Bachelor of Science in Visual Media

Mission Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Visual Media (VM) provides a unique environment that interweaves an education in the visual arts and professional training in three specific concentrations: Interactive Media, Digital Cinema, and Computer Programming. Through critical, conceptual, historical, and technical components, the Visual Media degree enables students to develop expertise in the understanding and the use of visual media for artistic and professional purposes.

The difference of each individual’s perspective, when expressed through visual media, can create a diverse cultural collective. The goal of the VMC degree is to examine the media arts industry, foster appreciation of alternative communication methods, and provide the kind of scholarship that makes technological applications, critical thinking and education in the arts important and beneficial to the immediate community.

A Visual media artist communicates ideas through creative expression. The process of creation heightens sensibilities, which can potentially help the visual media artist create a dialog with people of diverse backgrounds, and inspire others to create their own voice. A visual media artist must remain continually innovative, inspired and inventive.

Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking
  • Use critical decision-making to provide visual media for individuals, groups, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and communities.
  • Analyze and evaluate technological research findings for application to best visual media practice.

Communication
  • Integrate critical, technical, and ethical knowledge to provide communications through visual media.
  • Foster a creative dialogical environment which facilitates promotion, maintenance and production of visual media for culturally diversity.
  • Collaborate and communicate with other professionals and community resource groups to promote the visual arts, visual communications, and well being of the community and its members.

Effective Citizenship
  • Develop helping-trusting, professional relationships with clients to facilitate visual communication needs.
  • Facilitate change in meeting current and future media industry needs through the use of leadership skills and knowledge of new and emerging technologies.
  • Assume professional responsibility and accountability, through reflection on experience, for own visual media practice within legal and ethical standards.

Curriculum

  1. Core Curriculum ....................................................................... 32-42

    1. English (3-6 credits)
      1. ENG 101 – Composition I ......................................................................... 3
      2. ENG 102 – Composition II......................................................................... 3
        Note: Students who place in ENG 102 are not required to complete ENG 101.

    2. Study and Technology Skills (2 credits)
      1. CEP 121 – Introduction to the College Experience ................................................................. 1
      2. CEP 122 – Enhancing Academic Success......................................................................... 1

    3. Mathematics (3-5 credits)
      1. MATH 127 or MATH 128 ................................................................... 3-5

    4. Natural Sciences (6-8 credits) - Refer to the Natural Sciences section of the Core Curriculum.
    5. Social Sciences (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum.
    6. Fine Arts (3 credits) - Refer to the Fine Artssection of the Core Curriculum.
    7. Humanities (6 credits) - Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum.
    8. Constitution (3-6 credits) - Refer to the Constitution section of the Core Curriculum.
    9. Community-Based Learning Course (3 credits) - Refer to the Community-Based Learning section of the Core Curriculum.

  2. Major Requirements

    1. Visual Media Core...................................................................... 43
      1. ART 100 – Visual Foundations................................................................... 3
      2. ART 243 – Digital Imaging ........................................................................... 3
      3. CS 135 – Computer Science I ......................................................................... 3
      4. CS 202 – Computer Science II......................................................................... 3
      5. CS 351 – Introduction to Multimedia + Lab.................................................................... 3
      6. FIS 100 - Introduction to Film....................................3
        or

        FIS 110 - Language of Film......................................3
      7. VIS 110 – Storyboarding...................................................................... 3
      8. VIS 120 – Introduction to Computer Animation (studio course)....................................................... 3
      9. VIS 261 – Concepts and History of Digital Media....................................................................... 3
      10. VIS 320 – Advanced Digital Animation (studio course)................................................................... 4
      11. VIS 430 – Advanced Digital Imaging ........................................................................... 4
      12. VIS 460 – Media Finance and Distribution ..................................................................... 4
      13. VIS 496 – Senior Portfolio in Professional and Ethical Practices ................................................. 4

  3. Select A Concentration
    1. Interactive Media (23 credits)
      1. VIS 250 - Introduction to Game Design & Development...............3
      2. VIS 290 - Introduction to Digital Cinema....................................3
        or

        VIS 292 - Introduction to Digital Editing......................................3
      3. VIS 380 - Typography and Publication Design............................3
      4. VIS 341 - Sound Design for Media Production............................4
      5. VIS 381 - Corporate/Public Organization Indentity & Communications...........3
      6. VIS 351 - Advanced Interactive Media Design.............................4
      7. CS 451 - Multimedia Systems Design + Lab.................................3
    2. Digital Cinema (28 credits)
      1. VIS 111 - Writing the Narrative Screenplay.....................................3
      2. VIS 290 - Introduction to Digital Cinema.........................................3
      3. VIS 292 - Introduction to Digital Editing..........................................3
      4. VIS 341 - Sound Design for Media Production.................................3
      5. VIS 312 - Personal Narrative Project..............................................4
      6. VIS 362 - Introduction to Contemporary Critical Theory in Art & Technology..............3
      7. VIS 411 - Advanced Narrative Screenplay........................................4
      8. VIS 490 - Advanced Digital Cinema................................................4
    3. Computer Programming (24 credits)
      1. CS 140 – Computing Languages (Java).............................................................. 3
      2. CS 302 – Data Structures....................................................................... 3
      3. CS 370 – Operating Systems................................................................... 3
      4. CS 457 – Database Management.......................................................................... 3
      5. CS 451 – Multimedia Systems Design and Lab.................................................................... 3 Choose one of the following two options:
        1. WEB DEVELOPMENT OPTION
          1. CS 341 – Internet Programming and Lab.................................................................. 3
          2. CS 441 – Advanced Internet Programming and Lab ................................................. 3
          3. VIS 450 – Game Design, Development, and Production............................................ 3
        2. GAMING OPTION
          1. CS 482 – Artificial Intelligence................................................................ 3
          2. VIS 250 – Introduction to Game Design and Development......................................... 3
          3. VIS 450 - Game Design, Development, and Production........................................... 3

 

Summary of credit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Visual Media
College Core Curriculum .......................................................................... 32-42
Visual Media Core.............................................................. 43
Concentration in Computing............................................................................ 23-28
Electives (at least 4 credits must be upper division)............................................................ 11-26
Total ...................................................................................... 124

All graduates of the program will build a portfolio including five works from courses required for the major and numbered 300 and above. Advisors will assist in the selection of representative works. These works may include such things as course projects, major research papers or projects, multimedia presentations, or web pages and the portfolio should contain a written evaluation of the portfolio by an instructor and a self-evaluation. All studio/lab courses will require a lab fee.