Digital Media Arts (Major, Minor)
Pamela O'Brien, Dean, School of Arts, Sciences and Business
Alyssa Brumis, Ph.D., Chair
Avery Griffin, M.F.A.
Kendrick Kenney, M.A.
Pamela O'Brien, Ph.D.
Degrees offered
Minor
Campuses
The Digital Media Arts Program of Study in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business offers a Major and Minor to traditional undergraduate students. The Program provides a solid foundation in technology, a rich creative background in the arts and the communication skills necessary to convey ideas in the digital realm.
Summary
The curriculum of the Major is interdisciplinary, including courses in Art, Computer Studies, and Communication Arts. As the arts, the world of media and the business environment are increasingly dependent on digital communication competencies - the Digital Media Arts Program of Study will prepare students for positions with these employers.
The graduate in Digital Media Arts will be able to: create effective visual communications strategies that could assist individuals and businesses, use technology to address visual communication challenges, analyze the historical impact design and visual communications have had on our culture, evaluate the moral and ethical issues related to visual media, art, and technology, apply formal design principles to solve visual communication problems, and work effectively as an individual and as a member of a creative team.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete PHL-320 Aesthetics or PHL-334 Business Ethics to complement their Program of Study and meet General Education Requirements.
Students will complete much of their work in the department's digital media lab, equipped with Macintosh computers and Adobe Creative Cloud. The campus video, art and photography studios also support instruction in this Program.
As the culminating experience in the Major, students complete a practicum in the form of an intensive, advanced internship. During the spring of their senior year, they are placed in an entry-level position in an area business in order to refine their professional competencies as they prepare to begin their careers.
Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Major courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the Digital Media Arts Major.
Required Courses for a Major in Digital Media Arts (33–42 Credits)
Visual Core (18 credits)
DMA-100 Intro to Design Systems (3)
DMA-103 Fundamentals of Design (3)
DMA-201 Time-Based Media (3)
DMA-202 Design Theory I (3)
ART-102 Color and Design (3)
ART-162 Digital Photography (3)
Media Studies (6 credits)
COM-210 Social Media (3)
COM-310 Media Literacy (3)
Web and Animation (6 credits)
CST-130 Intro to Computer Applications I (3)
DMA-360 Animation and Motion Graphics (3)
Digital Media Practicum (3 credits)
DMA-461 Digital Media Practicum (3)
Approved Electives
ART-321 Life Drawing (3)
ART-419 Digital Photography II (3)
COM-351 Art of the Film (3)
COM-401 Writing for the Web (3)
CST-295 C++: Object-Oriented Programming (3)
CST-321 JAVA Programming (3)
DMA-351 Design Theory II (3)
DMA-375 Typography (3)
DMA-411 Topics in Digital Media (3)
Emphasis in Graphic Design
Students who wish to emphasize in graphic design within the Digital Media Arts Major complete the following three courses in place of the electives above.
ART-101 Drawing I (3)
CST-261 Web Page Design (3)
DMA-351 Design Theory II (3)
Minor in Digital Media Arts
Students may declare a Minor in Digital Media Arts by completing 18 credits as follows:
DMA-100 Introduction to Design Systems (3)
DMA-103 Fundamentals of Design (3)
DMA-202 Design Theory I (3)
Three additional courses (9 credits), one in Art, one in Computer Studies and one in Communication Arts, chosen from the approved list of program courses in consultation with the coordinator.
Four-Year Plan
Below is a sample Program of Study for the Digital Media Arts Major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor. This listing is intended as guide only.
