Interactive Media Arts

Dean: Joseph Poshek
Academic Chair, Visual Arts: Terry Chatkupt
Faculty: Patricia Beckman-Wells, EdD

Courses

The Interactive Media Arts curriculum is predominately project based, and includes courses in 3D/2D Animation, Game Design, Character Design and Layout, Environmental Design, 3D Modeling, Interactive Toy Design, Visual Programming, and Story as they pertain to emerging technologies. Project based learning expands critical thinking skills. These CSU and UC transferable studio-based art courses are intended to prepare students for industry, as well as provide a foundational understanding of the aesthetic and technical aspects of emerging technologies like Virtual and Augmented Reality, among others. Students interested in Interactive Media Arts are strongly encouraged to also take foundation art courses in traditional drawing, sculpting, and painting.

Majors

Interactive Media Arts strives to pull user interactions from within the computer out into the physical world. This studio-based curriculum appeals to interests in the emerging technologies of game design, 3D printing, virtual reality, webgl, augmented reality, and traditional animated film and visual effects. Certificates concentrate on pipeline production positions of employment, so that the student may concentrate on skill-driven academic success that is pertinent to the local job market, and provide the student with a targeted focus when transferring to a four year college or university. The student may take as many tracks as they are interested in, as all provide the student with a more well-rounded understanding of emerging technologies and an expanded, original creative portfolio.

The current Interactive Media Arts certificate program includes three one-year certificates of proficiency in 3D Animation, 2D Animation, and Game Design. These certificates are intended to produce relevant hires for the games, emerging technology, and entertainment industries. Each certificate culminates into a portfolio course sponsored by industry.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Interactive Media Arts program, students will be able to

Apply an interactive media art workflow including research, project development, relevant production work methods, adherence to a production schedule, and final output considerations.
Produce a professional Interactive Media Arts Portfolio, to include one team-driven product.
Demonstrate a technical proficiency of industry-standard interactive media art software to create professional emerging technology products.
Analyze and integrate the fundamentals of Interactive Media Art with art theory and aesthetics.
Participate in class critiques of student projects and demonstrate a comprehension of the vocabulary and language of interactive media arts.
Demonstrate a commitment to on-time delivery of projects in adherence to deadlines.

Potential Careers

Examples of careers in interactive media arts and emerging technology:

Animator for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.
3D Modeler for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.
Game designer for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.
Pre-visualization artist for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.
3D Asset Manager for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.
Interactive display designer for theme parks and all emerging technologies.
Producer for games, film, virtual reality, webgl, and all emerging media.

Programs

Certificate of Proficiency

Catalog and Student Handbook

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