Digital media and design is not just about looks or how it works. It is about inspiration. Visualization. And if it can sway the intended audience. TU’s digital media and design program perfectly blends creativity and computer skills to create media, digital production and interactive applications and websites, to establish your future on the cutting edge of technology and art.
Digital media and design is a growing applied arts field. TU’s program will prepare graduates to work with interactive web and app development businesses creating educational, entertainment-based and commercial mobile apps, websites, modelers, concept artists and technical directors in design studios, interactive gaming companies and virtual reality labs.
Our students will interpret and synthesize information to create visual designs that problem solve through the use of photography, video, and multi-media, resulting in a digital media portfolio. Classes focus on graphic design principles across all multi-media platforms and how to deliver products for real-world clients. Students will be proficient in website development, video creation and the Adobe Creative Cloud toolkit to produce multi-media products.
Graduates of the digital media and design program will be able to design websites, work in the television and film industry as a director of photography, videographer, special effects artist or editor. Printing, graphic design and photography industries also employ digital media and design majors to manage the creation and production of digital promotional materials.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, multimedia artists and animators’ 2017 median pay was $70,530 per year, or $33.91 per hour with an entry level education of a bachelor’s degree. In 2016, the number of jobs in the field was 73,700. The job outlook in 2016-2026 has an 8% increase, adding 6,200 jobs.
According to the same source, web developer’s media pay was $67,990 per year, or $32.69 per hour with an entry-level education of an associate's degree. In 2016, the number of jobs in the field was 162,900. The job out look in 2016-2026 has a 15% increase (much faster than average), adding 24,400 jobs.
Core Curriculum of the School of Arts & Sciences 18 hours
Digital Media and Design Major 39 hours
Attachments
Total BA 121 hours
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.
On Campus - Offered in a 15-week semester format with start dates of January and August
There are no related concentrations available.
Three-Dimensional Foundations (ART130) - This hands-on, introductory course will introduce students to the language and experience of 3-dimensional form. Assignments will encourage students to develop concepts, work through ideas, to experiment and to embrace risks in the design process. Both traditional as well as non-traditional 3-dimensional media will be emphasized. Students are exposed to the role of 3-dimensional concepts as a basis for sculpture, architecture and industrial design. Problem solving on an individual and group level is stressed.
Graphic Design (ART325) - This course will investigate the mechanics of visual perception using digital design tools. Focus will be on the formal properties of design including space, line, plane, mass, shape, texture, and color; and the organizational fundamentals of unity, balance, rhythm and movement. Students will prepare and produce a series of digital design projects that are relevant to professional practices. Emphasis will be given to the principles of planning and visual thinking needed to communicate ideas. Problem solving on an individual and group level will be stressed.
Interactive Digital Design (ART420) - This course examines the aesthetic, conceptual and technical foundations of new media art-making. Students explore the form and space of new media images through a wide variety of materials and media, including creating and editing digital images, audio and video and embedding multimedia in Web pages. The course emphasizes strategies for idea generation and story-telling on multiple platforms through hands-on production of new media art combined with discussion of its place in contemporary society.
Programming (CST201) - Introduces structured programming using a programming language such as Visual Basic. The student will learn to design and develop Windows based applications that are event-driven (point and click). Record structures will be developed along with file storage and manipulation techniques. The course will expose the student to the object-oriented programming environment.
Communicating Across Cultures (COM324) – Introduction to the study of cultural and intercultural theory and behavior, discussion of various culturally specific patterns of communication. This is a writing intensive course.
This is a new program! Successful placements to come in the next few years …
The on-campus events and activities that are offered have made it easy to learn about a number of different topics. I also believe because of the diverse population here at TU it allows me to gain a broader perspective of different cultures and customs that I have not encountered before.
-Payne VanTilburg '16
– Sean M. Durocher, Class of 2015
I could not have asked for better faculty. I love how small the class sizes are because I really know the majority of my professors pretty well. More importantly, they know me really well and are aware of my future goals and aspirations. I know that I could seek help from any one of my mentors and they would give me the best advice that they had.
-Beata Krembuszewski '17
- Ygor Bortolato, Brazil
– Jessica Paule, Class of 2015
