Digital Media (BA) - Web and Interactive Media Track

Program Overview

The B.A. in Digital Media at UCF integrates art, storytelling, and technology. Students can choose between two tracks: Game Design or Web and Interactive Media. The program emphasizes teamwork, theory, and practical experience through courses in digital cultures, game testing, and design for accessibility. Graduates are prepared for careers in creative industries, digital media production, and web development.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The B.A. in Digital Media allows students to integrate the multiple domains of art, storytelling, and technology. It is designed to provide a solid foundation in techniques and theory in one focused area of competence, provide a broad understanding of related disciplines including arts, humanities, and technology, and provide extended experience in working in multidisciplinary teams on realistic problems. It recognizes that there are many combinations of courses which meet the needs of individual students. Two Tracks lead to a Bachelor of Arts Degree: 1. Game Design or 2. Web and Interactive Media.

Outline:

Core Requirements:

• Basic Level (6 Total Credits): Complete all of the following:
• In addition to completing all of the required GEP (ARH2050, MAC1105C and CGS2100C or CGS 2100C or COP 2500C) and CPP (DIG2000, DIG2030, DIG2109, DIG2500) courses.
• Complete at least 2 of the following:
• DIG2783 - Fundamentals of Game Art (3)
• ART2201C - Design Fundamentals-Two Dimensional (3)
• ART2203C - Design Fundamentals-Three Dimensional (3)
• ART2300C - Drawing Fundamentals I (3)
• ART2301C - Drawing Fundamentals II (3)
• DIG2783 is suggested for Game Design Track.
Note that ART2300C is a prerequisite for ART2301C.
• Advanced Level (45 Total Credits):
• Game Design:
• Complete all of the following:
• DIG3024 - Digital Cultures & Narrative (3)
• DIG3043 - Evolution of Video Games (3)
• DIG3480 - Computer as a Medium (3)
• DIG3728C - Game Testing (3)
• DIG4630 - Creative Industries (3)
• DIG4713 - Game Design (3)
• DIG4715C - Game Production (3)
• DIG4720C - Casual Game Production (3)
• DIG4780C - Modeling for Realtime Systems (3)
• Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses:
• DIG 4595 - Portfolio Development
• DIG 4941 - Internship
• Complete at least 3 of the following:
• DIG3602C - Physical Computing (3)
• DIG3727C - Game Level Design (3)
• DIG4138 - Digital Sculpting (3)
• DIG4294C - Post-Production Game FX (3)
• DIG4295C - Game Optimization & Performance (3)
• DIG4324C - Modeling for Realtime Systems II (3)
• DIG4633C - Multi-Modal Design (3)
• DIG4778C - Game Design Tools & Plugins (3)
• DIG4813 - Contemporary Topics in Digital Media (3)
• Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: 3000 or 4000 level courses from ART, ARH, FIL, GRA, DIG, PGY, or any 3000 or 4000 level courses approved by the school not already used in the major.
• Web and Social Platforms:
• Complete all of the following:
• DIG3024 - Digital Cultures & Narrative (3)
• DIG3134C - Server-Side Scripting (3)
• DIG3146 - Social Platforms (3)
• DIG3174C - Front-End Web Design (3)
• DIG3175 - Design for Accessibility and Engagement (3)
• DIG3525 - Digital Media Production I (3)
• DIG3716C - Client-Side Scripting (3)
• DIG3811 - User-Centered Design (3)
• DIG4503C - Rapid Application Web Development (3)
• DIG4630 - Creative Industries (3)
• DIG4639C - Mobile Development (3)
• Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: 3000 or 4000 level courses from ART, ARH, FIL, GRA, DIG, PGY or any 3000 or 4000 level courses approved by the school not already used in the major.

Capstone Requirements (6 Total Credits):

• Game Design Capstone:
• Complete the following:
• DIG4725C - Game Design Workshop I (3)
• DIG4726C - Game Design Workshop II (3)
• Web and Social Platforms Capstone:
• Complete the following:
• DIG4104C - Web Design Workshop I (3)
• DIG4172C - Web Design Workshop II (3)

Grand Total Credits: 57

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120

Electives:

To fulfill the 120 hours required in this degree, electives may be taken in allied programs such as Art, Music, Philosophy, English, Film, the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, Computer Science, etc. as approved by the School.

Foreign Language Requirements:

Graduation Proficiency equivalent to two semesters of college instruction in a foreign language (taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures of Judaic Studies) or in American Sign Language (ALS). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used. ASL proficiency is met by successful completion of ASL 2140 and ASL 2150 or an appropriate score on the ASL proficiency exam. Contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/csd/) regarding the ASL proficiency examination. Consult with the NSCM advising staff to understand how choosing ASL might impact hours needed to graduate.

Other:

• Departmental Residency Requirement: consists of at least 24 hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
• GPA Requirements: Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course, except DIG 2000 and DIG 4713 which require a "B" (3.0) or better.
Failure to maintain the required GPAs will result in the student being placed on Lack of Progress in the major. If a student on Lack of Progress fails to achieve the minimum required GPA in the subsequent term, the student must establish a remediation plan with NSCM Advising or will be dropped as a Digital Media major. A student who is dropped may seek re-admittance into the major by submitting a letter indicating the reasons for academic difficulties and positive plans for achieving the required GPA.
• Students must complete DIG4713 Game Design with a "B" or better.

• Students should consult with a NSCM advisor on a regular basis.

• No more than 6 hours of overlap allowed between courses used in the Digital Media BA and any minor.

• Departmental Exit Requirements: Students in the Digital Media major must maintain a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA in all 3000-level or higher Digital Media courses and a 2.0 or higher cumulative in all Digital Media courses taken at UCF.
• University Minimum Exit Requirements:
• A 2.0 UCF GPA
• 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed
• 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
• 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
• A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
• Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
• Honors In Major: Students interested in completing Honors in the Major should contact their program advisor.
More information about Honors in the Major can be found at http://research.honors.ucf.edu/honors-in-the-major.
• Related Programs:
• Art, Studio Track (B.A.)
• Computer Science (B.S.)
• English, Creative Writing (B.A.)
• English, Literature (B.A.)
• English, Technical Communication (B.A.)
• Film (B.A.)
• Music (B.A.)
• Art - Studio Minor
• Computer Science Minor
• English, Technical Communication Minor
• Film, Cinema Studies Minor
• Music Minor
• Transfer Notes:
• Grades less than 'C' (2.0) are not accepted.
• Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
• Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit.
The student must provide all supporting information.
• Program Academic Learning Compacts: Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
• Equipment Fees:
• Part-Time Student: $45 per term
• Full-Time Student: $90 per term