Integrated Media Arts

This one credit course is an introduction to the Integrated Media Arts program and its offerings in terms of areas of study, practicum, internships, on campus projects and programs abroad. Meeting the faculty and learning of their interests and research goals is essential to finding your place in the department. Opportunities for Study Abroad, Internships and networking with Alumni are all part of this practical course with opportunities for written reflection and presentations. Together we explore your best options in professional and graduate school opportunities to inform your choice of POE and plan your course of study.

1 CreditsH 

An introduction to the concepts of digital media. Students will develop an understanding of the basics of digital media, the technology surrounding the creation and use of digital media, and its association with art, communication, and information technology. Through a laboratory context of experimentation and discussion, the course explores the use of various creative software programs used to create artistic and expressive media content. The course provides an overview of media formats, media creation, the fundamental properties of the tools required for media manipulation, and insight into the artistic, social, psychological, and legal aspects of digital media. Restrictions: IMA or Art POE or secondary emphasis, or by instructor permission.

3 CreditsCTDH

An introductory study of computer science software development concepts. Python is used to introduce a disciplined approach to problem solving methods, algorithm development, software design, coding, debugging, testing, and documentation in the object oriented paradigm. This is the first course in the study of computer science. 

3 CreditsN,CTGES,CTGISRecommended programming experience or IT110 or IT100, IT111 or IM110 or MA103 but not necessary. 

Introduces the major periods of western art history from its genesis to the present: Ancient, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Early Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, Proto-Renaissance, Renaissance, High Renaissance, Mannerism, Northern Renaissance, Baroque, Nineteenth Century, and Twentieth Century. Masterpieces from each epoch provide information about the cultures from which they derive, and highlight the individual achievements of outstanding artists.

3 CreditsF,I  

The discipline of design is basic to all forms of visual art, including painting, drawing, photography, ceramics and illustration. This course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic elements of picture structure: composition, line, shape, value, texture, color, scale, proportion, tension, and balance. Note: A special fee for art supplies is assessed.

3 CreditsF,CTDH  

An examination of the convergence of mass media (print, radio, television, sound, film, and internet) which serve our most common public interests. The focus is on the four primary functions to inform, to entertain, to persuade, and to transmit culture. Students have a better understanding of the tension between media as business and its social responsibility to its citizens. This course is not open to seniors.

3 CreditsH, CS

This introductory course focuses on how information technologies shape the way we think and organize ourselves. In studying the technology of the book, social media and the metaverse, students explore change and technology as central to the decision making of leaders. 

3 CreditsH, CW, CSPrerequisites: CM133 or IT110 or IT111.

Community Design Lab (formerly Integrated Media Arts Lab I) is a laboratory context of experimentation and discussion for students in the IMA Program. Students are given the opportunity to engage in a reciprocal partnership with a local community partner. Working in a team-driven environment with a local community partner students propose, plan, and complete a real world design project. The course includes reflection, design deliverables, and client presentations throughout the semester. Community Engaged Learning designated. 

3 CreditsCTDHPrerequisite IM110, sophomore standing or higher. 

Business of Design (formerly Integrated Media Arts Lab II) is a laboratory context of experimentation and discussion for students in the IMA Program. The course explores the methods and practices of creative industry standards and professional business practices of being a creative entrepreneur in a competitive world. Students will work on multiple individually driven creative projects to find their personal brand including the development of their online presence as a self promotion tool. By the end of the semester students will understand the business side of creativity including ethical obligations, intellectual property, contracts, negotiation techniques, time tracking, and pricing in a business setting. 

3 Credits Prerequisite IM375, junior standing or higher. 

When we want to convey a message to others, how do we choose whether to Tweet, blog, or shoot video? And why does it matter which we choose? Contemporary life asks us to be agile interpreters of images, texts, and sounds. In response, this course immerses students into the theory and practice of how and why we choose the media in which we communicate. Students explore how we understand and manipulate media, but also how media-in and of themselves-influence what gets written and how. Through an assignment sequence that includes text, webtext, image, sound, and video, students gain strength and versatility as writers by honing their awareness of genre, audience, and rhetorical situation. The course culminates in a multimodal, web-based portfolio. This course may be of interest to those considering not only professional writing, but also business, marketing, technology, creative entrepreneurship, media studies, art, and/or design.

3 CreditsH,CW,CTDHPre-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.

Credit option for students who are applying their classroom theory from the department by working on IMA projects on campus or off-campus. Must have sophomore, junior, or senior class standing.

2-4 Credits Prerequisite: IM-375 or IM-376

See catalog.

2-6 Credits  

See Catalog.

2-9 Credits  

This course is designed to serve as a capstone course for seniors who emphasize Integrated Media Arts in their POE. Students are expected to examine design theory and research methods relevant to a topic, theme, issue, or problem that has served as an area of special interest. This course is intended to allow students to develop, compose, organize, revise, and edit their own writing. Through written assignments students will have the opportunity to produce a thesis or creative project. Students must have senior standing and have a POE in IMA (designated or individualized). Distinction may be achieved if the candidate meets the IMA Distinction requirements.

3 Credits  

This course is designed to serve as a capstone course for seniors who emphasize Integrated Media Arts in their POE. Students are expected to examine design theory and research methods relevant to a topic, theme, issue, or problem that has served as an area of special interest. This course is intended to allow students to develop, compose, organize, revise, and edit their own writing. Through written assignments students will have the opportunity to produce a thesis or creative project. Students must have senior standing and have a POE in IMA (designated or individualized). Distinction may be achieved if the candidate meets the IMA Distinction requirements.

