platforms Class Description In this course, students will learn the fundamental aspects of creative storytelling for digital platforms and online environments, including character development, narrative arc, and how to incorporate multimedia elements. Students will develop fiction and nonfiction narratives using contemporary tools, techniques, and technologies. Projects will focus on fostering community within online creative writing spaces, and might include scripting for a web series, writing nonlinear narratives, developing a podcast series, or creating digital stories.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code
Course Title	ENG writing elective?
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code
Course Title	DMD elective?
Credits	3

Course options: Students can choose other Writing electives instead of ENG 222. Students also can choose other Digital and Media Design electives instead of DMD 127.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits	Course Highlights
ENG 140	ENG 140 Writing for New Media Class Description Writing for New Media introduces students to strategies for composing content across a variety of digital media, including websites, blogs, podcasts, social media and/or other new and emerging media. Students will learn the fundamentals of new media writing and will explore how text, images, video, and other forms of media interact with one another to create meaning and shape the reader’s understanding of the text. Through a variety of individual and collaborative assignments, students will learn how to write and organize new media content using an appropriate tone and voice, employ storytelling techniques to effectively engage an audience, and compose content that meets the needs of an organization and its readers.	3	Online/Virtual options available
ENG 250	ENG 250 Editing for Professional Writers Class Description This course provides students with a practical working knowledge of the fundamentals of editing for a target audience. Students will learn and apply best practices for editing, including applying the appropriate style guide, to create clear, concise and well-organized materials in multiple modalities.	3
	Writing elective	3
	Communications elective	3
	DMD elective	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	ENG 140
Course Title	ENG 140 Writing for New Media Class Description Writing for New Media introduces students to strategies for composing content across a variety of digital media, including websites, blogs, podcasts, social media and/or other new and emerging media. Students will learn the fundamentals of new media writing and will explore how text, images, video, and other forms of media interact with one another to create meaning and shape the reader’s understanding of the text. Through a variety of individual and collaborative assignments, students will learn how to write and organize new media content using an appropriate tone and voice, employ storytelling techniques to effectively engage an audience, and compose content that meets the needs of an organization and its readers.
Credits	3
Online/Virtual options available

Course Highlights
Course Code	ENG 250
Course Title	ENG 250 Editing for Professional Writers Class Description This course provides students with a practical working knowledge of the fundamentals of editing for a target audience. Students will learn and apply best practices for editing, including applying the appropriate style guide, to create clear, concise and well-organized materials in multiple modalities.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code
Course Title	Writing elective
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code
Course Title	Communications elective
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code
Course Title	DMD elective
Credits	3

Course options: Students can choose other Writing electives instead of ENG 124 and other Communication electives instead of CMM 124. Students also can choose other Digital and Media Design electives instead of ART 149.

Total Credit Hours

32

Meet your instructors

More than 1,000 full-time and part-time faculty teach at CLC. Nearly all of them have a master's degree or more.

CLC faculty teach the same materials you’d learn at a big school. They bring real-world experience into the classroom so you can gain job-ready skills and help you become the very best version of yourself.

Meet our Technical Communication experts

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After you apply, a Career and College Navigator (CCN) will reach out to answer your questions, guide your next steps and help you get enrolled. Explore steps to apply at CLC.

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Frequently asked questions

Develop creative, technical and strategic communication skills to succeed in today’s storytelling-driven media environment. Through practice-based coursework and project-based assignments, you will learn to:
- Use storytelling strategies to engage, inform and inspire audiences across print and digital channels
- Produce professional, audience-centered content for diverse contexts and industries
- Create and publish content for the web, social media and emerging platforms
- Integrate storytelling, design principles and digital media tools to develop digital stories, social content, interactive narratives and visual communication pieces
- Ensure brand consistency across digital media channels
- Write content for search engine optimization
- Develop content that reflects diverse perspectives and adheres to professional standards of accuracy, accessibility and representation
- Evaluate storytelling practices through analytics to gauge user experience and audience engagement
Follow your interests by choosing from a long list of elective courses in writing, communication studies and digital media and design.
No. You don’t need previous writing, communications or digital media design experience.
You’ll learn everything you need in a hands-on environment, where your storytelling skills are developed through guided practice, class discussions and demos using actual industry tools.
Small class sizes ensure you get personal attention from instructors who know you by name. This helps you grow your skills and confidence.
The certificate in multimedia storytelling is 32 credit hours and takes an average of 1 year to complete when enrolled full-time.
The Multimedia Storytelling Certificate prepares you for internships, entry-level roles and mid-career pivots in creative and communication fields. Roles include:
- Public relations specialist
- Copywriter or content writer
- Editor or editorial assistant
- Marketing writer or communications assistant
- Website or SEO writer
- Social media specialist or digital media coordinator
- Content creator or digital marketing associate
- Media planner or brand communications assistant
- Content strategist or campaign coordinator
- Game and interactive fiction writer
Find these roles in industries such as
- corporate communications
- nonprofit organizations
- marketing agencies
- higher education
- media production
- game production
Yes. The Multimedia Storytelling Certificate can be completed fully online through a selection of online electives. This gives you flexibility to fit courses into your busy schedule.

You also can attend some courses in person, which offers unique opportunities to interact one-on-one with faculty and peers.
The cost is based on recommended pathway credit hours. It includes in-district tuition and fees. It does not factor in the cost of books and materials. It does not account for financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) that you may receive.
View current tuition and fees
Some courses in this program are subject to variable tuition and course fees because they provide specialized experiences, instruction or technology/equipment.
View courses with variable tuition and fees
Many opportunities exist at CLC to get financial aid. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
Definitely. The Multimedia Storytelling Certificate serves a diverse group of students.
It supports those who are:
- Beginning their academic journey and want to develop employable skills while progressing toward an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree
- Early-career students who want upskill to advance their career
- Mid-career professionals who want to upskill or change careers, including those who already have a bachelor’s or advanced degree
Use the certificate to transition into a creative or communication field. Develop skills like content strategy, digital communication and narrative design to launch and reinvent your career.
Yes. The Multimedia Storytelling Certificate offers a pathway to earning an associate degree. Complete the certificate, then apply these college credits toward attaining the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Technical Communication degree.

Related programs

This certificate is just one possible way to study Technical Communications at CLC. Keep exploring your options—degrees, credentials and more.

Career Degree
Technical Communication A.A.S.
Associate in Applied Science

Cost

$10,850* (estimated)
View Details Technical Communication A.A.S.
Career Certificate
Technical Communication Certificate

Cost

$5,600* (estimated)
View Details Technical Communication Certificate
Career Certificate
Professional Writing Certificate

Cost

$3,500* (estimated)
View Details Professional Writing Certificate

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Register for Summer and Fall 2026 classes

Tell powerful stories across media platforms

Develop writing and digital design skills by doing

Launch, level up or chart a new career

Highlights

Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Stackable Credentials

Career Certificate

Program Length: 1 Year

Online Classes Available

Career Outlook

Editors

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Marketing Managers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Media Programming Directors

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Public Relations Managers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Public Relations Specialists

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Search Marketing Strategists

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help getting started?

Recommended Pathway

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Semester 1 17 Credits

Semester 2 15 Credits

Total Credit Hours

Meet your instructors

Apply now: It's easy and free

Frequently asked questions

What skills will I learn?

Do I need writing or digital design experience?

How long is the program?

What jobs can I get with this certificate?

Can I complete this certificate online?

How much does this program cost?

Are students like me in the program?

Is this certificate stackable toward an associate degree?

Related programs

Technical Communication A.A.S.

Technical Communication Certificate

Professional Writing Certificate

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

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