Program Overview

M.S. in Digital Design Program Overview

The M.S. in Digital Design (MSDD) is a 30-credit to 45-credit intermediate graduate program designed to combine coursework from any three graduate certificate programs: Animation Essentials, Game Design and Interactivity Essentials, or UI/UX Design Essentials, plus two synthetic graduate-level digital design studios.

Program Structure

• The 30-credit program consists of 18 credits of coursework from any three Digital Design graduate specializations in Animation, Game Design and Interactivity, or UI/UX (6 courses) plus 12 studio credits (2 studios).
• Students are required to design their programs in consultation with the graduate advisor and lead faculty member in the area of specialization.
• For students without the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in the specialized Digital Design concentrations, students will need to complete an additional 15 general prerequisite credits in Digital Arts.

Academic Requirements

• To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate courses.
• Students must repeat any design studio course in which they receive a grade of C.
• A grade of C+ in any design studio must be followed by a subsequent grade sufficient to raise the annual cumulative design studio GPA to 2.75.
• Incomplete (I) grades for studio and prerequisite courses must be removed before students will be permitted to register for continuing coursework in the program.

Curriculum

Year 1 Digital Arts Graduate Certificate "A" Preparatory Courses

• 1st Semester:
  • DD 601: Graphic Design and Color Theory (3 credits)
  • DD 610: History of Art And Design I (3 credits)
• 2nd Semester:
  • DD 603: Video and Animation (3 credits)
  • DD 611: History of Art and Design - Survey II (3 credits)
  • DD 602: 3D Modelling and Composition (3 credits)

Graduate Certificates

(B) Game Design and Interactivity Essentials

• Fall courses:
  • DD 622: Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding (3 credits)
  • DD 631: History of Game Play and Interactivity (3 credits)
  • DD 625: Environment Design (3 credits)
• Spring courses:
  • DD 634: Physical Computing for Designers Interaction Design (3 credits)
  • DD 624: Digital Audio (3 credits)

(C) Animation Essentials

• Fall courses:
  • DD 622: Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding (3 credits)
  • DD 623: Acting for Animators (3 credits)
• Spring courses:
  • DD 621: Character and Facial Modeling for Animators (3 credits)
  • DD 624: Digital Audio (3 credits)

(D) UI/UX Digital Design Essentials

• Fall courses:
  • DD 640: User Interface/User Experience in Digital Design (3 credits)
  • IS 661: User Experience Design (3 credits)
• Spring courses:
  • IS 664: Customer Discovery (3 credits)
  • DD 634: Physical Computing for Designers Interaction Design (3 credits)

Studio Courses

• Graduate Fall Studio (All specializations):
  • DD 650: Extended Reality Design Studio (6 credits)
• Graduate Spring Studio (All specializations):
  • DD 657: Digital Design Independent Project Studio (6 credits)

Total Program Credits

• Total required course credits: 18
• Total studio credits: 12
• MSDD Credit Total: 30