DGM 5000. Visual Communication Fundamentals. (2 Hours)
Introduces basic principles and concepts inherent in the visual language systems of art and design—organization, organic unity, elements of art, composition, and spatial relationships. Students practice skills that are the foundation of every design profession, including using digital art-making tools and software. Projects focus on visual problem solving, emphasizing the understanding of context, content, and the development of original forms. Discusses students’ work and explores lecture topics.
DGM 5050. Web Creation Boot Camp. (2 Hours)
Introduces core web design technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3. Explores fundamentals of web page creation and file management through practical applications. Students work individually to develop projects that explore creative text, multimedia presentation, and basic interactivity on the web.
DGM 5060. Visual Design Foundations. (2 Hours)
Introduces basic graphic design principles and their practical applications including typography and the design of text, image, and interface layouts and grids. Covers the use of color systems and spatial relationships to convey complex information. Introduces design system software such as Figma.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5050 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6105 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 5100. Programming Logic Fundamentals. (2 Hours)
Introduces core programming concepts, such as variables and conditional logic, and simple program design techniques, such as flowcharting and pseudocode. Explores fundamentals of interactive multimedia application development using a beginner-friendly framework such as p5.js or pygame. Students work individually to develop projects that explore these concepts through experimentation and personal expression.
DGM 5105. Foundations of Programming for Digital Media. (2 Hours)
Introduces intermediate programming concepts for working with complex data such as arrays and objects. Examines basic object-oriented design techniques. Explores the fundamentals of selecting and working with programming libraries and APIs to develop interactive multimedia applications within a web-based framework that can be deployed to desktop computers, phones, or even watches. Students work individually and in groups to explore these concepts through experimentation and personal expression.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5050 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 5100 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6010. Information Technology and Creative Practice. (3 Hours)
Explores the intersection of technology and creativity to solve complex, multifaceted problems. Surveys the evolution of information technology and examines how digital designers can leverage technology to push creative boundaries across artistic disciplines for innovative problem solving. Emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, creative thinking, and empathy while encouraging students to consider expanding technological possibilities.
DGM 6020. Data Presentation and Client Communication. (1 Hour)
Introduces students to the narrative skills, process and preparation necessary to communicate effectively with internal and external professional contacts, including how to provide and elicit useful feedback from team members, managers and clients. Explores how to identify, select, and organize appropriate text and visual elements to produce a legible and effective presentation. Includes practice in personal delivery skills with the goal of providing compelling presentations to clients and other key stakeholders.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C
DGM 6055. Content Management Systems. (2 Hours)
Presents an intensive workshop designed to build on the foundations of web creation by introducing projects that include various technical requirements and complex media elements. Studies web software and web technologies using such tools as HTML, PHP, and JavaScript. Offers students an opportunity to design websites that take advantage of layered imagery and basic interactivity, leading to the mastery of more complex layout design.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5050 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6115. Data Collection, Analysis, and Visualization. (3 Hours)
Explores advanced data collection and visualization techniques for the analysis and assessment of both qualitative and quantitative data. Introduces and expands on structures, methodologies, best practices, and trends in data visualization. Evaluates and represents data through the design, creation, and adaptation of a variety of formats, charts, maps, and graphic tools. Builds on HCI design principles and qualitative user research methods explored in prior coursework while introducing students to various visualization tools such as Figma. Prior understanding and experience with basic programming and formal logic are required.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 5105 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6200. Digital Storytelling Foundations. (2 Hours)
Introduces the fundamentals of character and story development through practical applications of narrative in both linear and nonlinear media using a variety of traditional and social media outlets. Explores personal narrative and story structure in a variety of digital forms. Offers students an opportunity to gain familiarity with narrative sequencing and story development and to apply these skills in nonlinear and experimental environments. Students work individually and collaboratively to develop projects that stretch the boundaries of creative storytelling. Progresses from simple text development to complex visual character and environmental expressions, applying storyboarding and interactive development tools in various potential multimedia formats.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6105 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6501 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6255. Usability and Human Interaction. (3 Hours)
Surveys the theory and practice of human-computer interaction and the development of user interfaces. Introduces interaction design methods and principles. Explores the creation of usable solutions for digital products, systems, and services through the observation and understanding of human behavior. Topics include cognitive foundations of interaction design, user research and problem analysis, target audience identification, and current and evolving research techniques. Students create a product, system, or service prototype design.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6415. Interactive Media Studies. (2 Hours)
