The general Integrated Media degree provides a broad approach to digital applications with a focus on new media and digital communications tools. Emphasis is on the emerging opportunities available in on-line journalism, social networking, podcasts, blogging, and photojournalism. Students learn to create and analyze media, to upload original photo, video and audio content, master Wikis and Twitter, execute and track strategic marketing campaigns via social media and develop personal branding skills. Coursework includes Reporting, Mass Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, Photojournalism and Digital Photography. Students completing the base degree will have a breadth and depth of social media as a low-cost marketing tool and know how to use these popular platforms to gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK: Developments in social media are altering relationships between individuals and organizations in dramatic ways that are important to you as job seekers. Whether it's blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, social platforms are doing more than driving buzz – they're driving purchasing decisions across the world. The popularity and explosion of new media outlets is an indicator of exciting opportunities for successful students in on-line journalism, public relations, marketing, blogging, new media monitoring, and social network technical support.
This beginning photography course uses digital cameras and software for processing. Students learn to use the advanced features of digital cameras to create various creative outcomes. Learning the digital photography language, lens classifications, specific exposure controls and lighting, photogrpahic composition, photo-compositing and developing a digial media presentation are emphasized. Students are introduced to Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Bridge for image organization, basic image ajustments/retouching and building multi-photo images.
This visual arts course introduces the art student to the use of Macintosh computers and an image-editing program as a means to digitally manipulate photographs as well as create original images. Students learn how to use a flatbed scanner, digital camera, work with stock photography and other image sources. Emphasis is placed on use of the Mactintosh computer as a fine art-making tool. Paint tools, filters, color correcting, selection methods, color modes and file formats are explored. Through assigned projects, students learn how to alter, improve, create and manage bitmap images. Conceptual as well as technical issues are covered.
This course provides an overview of media and how they work. Students will learn about industry trends, convergence of technology, job opportunities and issues in public relations, newspapers, and magazines, documentary presentation, graphic design, advertising, social media and the Internet.
This course provides a practical review of grammar, spelling, word use and principles of clear, concise writing in the context of media writing. The course focuses on effective communication to both internal and external audiences.
A beginning class in news writing. Emphasis is placed on writing leads, developing the story and a sense for news. Character and communication of news, rights and responsibilities of journalists explored.
An introduction to advertising and its functions. Course focuses on vocabulary, layout, copy writing and marketing with an emphasis on print and electronic media. Includes a segment on public relations.
A survey course for transfer journalism, journalism arts majors and others interested in understanding the role of print, electronic media and public opinion in a democratic society.
Analysis of contemporary developments in publicity and public relations with emphasis on application of skills to problem solving.
Studies the photographic process and the use of photographs in news layout. Covers beginning production methods, developing and printing photos for photo essay.
This course builds the theoretical foundations for integrated media, engaging students in a specialized study of a wide range of media involving video, sound, graphic design, photography, interactivity, and the Internet. Students explore both contemporary and historically relevant media examples and their integration of the seven elements of design: line, shape, form, value, texture, space and color. It addresses the historical perspectives, aesthetics and science behind image-making, storytelling and design. Students work face-to-face and virtually in small groups to create media deconstruction presentations that apply the vocabulary used in critical assessment.
This course develops basic digital asset management skills and introduces computer applications related to integrated media: audio, video, illustration, layout and image editing. Students prepare a digital presentation that incorporates examples from a variety of media.
Students work in interdisciplinary groups to produce professional quality sound, video, design or multimedia projects. Students apply the seven elements of design throughout each step of the creative process: development, pitching, pre-production, production and post-production. Paperwork preparation is required before students move to each subsequent production phase.
An introduction to basic principles of short format, persuasive oral writing style. Students write and produce script copy including: commercials, public service campaigns and news reports. Includes structure, shaping the language for the ear, the value and purpose of original sound and interview segments, journalistic conventions, reporting procedures and the law as it applies to daily news functions.
Students learn Dreamweaver software to create and edit Web pages. Students gain experience with the HTML language and web browser compatibility. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for page structure and typographic formatting will be covered, as well as hyperlinks, tables and frames. Basic image processing, graphic formats, navigational principles, and menuing will also be addressed.
Students work in small creative teams to explore how graphic design, photography, film and video, and sound-based technologies converge, integrate and emerge. By developing and then working from a creative brief for a public service campaign, students gain an understanding of the production stream of conceptualization, collaborative design processes, problem solving, integrated media production and online distribution.
This course will prepare students for careers in digital media. Topics included are intellectual property, legal, ethical and contractual issues as well as financial record-keeping for the self-employed. Resume writing, self-promotion, presentation and job search skills will be a major focus.
Students choose a minimum of four 1-credit workshop-style classes from a wide range of digital media topics. Options include video, photo, web, design and audio applications.
Students will identify a career focus. Various presentation techniques are explored as well as the tools, materials and processes for creating and showing a creative portfolio. Emphasis is on the development of representative samples in the form of a portfolio and/or reel and accompanying promotional materials. Students learn to present their work in a professional manner.
This course simulates a real-life creative agency where students compete and work with one another on actual client projects. Emphasis will be on creative problem-solving, staying within budgetary constraints, and producing high quality projects. Client management and presentation skills are stressed along with job documentation, time management, teamwork and collaboration. Students will experience, first hand, the processes involved in creating and producing actual creative output that includes graphic design, photography, copy writing, sound and video components. May be repeated for up to 12 credits.