First year |
|
|
|
NDMU-100 First Year Seminar |
3 |
Foreign Language |
3 |
3 |
Literature |
3 |
|
DMA-100 Intro to Design Sytems |
3 |
COM-101 Oral Communication |
3 |
DMA-103 Fundamentals of Design |
3 |
ART-102 Color and Design |
3 |
ART-101 Drawing 1 |
3 |
History |
3 |
[15 credits] |
|
[15 credits] |
|
Second year |
|
|
|
Foreign Language |
3 |
PHL-200-level |
3 |
MAT-110 Discrete Mathematics |
3 |
Social Science |
3 |
RST-201 Intro to Biblical Studies |
3 |
COM-310 Media Literacy |
3 |
ART-162 Digital Photography |
3 |
CST-130 Intro to Comp Applications |
3 |
DMA-201 Time-Based Media |
3 |
DMA-202 Design Theory I |
3 |
[15 credits] |
|
[15 credits] |
|
Third year |
|
|
|
PHL-300/400-level |
3 |
Religious Studies 300/400 |
3 |
Natural Science |
4 |
General Electives/Minor |
3 |
Major elective |
3 |
DMA-375 Typography |
3 |
COM-210 Social Media |
3 |
Major Elective |
3 |
CST-261 Web Page Design |
3 |
DMA-360 Motion Graphics |
3 |
[16 credits] |
|
[15 credits] |
|
Fourth year |
|
|
|
Physical Education |
1 |
4 General Electives/Minor |
9 |
4 General Electives/Minor |
12 |
DMA-461 Practicum |
3 |
[13 credits] |
|
[12 credits] |
Courses
ART-101 Drawing I
Introduces the fundamentals of free-hand drawing and explores a variety of materials, techniques and subject matter such as still life, landscape and the human form as students identify individual areas of interest and artistic expression. Informal slide presentations and class critiques will expose students to the diversity of drawing and its manifestations in contemporary art and culture. Fulfills the general education requirement in fine arts and Artistic Expression. [3 credits]
ART-102 Color and Design
Introduces the fundamental elements and principles of color and design as a communicative tool. The course is designed for students with limited studio background and explores a wide variety of mediums and techniques as students develop technical virtuosity and personal aesthetic. The concepts and design strategies explored in this course can be applied in related areas of computer design, interior design and fashion design. Fulfills the general education requirement in Fine Arts and Artistic Expression. [3 credits]
ART-162 Digital Photography I
Introduces the fundamentals of digital imaging using Adobe Creative Cloud with an emphasis on camera vision. Through assigned readings and classroom discussions, students also will gain a critical perspective of the impact of digital imaging on photographic practice. Fulfills general education requirement in fine arts and artistic expression. [3 credits]
ART-321 Life Drawing I
ART-419 Digital Photography II
Deepens experience in digital photography and investigates the relationships between communication through photographs and digital images and other electronic media such as the digital press, World Wide Web and the virtual environment of the video game. Students enhance their skills and personal aesthetic using Adobe Photoshop and choose projects from still photography, graphic design or motion graphics. Prerequisite: ART-162. [3 credits]
COM-210 Social Media
COM-310 Media Literacy
COM-401 Writing for the Web
CST-130 Introduction to Computer Applications I Applications
CST-261 Web Page Design
CST-295 C++ Object-Oriented Programming
CST-321 Java Programming
DMA-100 Introduction to Design Systems
Explore the depth of Adobe's industry-leading software suite in this intensive and hands-on course. Designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding and practical expertise, Adobe Creative Cloud offers a robust set of creative tools widely used in professional fields [ 3 credits ]
DMA-103 Fundamentals of Design
Offers an introduction to the theories and practices of graphic design. Provides a historical analysis of visual communication with emphasis on the development of the profession of graphic design and the relationship of commerce and technology to the history of graphic design. Co-requisite: DMA-100. [3 credits]
DMA-201 Time-Based Media
DMA-202 Design Theory I
Explores graphic communication through understanding the elements and principles of design, as well as the design process, from idea development through final execution. Emphasizes two-dimensional design, color and content creation, while employing the design process of research, sketching and experimentation. Prerequisites: DMA-100, DMA-103. [3 credits]
DMA-351 Design Theory II
Advances computerized graphic design skills with an emphasis on Adobe InDesign. Students learn software-specific skills needed for full color graphic arts and pre-press production. Clear and precise visual communication, problem solving and presentation are stressed. Focus on portfolio development. Formerly ART-351. [ 3 credits ]