Introduces interactive media concepts through historical and narrative lenses. Explores the coevolution of interactive narrative techniques since the dawn of modern computing across multiple disciplines including computer science, psychology, literature, design, and video gaming. Students play with historical and current interactive media, explore the cultural and historical context of the works, and reflect on their experiences.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6200 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6425. Story Development. (2 Hours)
Explores various story development techniques to creatively support interactive story development for a more expansive and complex range of media types and interactive environments. Aims to expand the range of creative experiences and alternatives to enable students to develop a more sophisticated portfolio of ideas. Students participate in supportive writing workshop and writer’s room environments where they have the opportunity to create new characters, write and improve character dialogue, and propose and outline both nonfiction and fiction stories for a variety of media.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6200 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6475. Digital Design Seminar. (2 Hours)
Offers students the opportunity to work individually or collaboratively to explore the design and development of rapid prototypes for a specific technology, environment, and/or purpose to fulfill the technical and creative goals set by the instructor. Projects center on the creation or expansion of an idea proposed by the instructor or a professional client to increase the students’ range of technological and conceptual knowledge through iterative refinement and development.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6115 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6600 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6600. Information Design for Digital Media. (3 Hours)
Surveys the design principles and disciplines that inform information design for digital media, including user-centered design approaches to technology, human behavior and interaction, information architecture, content organization, responsive design, accessibility, design systems, and emerging technologies. Studies how to present digital content in accessible, user-friendly ways that enable users to easily find and grasp the information they seek. Aims to build a foundation for solving information design challenges and creating purposeful experiences for digital-based media, making complex information relationships engaging for audiences in the digital arena.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5050 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6168 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C- or TCC 6120 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6610. Prototyping and Usability Testing. (3 Hours)
Examines the fundamentals of prototyping at different levels of fidelity and how to conduct usability tests to improve user experiences. Offers students an opportunity to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the principles, techniques, and methodologies for designing and evaluating user-centered prototypes. Students create interactive prototypes that support business and user goals, conduct usability tests to identify and address usability issues, and iterate to improve designs based on usability test findings.
Prerequisite(s): (DGM 6255 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6600 with a minimum grade of C- ) or DGM 6168 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6620. Research Methods for Global User Experiences. (3 Hours)
Focuses on a structured approach to user research methodology for the design of interactive applications. Emphasizes user research and interpretation for products and services marketed to individuals spanning cultures with radically different customs and communication. Applies field methods such as interviewing, observation, and questionnaire design through the lens of intercultural psychology and communication patterns, cultural neutrality, and culture-centric design.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6610 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6168 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6630. Multimodal Information Design. (3 Hours)
Explores in-depth the multifaceted world of interactive platform design, encompassing a diverse range of digital environments. Students engage with relevant design principles, user interface considerations, and user experience strategies to develop an understanding of how to craft design solutions that are both consistent across different devices and tailored to their unique constraints. Uses comparative analysis, hands-on design exercises, and the application of human-computer interaction principles. Offers students an opportunity to gain proficiency in creating user-centered designs that cater to varied interactive modes and technological platforms and the skills necessary to navigate and innovate within the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6610 with a minimum grade of C- or (DGM 6461 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6217 with a minimum grade of C- )
DGM 6640. Accessibility and Information Architecture. (3 Hours)
Examines accessibility principles and information architecture, laying the foundation for evaluating and designing digital products that cater to diverse audiences. Explores accessibility guidelines, technologies, and practical tools integral to user experience design. Studies concepts of information hierarchy, navigation design, and the application of emerging technologies. Practices how to conduct accessibility audits and apply information architecture principles through a hands-on approach to create intuitive, inclusive, user-centered digital interfaces. Emphasizes the development of designs that are not only functional but also accessible to individuals with a range of disabilities.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6255 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6650. Game Design Fundamentals. (3 Hours)