3 Credits  

This course considers the various aspects of presenting digital information for public consumption visually. Data formats from binary, text, various file types, to relational databases and web sites are covered to understand the framework of information retrieval for use in visualization tools. Visualization and graphical analyses of data are considered in the context of the human visual system for appropriate information presentation. Various open-source and commercial digital tools are considered for development of visualization projects. 

3 CreditsN,CTDH,CTGESPrerequisite: IT 110, IT 111, IM 110, DS 110, or CS 110 or permission. 

This course focuses on the creation of art through electronic processes. Adobe Creative Cloud and other apps will be utilized along with scanners, cameras, and printers. Final works will be exhibited electronically and in print.

4 CreditsF,CTDH,WK-CE  

This course will introduce fiber to students at its most sophisticated and expressive, mode: Book Arts. Students will be taught basic book-making techniques as well as a brief history of visual communication (both functionally and aesthetically). Students will create projects that challenge traditional notions of the book within the visual arts. Students will participate in such activities as papermaking, sewing, stitching, and other techniques used to alter the idea of published material and written communication. Note: Additional lab fees apply. 

3 CreditsF,WK-CE Pre-Req or Co-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109

Seeks to develop and improve fundamental principles and methods of selecting, organizing, developing, and communicating a line of reasoning and evidence for constructive influence in speaking situations. Students make three formal presentations, analyze messages, and improve their listening skills

3 CreditsCS, HPrerequisites: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing.

Digital Audio Production introduces the student to the fundamentals of capturing, editing and reproducing sound, using digital tools. Hands on studio work combines with basic acoustic theory to help conceptualize the bridge between the analogue and digital worlds. The final project for the course puts the student in teams to record, edit, mix and do simple mastering on a full length CD.

3 CreditsF,CTDH 

This course explores how visuals and text are used for purposes of identification, information, and persuasion. It looks at many visual modes such as comics, ads, maps, graffiti, film, art, scientific images, and web sites. Students have the option to create arguments using only text, only images, or a combination of both. 

4 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

This course is designed to improve communication with others in small group task and problem-solving situations. Working with a community partner students propose, plan and carry out a service project. We explore ways of developing communication strategies for group decision making, for leadership, and for managing interpersonal conflict, as well as presentations skills. This course takes a balanced approach to understanding and using communication theories, as well as offering practical experience using those skills for working in small groups. By the end of the semester students understand the group experience in terms of shared leadership of working cooperatively with diverse group members; and the necessity for ethical choices.

4 CreditsH, CS, SW-LEPrerequisite: CM-130 or CM-132 or CM-133. Pre- or Co-Requisite: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.

This course will introduce students to the context and forms of social media. We will explore the theories and practices of narrative expression in online context, explore social media as culture and study the impact of " the sharing economy. " What is social media, who uses it, who gains from it, and how is it transforming new media aswell as traditional media. One of the outcomes of social media is that everything is connected, creating massive amounts of user generated content and data. Students will learn to analyze, design and visualize this data. We will also focus on the social norms of user communities and how we can leverage it to better understand emerging technologies. Students will have the opportunity to explore both theory and practice of social media through writing assignments, presentations, curating and creating creative content, and participating on both online and offline discussions. 

3 CreditsFPrerequisites: IM110 or IT110 or IT111 or CS110. 

What makes something a work of art? Why do certain objects end up in museums? This course will answer those questions by surveying major artists and global movements from World War II through the present day. The impact of globalization on art and the predominance of socially engaged art in the 21st century will be considered.

4 CreditsF,I,WK-HTPre-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.

This course reviews and applies project management processes and techniques such as project life cycle, project selection methods, work breakdown instructions, network diagrams, cost estimates, and more. 

3 CreditsS,CW,CS,SW-LEPrerequisites: IT210 and Jr or Sr standing or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: IT308. 

Video Production I is a practical hands-on experience with cinematography, audio production, and lighting. Students learn the necessary skills to tell an well produced digital story with appropriate technical knowledge to enhance the narrative and audience engagement. This course will teach students how to work as a professional videographer by expanding digital media knowledge and techniques. Students will learn the technical foundations of video production, camera operation, lighting, audio acquisition and editing. Students will be encouraged to investigate the impact of video content based on the viewer in addition to artistic potential through digital storytelling.

3 CreditsF,CTDHPrerequisites: IM110 or permission by permission of instructor with prior video experience. 

Digital Video Production II allows students to work from ideas to a final video production that is ready to showcase at a film premiere, enter into film competitions, or share with a client as a professional commercial for their business. From preproduction planning all the way to post production editing, students will work on a series of videos with full creative rights. Students will be required to oversee planning, storyboarding, shooting, editing, and final exporting. Students with prior video production experience are preferred. 

3 CreditsF,CTDHPrerequisite: IM360 or by instructor permission. 

This course focuses on both the use of ethical principles to design games and the critical study of ethical games, which position players to make ethical decisionsthroughout the game. After learning about ethical principles through play and analysis, students design a text-based game where players make ethical choices shaping the narrative and experience of the game.

3 CreditsSW-ER,H,CWPrerequisite: FYC-101

Writing for Video Production is a course that combines contemporary rhetoric, creative inquiry, design thinking, media authorship, self-reflection, and social engagement. Students complete directed writing such as journal entries, scripts, storyboards, and shotlists in concert with video production, facilitating an integrated process of thinking, creating, and problem-solving. 

4 CreditsH,CW,CTDH,WK-CETake FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109