The Digital Media Arts major, offered through the Communication Studies Department, focuses on
converging fields of study in design, animation, filmmaking and interactive game design. Students choose to
specialize in (1) web and graphic design, (2) film and video production, or (3) 3D animation / game design. Through project-oriented coursework, they prepare for careers in an environment that requires technical proficiency, critical thinking and creative capacity. Digital Media Arts majors take a core set of hands-on courses and choose electives from a wide variety of advanced classes. Students often complete dual majors and minors that combine important cross-functional skill sets, including Communication Studies, Business - Marketing, Computer Science and Fine Arts. For more information, please go to
http://www.canisius.edu/dma/index.dot
Learning Goals and Objectives
For learning goals and objectives please go to http://www. canisius.edu/dma/learning-goals-objectives/
Qualifications
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major and a 2.0 overall average to graduate with B.S. degree in Digital Media. All students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate with a minimum of 39 hours (13 courses) of Digital Media Arts coursework.
Advisement
All students should have an adviser in the major and should contact the department directly to have an adviser assigned if they do not already have one. All majors should work closely with their adviser in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences. Digital Media Arts majors are assigned a Communication Studies Department faculty adviser in the fall of their freshman year.
Curricular Requirements for the Major Core
Curriculum
All students complete Core Curriculum requirements as part of their overall Canisius education. These requirements can be found at http://www.canisius.edu/academics/core/
Free Electives
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Digital Media Arts majors are encouraged to explore a diverse range of free electives to help them develop content and understand the broad industry applications of digital media.
Major Courses
The Digital Media Arts program, in the Communication Studies Department, offers a 13-course major to those seeking to design and create websites, films, video games, animations and advertisements through the creative use of an array of digital tools. The courses range from those in graphic design and web development to 3D modeling, character animation, game design and filmmaking,
culminating in a major senior project. Although DMA majors can take their required courses in any order, the required DMA courses (201-207 and 408) are offered in a sequence (suggested below) that encourages a flow from one course to another.
Course Title Credits
DMA 201 Intro to Digital Media 3
DMA 202 Digital Media Culture 3
DMA 203 Digital Design Concepts 3
DMA 204 Digital Media Law 3
DMA 205 Digital Graphics 3
DMA 206 Interactive Multimedia 3
DMA 207 Digital Media Programming 3
Major Electives
In addition to the required DMA courses, students must take at least five DMA electives (300 and 400 level DMA courses). Note most of the following courses are offered every other semester. See the department handbook and advisement guide for schedule.
Course Title Credits Graphic Design/Web Design
DMA 342 Intro to Web Design 3
DMA 363 Print Design 3
DMA 384 Digital Typography 3
DMA 393 Advertising Design 3
DMA 395 Digital Illustration 3
DMA 442 Advanced Web Design 3
3D Animation/Game Design
DMA 346 Video Games: History and
Technique 3
DMA 347 Electronic Game Design 3
DMA 351 3D Modeling, Texturing and
Lighting 3
DMA 352 3D Character Animation 3
DMA 353 3D Dynamics 3
DMA 354 3D Graphics for Electronic Games 3 DMA 370 Designing for Mobile Devices 3 DMA 371 Game Design for Mobile Devices 3
Digital Filmmaking
DMA 309 Digital Music Technology 3
DMA 310 Digital Audio/Music Production 3
DMA 316 Intro to Special Effects 3
DMA 317 Intro to Motion Graphics 3
DMA 385 Intro to Digital Filmmaking 3
DMA 399 Social Documentary 3
Students may earn Digital Media Arts elective credit for courses offered through other programs. More information on these courses is available from the DMA website, advisement guide and handbook available in the department office. Please see course descriptions in the respective major/program pages in this catalog.
Major Experiences
Digital Media Arts majors should plan an internship in their area of interest. A student may do two Digital Media Arts internships during his or her college career, provided that the total credit hours earned does not exceed 12 hours. These internships take place at approved locations in Buffalo or in such cities as New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. The internships are individually arranged, require departmental approval, and are available only to Junior or Senior candidates with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a Communication Studies/Digital Media Arts/ Journalism average of at least 2.7. Internship applicants are required to complete all required courses in their major with a grade of C- or higher in each, and at least two courses in their academic sequence related to the internship sought prior to the start of the internship. The internship is seen as a culminating opportunity through which you apply, in an assigned professional setting, the theory and background developed in your coursework. These situations are supervised by a field professional as well as by the Communication Studies Department Internship Director, who will be your academic adviser during the internship experience. Dr. Barbara Irwin, Professor and Chair of Communication Studies, is the Internship Director. Internships are taken on a Pass/Fail basis. All internship credit is allocated to the free elective requirement.
Preference and priority will be given to those majors having the best performance records as measured by cumulative academic average and participation in extra-curricular or community communication related activities. A readiness to apply course theories and skills and a mature professional attitude should be characteristics demonstrated by the prospective intern. A separate handout is available which describes the procedure and requirements for application. Each qualified Digital Media Arts student is limited to a total of 15 hours of combined credit from Internship (DMA 488 and 498) and Independent Study (DMA 499).
Additional Course Considerations
The Communication Studies Department regularly reviews the academic progress of prospective Digital Media Arts majors. Although there is no portfolio requirement for admission, every class will be evaluated for progress within the major when they are second-semester sophomores and have accumulated 45 credits. This evaluation reviews the overall GPA, the student’s GPA in DMA 201 and at least two
other DMA courses, as well as a portfolio of the student’s work. In regard to transfers, the department will review each after he/she has taken three DMA courses at Canisius.
Recommended Semester Schedule for Major
Course Requirements
Year Fall Semester Spring Semester
Freshman DMA 201 (3 credits) DMA 206 (3 credits) Sophomore DMA 202 (3 credits) DMA 205 (3 credits)
DMA 207 (3 credits) DMA Elective Junior DMA 203 (3 credits) DMA 204 (3 credits)
DMA Elective DMA Elective Senior DMA Elective DMA 408 (3 credits)
DMA Elective DMA Elective
Dual Majors
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a dual major. The decision may be based on career goals or planned graduate studies. Before a student declares a dual major it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement. Some dual major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement but in some cases additional course work may be required. In order to declare a dual major, the student must complete the appropriate dual major request form and get the signature of each department chairperson and the appropriate associate dean. Students may complete a dual or multiple major in Communication Studies, Digital Media Arts, or Journalism by completing the college requirements for any other such dual or multiple major. In addition, students need to complete a dual major form (available in the department office) which is signed by appropriate department chairs and program directors. IMPORTANT: Students should carefully examine the rules for dual majors in the department handbook (available in the department office).
Minors
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a minor in addition to their major. The decision may be based on career goals or planned graduate studies. Minors generally range from six to eight required courses. A listing of the minors can be found under the Academic Curricula section of the catalog. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional course work may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.
Note: State-of-the-art facilities include four computer
labs, HD video editing stations, audio/music production areas, and an HD television studio located in Lyons Hall. Courses provide hands-on training in cutting-edge software including Adobe CS, Maya, Final Cut Pro and Ableton Live – all running the most up-to-date versions available.