Interactive Media Design
Where the experts once believed that media technology was a fad that could go no farther than moving images, we now know that there is no limit to what creative, bright, visionary people can produce. Interactive media has an impact on practically every aspect of human existence, from education to the arts to medical technology to political campaigns to prayer services. And the need for educated, trained people will only increase. That’s why Alverno College now offers the Interactive Media Design major.
A relevant and in-demand
curriculum
Alverno College’s newest undergraduate program, Interactive
Media Design (IMD), combines the most current and exciting interactive
media theory with practical experiences that prepare our students
to work with still, sound, and motion media. The opportunities in Interactive Media are endless.
Employers from the public and private sector need people who understand and can work with interactive media. Entrepreneurs depend on interactive media to promote their business goals. Artists recognize and rely on the many creative and practical advantages interactive media brings to their work. There is no doubt that this is one of the hottest new career paths for creative people. Graduates of IMD programs are being sought after or are already working as
- Sound designers
- Film and video makers
- Creative directors
- Campaign managers
- Corporate trainers
- E-commerce project managers
- Fundraising coordinators
- Graphic designers
- Illustrators
- Lecturers in creative arts
- Multimedia production specialists
- Professional photographers
- Web designers
- Web programmers
- Entrepreneurs
- And many more exciting jobs.
A flexible curriculum
The IMD curriculum is designed to allow students the flexibility
to focus their studies on particular areas of interest, and to
change their minds as their interests change. There is no lock-step
study plan; instead, students take a set of core courses then
select from a wide variety of electives in different areas of
study, including art, music, dance, theater, professional communication,
computer studies, and business and management. The common thread
is the development of expertise in areas that depend on media
as an interactive component of the learning process and the professional
field. So if you come in thinking you want to pursue digital
imaging and decide later your passion is sound design, the curriculum
can accommodate that. Students can, if they wish, choose to specialize
in one of the following interactive media programs:
- Arts Management – Presentation & Production
- Image – Still and Moving Image Design & Production
- Marketing & Management
- Text – Creation and Integration
- Sound – Development and Design
A hands-on curriculum
At Alverno, the foundation of education is learning by doing. Every
course in the IMD program has a strong hands-on focus. When you
study sound design, you record sound. When you study journalism,
you write for a newspaper. When you study digital video production,
you make digital videos. And every student has the opportunity
to work with professionals in the field through a supervised
internship. So students leave Alverno with an excellent portfolio
of work that shows what they can do with what they know.
An ability-based curriculum
In every area that you work, you develop your abilities across
the curriculum in aesthetic engagement, analysis, communication,
developing a global perspective, effective citizenship, problem-solving,
and social interaction. Alverno’s excellent reputation
for our ability-based curriculum has earned us an international
reputation as leaders in higher education.
An ethical curriculum
Media is perhaps the most influential force in many people’s
lives. Media messages, and the people who design them, can determine
who we vote for, how we spend our money, what we eat, where we
live, even how well we like our own minds and bodies. So we have
been very careful to infuse ethical awareness throughout our IMD
curriculum. Students learn professional codes of ethics, examine
case studies, engage in ethical problem-solving, and develop a
personal vision for ethical practices.
Sample curriculum
First Year
- IMD preprofessional seminar
- 2D design
- Introduction to computing and information technology
- Basic sound design
- Dance and theater
- Graphic design
- Musicianship
- Electives
Second Year
- Stagecraft
- Web design
- Design in technology
- Improvisational music
- Computer programming
- Marketing principles
- Electives
Third Year
- Multimedia productions
- Writing in media professions
- Advanced music technology
- Contemporary theater
- Digital photography
- Global marketing
- Electives
Fourth Year
- IMD capstone course
- Project management
- Grant writing
- Digital video production
- Advanced computer graphics
- Introduction to directing
- Internship
- Electives
Your next
step
For more information about Alverno's interactive media design program,
contact the Alverno Admissions office. An Admissions Counselor can
answer your questions about the program, admissions, financial aid
and more.
Call 414-382-6100, toll-free at 1-800-933-3401 or
e-mail Admissions.
