Digital Media Courses

DMED 500 - Foundations of Digital Media (3)

The emergence and ongoing development of the digital media landscape is discussed through a historical exploration and critical analysis of the business, technical innovations, social, ethical, and legal demands which define it. Outcomes are critical perspectives from explorations of digital media aspects, which will act as a common basis for all subsequent discussion and collaboration between students with artistic, technical or interdisciplinary backgrounds.

DMED 501 - Visual Storytelling (3)

Students will practice how to use imagery to tell compelling stories and narrate ideas. Using contemporary and historical frameworks, explorations of story structures and narrative storytelling techniques will lead you towards production of multiplatform digital artifacts. At the end of this course you will be able to think critically about the ethical and moral considerations of global and inclusive visual storytelling.

DMED 502 - Improvisation for Collaboration (3)

This course provides students with the practical skills to improve collaboration with others, for the end goal of creating successful projects together. From improving their performance in team based scenarios and developing strong presentation skills, to creating stories and characters on the fly, improvisation is an essential skill in a digital media industry that demands increasing flexibility and creativity, relies on innovative minds for its evolution and depends on rapid prototyping and iterative product creation for its survival.

DMED 503 - Game Design and Gamification (3)

Game design and gamification explores what motivates people, what constitutes “fun”, and how through these principles we can create more meaningful and engaging experiences. Primarily, we will focus on video games, ranging from indie to AAA, mobile to VR, to understand the core concepts of game design and discuss how these can be applied to other interactive forms through gamification. We will cover various aspects of games including mechanics, emotion, agency, balance, and player motivation through practical in-class activities, game deconstructions, and projects. In these projects, students will work in teams to design, prototype, and test their own games, with a focus on user-centered design and iteration. Projects will be iterative, with multiple rounds of feedback and revision, and will culminate in a final presentation where students will present their games to the class and invited guests.

DMED 520 - Projects I: Building Virtual Worlds (6)

Building Virtual Worlds is the first project course. Teams of students from different backgrounds and disciplines design and implement a digital artifact. These projects have an explicit role in teaching human-centered iterative design, project management, team collaboration, and project execution skills. This hands-on immersion into a team-based problem solving environment is designed to break down student inhibitions and to foster rapid project planning and prototyping.

DMED 521 - Projects II (12)

Projects II cohesively builds on the Project I experience with increasingly complex technical, artistic and management challenges. Projects II is an independent, term length team-based project working with an external client and/or collaborators. Students learn, experience, and execute iterative processes through team collaboration and prototype/proof of concept delivery. Prerequisite: DMED 520.

DMED 522 - Projects III (12)

As a capstone course, Projects III cohesively builds on the Project II experience with increasingly complex technical, artistic and management challenges. Projects III is an independent, term length team-based project working with an external client and/or collaborators. Projects may include student-led pitches. Students learn, experience, and execute iterative processes through team collaboration and prototype/proof of concept delivery at a high level of professionalism. Prerequisite: DMED 521.

DMED 530 - Internship (6)

Students will practice what they have learned in the MDM program through the pursuit and/or completion of full-time work experience in the field of digital media. Students learn firsthand the importance of effective job search, interview, networking, communication, collaboration, time management and teamwork skills. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

DMED 531 - Internship Continuation (6)

This course is a continuation of DMED 530. Students will practice what they have learned in the MDM program through the pursuit and/or completion of full-time work experience in the field of digital media. Students learn firsthand the importance of effective job search, interview, networking, communication, collaboration, time management and teamwork skills. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: DMED 530.

DMED 540 - Special Topics in Digital Media (3)

Special Topics.

DMED 550 - Directed Studies in Digital Media (3)

Normally a student would take at most one directed studies course during their degree. Directed studies offered within the program will be approved by the MDM Program Committee to essentially the same criteria required for approval of a new elective. If approved, this course can be taken in place of an elective.