Course Sequence

The proposed curriculum is intentionally set up to have a minimum of required classes. The goal is to ensure (through the core) that students have a solid theoretical and technical foundation and are comfortable working on teams. The threads give students as much freedom as possible to create an individualized structure that meets her/his ambitions and goals. Digital media is converging. Many forms of media are intersecting. The goal of our program is for students to be comfortable juggling platforms, software and content produced in any medium to produce effective, compelling and attractive interactive media. Questions? Contact the Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Communication, Dick Haven.

The common core consists of six classes. After taking the first four, students split up into three threads: Interface/Communication, Technology, Visual Media Design. After completing the thread, students come together in the fifth and sixth core classes to work on large scale projects in teams. Here is Chris Henige's beautiful map of the curriculum.

MAGD 150 -- Introduction to Media Arts & Game Development

Students view and analyze interactive media. The class considers the impact of new media on our bodies, our culture and our ethics. Students learn the basics of media design: storyboarding, executing, usability testing, et al. They are introduced to the kinds of media that can be integrated with digital formats. (taught by faculty from Art, Communication, Computer Science)

MAGD 210 --Visual Imaging for Digital Media

Bitmap/Raster-based Graphics: Foundations of 2D design vocabulary and visual organizational principles/strategies are stressed using Adobe Photoshop with a focus on technical approaches to image making/photo concepting and related interaction with Dreamweaver, Flash, InDesign, etc; Pixel-based animation (basic GIF animations, After Effects, etc.); Bitmap 2D: color theory and color management; layering; masking; channels; selections; resolutions; pixel-based character development; textures and typographic essentials, etc. (taught by Art Faculty)

MAGD 220 --Drawing for Digital Media

Vector-based Graphics: Beginning with pencil to paper eye, mind, hand drawing fundamental skill development focusing on visualizing concepts with lighting and shadow principles for storyboarding, original character and environment studies to implementation using Adobe Illustrator. Goal is to link hand drawn ideas and vector techniques for concepting to interaction methods with Dreamweaver, Flash, InDesign, etc; Vector-based animation (basic Flash, etc.); basic 3D visualization concepts and techniques using Illustrator; vector-based character development and animation manipulation, Vector 2D typographic essentials, etc. [3 credits] Taught by Art faculty

MAGD 270 -- Web Development

Web Design: Students learn to build websites utilzing XHTML, CSS and Javascript. They learn to write their own WWW3-compliant code. The class emphasises design notebook construction and the importance of storyboarding, paper prototyping and usability. All students build a website for a real client as a final project. (taught by Communciation/Computer Science Faculty)

MAGD 271 -- Flash Development

Students learn to build interactive media using Flash software. They learn actionscript and basic object-oriented programming. The class emphasises interaction design, notebook construction and the importance of storyboarding and paper prototyping. All students build a project for a real client as a final project. (taught by Communciation Faculty)

MAGD 487 and 488 -- Advanced Team Projects I and II

Team development, group project development: Students construct an interactive web-based portfolio to demonstrate their work. They pitch interactive media ideas, select a pitch to develop, build and then test it. (team taught). The first semester focuses on portfolio building, advanced actionscript skills, initial group formation and taking the team project to Beta. The second semester focuses on completing the project, getting funding for commercialization/non-profit distribution, final usability testing, and publication.

Communication/Gaming Thread

Technology Thread

Visual Media Design Thread