Program Overview

Introduction to Digital Arts & Media

The Digital Arts & Media Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) is designed to guide students toward careers in the dynamic field of digital arts and media. This program provides a unique mix of courses from fine arts, radio-television-film, computer sciences, humanities, and engineering, allowing students to explore and create work that pushes the boundaries of traditional disciplines and media.

Program Description

The presence of advanced computer technologies in nearly every aspect of the entertainment sector and commercial media production points to the need for knowledge and skills in both the arts and the sciences. The Digital Arts & Media BDP provides a framework for students to explore and create work that combines these fields. The foundation courses provide the conceptual scaffolding for exploring new media and developing new skills, while the strand courses allow students to pursue individual interests in areas such as games and entertainment, image and film, mixed media, music and audio, or other areas.

Emphasis in Game Development

Students in Digital Arts & Media may earn their certificates with an emphasis in game development. To receive this recognition, students must apply and be admitted to one of the Game Development Capstone courses and either propose the course to count for their Creative Project or use the course to fulfill a strand course requirement.

Requirements

To earn a BDP certificate in Digital Arts and Media, students must complete 19 credit hours of coursework and Connecting Experiences.

Foundation Courses

• Forum Seminar
• Concepts and Techniques Course
• Foundations Course
• Social Issues Course

Courses in a Strand

Students may focus on:

• Games and entertainment
• Image and film
• Mixed media
• Music and audio
• A strand of their own design Courses may come from Communication, Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences, or Engineering.

Connecting Experiences

• Independent or team-based creative project course under the supervision of two faculty mentors
• Optional second research or internship Connecting Experience

Theory and Critical Creative Practice Requirement

At least one of the courses counting toward students’ foundation or strand course requirements must focus on what it means to be a critical creator and what creating looks like in digital format.

Integration Essay

Students write a 3-4 page essay at the end of the BDP experience, drawing together the different pieces of the BDP.

Faculty Panel

An interdisciplinary faculty panel helps students choose courses related to Digital Arts & Media, produce creative digital projects, and identify connecting research and internship opportunities.