Presents an immersive exploration into the art and science of game design, focusing on board, card, and social gaming. Journeys from foundational theories to the practicalities of crafting engaging game experiences. Emphasizes hands-on learning to guide students through the iterative game creation process, from initial concept to playable prototype. Fosters critical group dynamics and play-testing skills to develop a robust toolkit for innovative game design. Offers students an opportunity to obtain expertise in articulating and applying foundational design principles, developing original game concepts, formulating a professional-standard game design document, and producing a testable prototype.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6655. Animation Fundamentals. (3 Hours)
Explores the creative potential of animation. Presents a historical survey of animation art through various media (movies, television, and video games). Demonstrates animation processes and techniques through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments. Emphasizes using the computer to creatively develop concepts while studying the fundamental skills of constructing images and forms. Requires students to develop assets during the first half of the course and integrate them into a game engine as a final project.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6105 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6660. Digital Video Essentials. (2 Hours)
Introduces digital video production in Adobe Creative Suite to produce compelling, responsible digital media content that resonates across diverse audiences. Projects emphasize the conceptualization, design, and creation of digital videos. Delves into animation, focusing on After Effects keyframing, enabling students to add depth and dynamism to their narratives. Offers students an opportunity to master the integrated workflow across various Adobe applications, ensuring efficient project development and cross-platform compatibility. Assesses the effectiveness of digital video in communication.
DGM 6665. XR: Virtual and Augmented Reality. (2 Hours)
Introduces two key forms of extended reality—virtual reality and augmented reality. XR is a common term for the collection of technologies allowing users to modify the screen interface to enhance their virtual experience.Covers the differences and similarities between virtual and augmented reality and explores using them as individual and complementary tools. Students experiment with XR applications for virtual and augmented reality displays and study how the technology is utilized as a means of mass communication.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6660 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6506 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6670. Game Development Fundamentals. (3 Hours)
Introduces students to core aspects of game development. Explores programming for games, working with a game engine, and importing and editing multimedia within the game development environment. Students work with an IDE such as Visual Studio, a game engine such as Unity, and collaborative development tools such as GitHub.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5105 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6650 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6400 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6675. Interactive Narrative Development. (3 Hours)
Introduces interactive narrative techniques, building on basic storytelling and narrative multimedia concepts covered in the program. Explores modern interactive narrative-building tools such as Ink and Inform. In supportive writing workshop and writer’s room environments, students individually and collectively develop brief interactive narrative responses to various prompts that ask them to explore their histories, cultures, media tastes, and their place in the modern world.
Prerequisite(s): (DGM 6200 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6415 with a minimum grade of C- ) or DGM 6122 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6680. Designing for Game Frameworks. (2 Hours)
Introduces new, emerging, and/or unusual game technologies. Explores the fundamentals of using a game engine such as Godot, Unreal Engine, or Inform, and/or developing for a gaming platform such as Steam Deck, Oculus VR, or Playdate. Students work individually and in groups to create an end-to-end design for a game that is appropriate for the framework studied.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5105 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6670 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6685. Advanced Game Development. (3 Hours)
Introduces advanced game development topics including terrain generation, networked multiplayer game development, artificial intelligence, shader development, and game optimization tool use. Expands on designing game interactions, managing game data, and programming techniques.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6670 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6403 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6690. 3D Character Modeling and Rigging. (3 Hours)
Introduces the fundamentals of 3D computer modeling and rigging of moving objects and characters. Offers students an opportunity to gain fundamental polygon modeling and UV surfacing skills. Projects progress from the creation of simple geometric objects to the conceptualization and building of realistic organic characters to the final stages of integrating the rigged characters into a game engine. Class lectures and demonstrations are followed by substantial hands-on exploration.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6655 with a minimum grade of C- or (DGM 6505 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6450 with a minimum grade of C- )
DGM 6695. 3D Character Animation for Games. (3 Hours)
Presents an in-depth investigation of 3D animation. Offers students an opportunity to develop fully realized characters and to develop intermediate skills for weight mapping and rigging, as well as midlevel proficiency with animation editors. Projects focus on creating animations that emphasize believable deformation and movement. Expects students to fully integrate their projects into a game engine.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6690 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6450 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6700. Integrated Marketing Fundamentals. (3 Hours)
