Digital Media, MPS

Students in the Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media will build their skills and expertise while gaining experience using a variety of industry-standard and cutting-edge technologies and tools. Our curriculum is organized around three types of experiences: core courses, concentration electives, and a capstone that can be completed as an individual thesis or a team project.

Our core courses in media creation, interactive design, usability, design thinking, and narrative structure provide a baseline for producing content-rich experiences. A series of electives are offered in seven distinctive areas: 3D animation, game design, digital video, social media, digital media management, or one of two tracks in interactive design: visual design or usability and production. In the capstone experience, you’ll work with the guidance of faculty to channel your passion into a project that provides tangible evidence of your abilities.

Whether you are a full- or part-time student, our cohort structure allows you to build meaningful working relationships with students from around the globe. Team-based assignments strengthen your project management and leadership skills and allow you to take part in the design and development of more complex media projects than you could by working alone. The team efforts will also prepare you for your future as a professional in digital media’s collaboration-oriented culture.

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• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
• Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

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Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Required Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
DGM 6122	Foundations of Digital Storytelling	4
DGM 6145	Information Technology and Creative Practice	4
DGM 6521	Web Creation for Content Management Systems	2
Complete one of the following:		4
DGM 6140	Sound Design
DGM 6168	Usability and Human Interaction
Complete one of the following options:		8
Thesis Option
DGM 6890	Thesis Proposal Development
DGM 7990	Thesis (at 6 QH)
Capstone Option
DGM 7980	Capstone
Choose one technical course from the workshops list below.

Concentrations

The remaining quarter hours may be completed by selecting a combination of a concentration and additional electives/workshops or selecting any courses in the concentrations and elective lists. You must complete any prerequisites associated with DGM courses unless granted a waiver under special circumstances.

• 3D Animation
• Digital Media Management
• Digital Video
• Game Design
• Interactive Design
• Social Media

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following:		3-4
ALY 6110	Data Management and Big Data
DGM 6125	Time-Based Media
DGM 6322	Advanced Digital Storytelling
DGM 6550	Search Engine Optimization: Strategy and Implementation
EDU 6184	Interdisciplinary Foundations
ITC 6410	Fundamentals of Human Behaviors for Interactive Systems

Workshops

Optional digital media workshops are designed to provide valuable technical skills and tools for students in all graduate degree programs.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Students may complete one of the following:
DGM 6506	Introduction to Digital Video
DGM 6515	Introduction to After Effects
DGM 6516	Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR)
DGM 6892	Capstone Project Preparation
TCC 6410	Online Documentation
TCC 6630	Introduction to XML

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

45 total quarter hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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3D Animation

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
DGM 6450	Animation Basics	4
DGM 6510	3D Modeling	4
DGM 6530	Character Animation	4
DGM 6535	Rigging Principles and Techniques	4
DGM 6540	Compositing	4

Digital Media Management

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
DGM 6230	Digital Media Entrepreneurship	4
DGM 6279	Project Management for Digital Media	4
DGM 6280	Managing for Digital Media	4
DGM 6285	Interactive Marketing Fundamentals	4
DGM 6290	Social Media and Brand Strategy Implementation	4

Digital Video 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
DGM 6520	Lighting for the Camera	4
DGM 6435	Digital Video Production	4
DGM 6440	Editing in the Digital Studio	4
DGM 6540	Compositing	4
DGM 6545	Documentary and Nonfiction Production	4

Game Design 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
DGM 6308	Intermediate Programming for Digital Media	4
DGM 6400	Game Design Fundamentals	4
DGM 6403	Game Engine Fundamentals	4
DGM 6405	Game Development	4
DGM 6410	Game Design Technology Lab	4

Interactive Design

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Interactive Design
DGM 6461	Interactive Information Design 1	4
Complete four courses from one of the following tracks:		16
Design Track
DGM 6217	Typography for Interactivity
DGM 6317	Screen-Based Publication Design
DGM 6463	Interactive Information Design 2
DGM 6471	Designing Infographics
Usability and Development Track
DGM 6268	Usable Design for Mobile Digital Media
DGM 6308	Intermediate Programming for Digital Media
DGM 6451	Web Development
DGM 6525	Research Methods for Global User Experiences
TCC 6110	Information Architecture
TCC 6710	Content Strategy

Social Media

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following:		19-21
Required
DGM 6285	Interactive Marketing Fundamentals	4
Electives
Complete 15–17 quarter hours from the following:
CMN 6040	Consumer Behaviors in the Online Environment
CMN 6045	Leveraging Digital Technologies: Strategy, Assessment, and Governance
CMN 6065	Implementation and Management of Social Media Channels and Online Communities
CMN 6075	Digital Marketing Analytics
DGM 6290	Social Media and Brand Strategy Implementation
DGM 6525	Research Methods for Global User Experiences
DGM 6550	Search Engine Optimization: Strategy and Implementation