But, students in the digital media program at West Valley College are making sure that they don't get left behind.

Born out of the school's computer application department, the digital media program started out as a relatively small network with fewer than 200 students and 12 different courses. However, the rise of computer technology and competition among industry leaders for skilled workers has drawn more people to the program; currently it boasts more than 900 students and 30 different classes.

"We're constantly changing classes and adding new ones to meet industry standards," says Jeff Rascov, one of the founders of the program, who developed most of the courses. "Our responsibility is to keep ourselves, as well as our students, current with trends."

From more basic classes, such as Web Development 1 where students learn the fundamentals of building a simple website, to more advanced ones, including Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator and Flash, the program accommodates a broad range of interests. These classes have always been popular among younger crowds eager to get their foot in the corporate world, but it seems that more and more of those who have retired or been laid off from high tech companies are turning to the program for help as well as for personal enrichment.

Carl Johnson, 66, a retiree from the marketing division at National Semiconductor, says he's hoping to get a home theater out of the Adobe Premier class, which is currently taught by Rascov. As a former Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow presenter, Johnson says he has all the equipment to build a theater, such as a camera that can take digital sequences, a laptop computer, an LCD projector and an audio sound system; all he needs are skills to make a movie.

Johnson says that regardless of the type of profession one is interested in, everybody should be familiar with digital media products. He adds that knowing what to buy and look for can "save an individual a lot of money and headaches."

Jean McIntosh, who has been an instructor in the program for three years and currently teaches Dreamweaver, says that several individuals who have been unlucky in the job market are taking the opportunity in this tough economy to fine-tune specific skills to get back into the job force.

"We have a mixture of creative and knowledgeable people with all types of backgrounds," McIntosh says. "But times are changing and the economy hasn't been very good lately. People are looking for ways to expand their skills."

Like McIntosh, Dale Seamons, a former engineer and an employee in sales management who is enrolled in the Internet Marketing and Dreamweaver classes, agrees that becoming well-versed with computer technology is the key to a successful business—at least it is for his. As a freelance consultant for Marketing Initiatives, Seamons says he started building websites for clients after having taken Adobe Photoshop and Web Development 1.

"The Internet powers the economy," Seamons says. "The ability to make a website adds maximum value to a person and increases one's opportunities. It's increased my consulting revenue."

Unlike other schools where digital media classes are categorized under the art department, the program at West Valley College is embedded in the business division.

"The program is geared toward getting people back to work," Rascov says. "We try to target the entrepreneurial type. Our goal is to not only teach technical skills, but also to instill confidence in what our students are doing and to help them improve their portfolio."

According to McIntosh, students in the portfolio class learn how to communicate creative ideas to clients by developing teamwork, time management, sales pitch and presentation skills.

"It's a good support environment," McIntosh says.

Once the portfolio is complete, students present it to their classmates and to a panel of faculty members for feedback. In addition, one of the advantages of the program is that students have the opportunity to do client-based work for high-profile companies, such as Yahoo!, through an organization called the West Valley Design Group.