Introduces the fundamentals of integrated marketing including digital communications, digital media, and marketing management. Examines how effective messaging and engagement are created through content production, analytics, strategy, and technology. Explores use of social media, search engine optimization and search engine marketing, email campaigns, content strategy, automated marketing solutions, media relations, and other core communications strategies. Focuses on creating, building, and measuring an integrated digital presence for an organization across the full range of modern marketing channels.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5060 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6705. Search Engine Optimization and Brand Strategy. (3 Hours)
Examines best practices and advanced tactics for optimizing search engine performance for awareness and branding. Students use the latest tools and techniques for content optimization and link-building strategies. Explores brand strategy in the context of universal search such as creating a consistent identity across the web and social media; using content marketing to expand reach; and integrating AI, social media, video platforms, and traditional search engines to create a 360-degree brand view.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6700 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6461 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6285 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6710. Applied Digital Branding. (3 Hours)
Focuses on the practical application of digital branding. Explores a variety of brand-focused topics such as brand identity, consumer brand perceptions, brand positioning, branding standards, and creating a unified customer experience to foster brand recognition in the digital space. Explores user-generated content in marketing campaigns and the adapting of brand standards to a variety of channels such as email, social media and ecommerce. Students create a comprehensive digital strategy for an organization, completing a full audit and analysis of while developing strategies for optimizing reach and engagement.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6705 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6715. Introduction to Customer Experience. (3 Hours)
Introduces students to the fundamental principles and components of delivering value to customers, and how to keep them continuously engaged through interactions in a variety of channels with a company’s product portfolio. Covers the importance of satisfaction and personal identification with brand, experiential marketing, product and service throughout the customer journey.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 5005 with a minimum grade of C- or DGM 6700 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6720. Managing Digital Media Projects. (3 Hours)
Introduces and integrates the project management life cycle into the development of technology-based media products. Beginning with project initiation, explores the principles and tools needed to successfully plan and manage a creative, technology-driven project. Major topics include assembling a team; strategic leadership decisions (roles, balancing technical and creative goals, cross-functional collaboration); tracking assets; project communication and documentation; deadlines and client expectations; and balancing continuous improvement and rapid prototyping against the need to manage the scope of work.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6010 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6725. Marketing Automation for Customer Service. (3 Hours)
Focuses on the fundamentals of marketing automation, including both programmatic and automated solutions for content management and delivery. Examines how customer data is collected and tracked, how to segment data to personalize communication, and how to effectively monitor and respond to customer feedback. Studies how to strategically leverage a variety of technologies—such as AI and marketing automation and chat technology—to build effective customer journeys, optimize customer service operations, and manage large-scale conversations with a global audience.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6700 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6730. Advanced Analytics and Search Engine Optimization. (3 Hours)
Focuses on the advanced aspects of search engine optimization and analytics. Covers AI, machine learning, state-of-the-art approaches for leveraging natural language processing, technologies for optimizing digital content, and voice search and how they relate to digital marketing strategies. Explores content optimization for voice search and how to identify key performance indicators to track progress and optimize performance.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6705 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6962. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
DGM 6980. Capstone. (4 Hours)
Guides students to complete a digital media project, drawn from a selection of goals vetted by the experiential partnerships manager from the Experiential Network database of projects and directed by one or more members of the faculty. The capstone project can be an individual or a small group endeavor involving two to six students in the program. Students are advised and mentored through the client-consultant relationship as the group works collaboratively toward the agreed-upon client goals.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6010 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6020 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6055 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6115 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6200 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6255 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6983. Topics. (1-4 Hours)
Offers students the opportunity to study, through research and experimentation, in a specified discipline. May be repeated up to four times.
DGM 6990. Thesis. (4 Hours)
Provides instruction to produce a complete digital media project, researched and proposed by the student and directed by one or more members of the faculty. The thesis project can be an individual endeavor or the result of a collaboration involving two or more students in the program.
Prerequisite(s): DGM 6010 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6020 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6055 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6115 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6200 with a minimum grade of C- ; DGM 6255 with a minimum grade of C-
DGM 6995. Project. (1-4 Hours)
Focuses on in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student's major field. May be repeated four times for a maximum of 20 semester hours.
DGM 7962. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions.