2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Oct 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Interactive Media Major


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Interactive Media Overview


The Interactive Media major includes the BSDT groundbreaking studio-based curriculum, built on an interdisciplinary model of learning; incorporating personalization and rigor a cross a framework of collaboration among students, faculty, departments, and the community. A degree in interactive media from Clark positions you to succeed in whatever focus area, exciting career, or advanced degree you wish to pursue, while providing historical context, critical analysis, and effective practice of the discipline.

The Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media Major - with tracks in areas such as Game 3D Art, Game 2D Art, Game Development and Programming, Game Audio, Time-Based Media, Game UI/UX Design, Game Production and Management, Game Writing and Design Your Own Track. - is a groundbreaking, nationally ranked interactive media program that will allow you to pursue your passion for games while preparing you for a career in the $160 billion interactive media industry.

Major Requirements


The Interactive Media Major requires 13 total units. (8 core requirements and 5 from a chosen program Track).

8 Core Requirements for the Interactive Media Major are:  

GAME 025 - Game Design Fundamentals   

GAME 030 - Examining Play  or GAME 010 - History of Game Development  

GAME 260 - Serious Game Project  

GAME 255 - Game Studio  (must take 5 semesters: 2 must be in junior year and 2 must be in senior year one of which is the Capstone)

(Portfolios will be prepared throughout The Game Studio experience, and a yearly Senior Seminar “Prep” workshop will be held for Spring Showcase.)

Game 3D Art Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

GAME 095 - Digital 3D Modeling  (FYI option)

GAME 185 - 3D Animation  

GAME 100 - Texturing  

GAME 105 - Environment Art  

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game 2D Art Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:


GART 100 - Principles of Drawing for Games  (FYI Option)

GAME 085 - Raster and Vector Games  

GAME 180 - Computer Illustration for Game Design  

GART 235 - Life Drawing for Games  

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game Development and Programming Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

GCPT 010 - Computer Programming I  (or CSCI equivalent)

GCPT 020 - Computer Programming C++  (or CSCI equivalent)

GAME 190 - Game Programming with Data Structures  

GAME 265 - Artificial Intelligence for Games  

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game Audio Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

MUSC 098 - Foundations of Music and Production  

MUSC 141 - Computers and Music  

GAME 130 - Digital Audio Production   

GAME 165 - Game Audio 1  Or GAME 160 - Foley and Field Recording  

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game UI/UX Design Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

GGRA 140 - Animation and Motion Graphics  

GGRA 150 - Visual Design and Media  

GGRA 170 - UI/UX Design 1  

GGRA 270 - UI/UX Design 2  

 Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game Production and Management Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

MGMT 100 - The Art and Science of Management  

MKT 230 - Marketing Management   

GAME 210 - Agile Project Management with Scrum  

GAME 270 - Game Analytics  

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Game Writing Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

GAME 075 - Literary Development of Virtual Worlds  

GAME 175 - Writing for Fantasy & RPGs  

CRW 101 - Introduction to Creative Writing  

GAME xxx - Creatures and Characters

Any GAME, GART, GCPT or GGRA Elective

Design Your Own Track


In addition to the 8 core units, students are required to take these 5 units for this track:

Choose any 5 GAME/GART/GCPT or other approved course to design your own unique program track (must have faculty approval).

Honors


BSDT Honors

How to Apply for Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors should speak with their major advisors during junior year to discuss their eligibility, potential project and lead role focus, and to identify potential faculty mentors.

Students who apply and receive BSDT approval begin their honors project in the first semester of their senior year. The presentation of the student’s contribution to their honors project as well as consideration for being awarded honors, occurs in the final semester.

To apply, contact the Dean of the BSDT (or Director) via email. Your email should include:

  • A statement asking to be admitted and expressing why you are interested. In this statement, you should also indicate your faculty mentor.
  • A brief description of the project or lead role you propose.
  • An unofficial transcript.
  • The email must cc your major advisor with whom you have spoken and your honors faculty mentor.

Admission to the Honors Program (which does not necessarily guarantee that Honors will be awarded) is based on review of the above submitted items and approval by the BSDT faculty mentor and Dean.

Requirements

Honors in the BSDT requires leadership work within a pre-specified area (including but not limited to: 2D art, 3D art, AI, audio, production, serious games, mechanics programming, world building, etc. ) on a Game Studio project, culminating in a supporting presentation/talk, under the mentorship of a BSDT faculty member. The Game Studio project can be an original project (Greenlit), an MFA thesis project, or a BSDT undergraduate project - all of which are within the Game Studio. The supporting talk will be presented at one or more open sessions.

Research: During senior year, the student will research their area of interactive media which is the focus of their honors work and incorporate this research into their informative public talk as well as the underpinning for their contributions to Game Studio in their final semester.

Informative Talk: During their senior year, the student is expected to attend and present their work in at least one session open to the public. Potential sessions include Fall and Spring Clarkfest, the BSDT Senior Showcase, the MFA thesis defense event day programming, Pax East, and various interactive media and game symposia, both regionally and nationally.

Studio Leadership: The student is expected to demonstrate exceptional contributions to their senior (capstone) Game Studio project. Leadership includes exemplary work in their designated focus area to be incorporated into the project, mentoring of fellow students in the specified discipline on both the project team as well as those from the Game Studio as a whole, and demonstration of innovative approaches to challenges and opportunities throughout.

Honors Awards

Honors are awarded after consultation of the entire BSDT faculty.

There are three levels of Honors - Honors, High Honors, and Highest Honors - awarded on the basis of a student’s overall grade point average and the standards attained in the capstone Game Studio, BSDT advanced topics, and final presentation/talk of honors work.

Admission to the Honors Program does not necessarily guarantee that Honors will be awarded.

Becker School of Design & Technology Faculty


Kat Andler
Ezra Cove
Nevin Flanagan
Ilir Mborja
Scott Niemi
Minka Stoyanova
Michael Swartz
Amanda Theinert, Director of the MFA in Interactive Media
Terrasa Ulm, Director of the BA in Interactive Media

Interactive Media Courses


Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years

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