Interactive Digital Media
Major: Interactive Digital Media
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 186.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 15-1134; 27-1014
About the Major
We design for people, not screens. We are the evangelists of interactivity. We focus on humans and their behavior; on verbs, not nouns. We are empathetic. We care about the user experience. Great content and great design are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to interactive products that engage the mind, heart and body. We aim for design that engages and delights. We are passionate. We create digital products that promote and inspire human activity, and which adapt to individual choice and deliver personalized content. Our products and processes are agile. They can change gracefully over time and still retain their own unique identity. We are future-proof.
Here, we understand that the past is just as important as the future. We learn the core principles to define and stay ahead of the curve. We are flexible and versatile. We know that in an industry of constant change our work is never done and our education never stops. We prepare for this change by building upon a solid foundation in order to discover the trends of tomorrow. To us, work and play have the same definition. We are curious.
We believe that discoveries are made through experimentation and that magical things happen through collaboration. Desktops, laptops, mobile devices, glasses and watches are only the beginning. We know that anything that can be connected will be connected. We are adaptable. While others focus on technology, we choose to focus on creativity. We believe that design and code are inseparable. They are the tools that we use to render the intent of our imagination.
Additional Information
To find out more, visit the Westphal College’s Interactive Digital Media major web page.
Degree Requirements
| General Education Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 4.0 |
| PHYS 121 | Physical Science for Design I | 4.0 |
| PHYS 122 | Physical Science for Design II | 4.0 |
| UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
| Arts and humanities elective | 3.0 | |
| History (HIST) elective | 3.0 | |
| Literature (ENGL) elective | 3.0 | |
| Social science electives | 9.0 | |
| Free electives | 24.0 | |
| Art and Art History Requirements | ||
| ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
| ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
| ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
| VSST 108 | Design I for Media | 3.0 |
| VSST 109 | Design II for Media | 3.0 |
| VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
| Media and Information Science Requirements | ||
| DIGM 220 | Digital Still Imaging I | 3.0 |
| FMVD 110 | Basic Shooting and Lighting | 3.0 |
| FMVD 206 | Audio Production and Post | 3.0 |
| IDM 211 | User Interface Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 212 | User Interface Design II | 3.0 |
| IDM 231 | Scripting for Interactive Digital Media I | 3.0 |
| IDM 232 | Scripting for Interactive Digital Media II | 3.0 |
| Digital Media Core Requirements | ||
| ANIM 140 | Computer Graphics Imagery I | 3.0 |
| ANIM 152 | Multimedia Timeline Design | 3.0 |
| DIGM 100 | Digital Design Tools | 3.0 |
| DIGM 105 | Overview of Digital Media | 3.0 |
| DIGM 223 | Creative Concept Design | 3.0 |
| DIGM 250 | Professional Practices | 3.0 |
| DIGM 350 [WI] | Digital Storytelling | 3.0 |
| DIGM 451 [WI] | Explorations in New Media | 3.0 |
| DIGM 475 [WI] | Seminar: The Future of Digital Media | 3.0 |
| DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project | 9.0 |
| DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio | 3.0 |
| GMAP 260 | Overview of Computer Gaming | 3.0 |
| IDM 221 | Web Design I | 3.0 |
| Interactive Digital Media Requirements | ||
| IDM 101 | History of Web Development | 3.0 |
| IDM 215 | User Experience Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 222 | Web Design II | 3.0 |
| IDM 240 | Interactive Graphics | 3.0 |
| IDM 245 | Web Game Design | 3.0 |
| IDM 250 | Content Management Systems | 3.0 |
| IDM 361 | Interactive App Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 371 | Interactive Digital Media Workshop I | 3.0 |
| IDM 372 | Interactive Digital Media Workshop II | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Interactive App Design II | ||
| Special Topics in Interactive Digital Media | ||
| Experimental Interactive Technologies | ||
| Independent Project in Interactive Digital Media | ||
| Total Credits | 186.0 | |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
| Term 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| DIGM 100 | Digital Design Tools | 3.0 |
| DIGM 105 | Overview of Digital Media | 3.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| PHYS 121 | Physical Science for Design I | 4.0 |
| UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 17.0 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| ANIM 140 | Computer Graphics Imagery I | 3.0 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| FMVD 110 | Basic Shooting and Lighting | 3.0 |
| PHYS 122 | Physical Science for Design II | 4.0 |
| UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| VSST 108 | Design I for Media | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 17.0 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| ANIM 152 | Multimedia Timeline Design | 3.0 |
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| IDM 101 | History of Web Development | 3.0 |
| MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 4.0 |
| VSST 109 | Design II for Media | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 17.0 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| DIGM 220 | Digital Still Imaging I | 3.0 |
| DIGM 223 | Creative Concept Design | 3.0 |
| GMAP 260 | Overview of Computer Gaming | 3.0 |
| IDM 211 | User Interface Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 221 | Web Design I | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
| IDM 212 | User Interface Design II | 3.0 |
| IDM 222 | Web Design II | 3.0 |
| IDM 231 | Scripting for Interactive Digital Media I | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 12.0 | |
| Term 6 | ||
| ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
| FMVD 206 | Audio Production and Post | 3.0 |
| IDM 215 | User Experience Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 232 | Scripting for Interactive Digital Media II | 3.0 |
| IDM 240 | Interactive Graphics | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 7 | ||
| COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
| DIGM 250 | Professional Practices | 3.0 |
| IDM 245 | Web Game Design | 3.0 |
| IDM 250 | Content Management Systems | 3.0 |
| Free Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 8 | ||
| ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
| DIGM 451 [WI] | Explorations in New Media | 3.0 |
| IDM 361 | Interactive App Design I | 3.0 |
| IDM 371 | Interactive Digital Media Workshop I | 3.0 |
| Arts and Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 9 | ||
| DIGM 350 [WI] | Digital Storytelling | 3.0 |
| IDM 372 | Interactive Digital Media Workshop II | 3.0 |
| Free elective | 3.0 | |
| History (HIST) Elective | 3.0 | |
| IDM Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 10 | ||
| DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project | 3.0 |
| DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio | 1.0 |
| Free Elective | 3.0 | |
| IDM Elective | 3.0 | |
| Literature (ENGL) Elective | 3.0 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 16.0 | |
| Term 11 | ||
| DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project | 3.0 |
| DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio | 1.0 |
| Free Electives | 9.0 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 16.0 | |
| Term 12 | ||
| DIGM 475 [WI] | Seminar: The Future of Digital Media | 3.0 |
| DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project | 3.0 |
| DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio | 1.0 |
| Free electives | 6.0 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 16.0 | |
| Total Credit: 186.0 | ||
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Students who study interactive digital media can move on to careers as web designers, graphic designers, digital media designers, user research & experience specialists, multimedia artists, interactive designers, web programmers, and web user interface designers.
Co-op Experiences
Some past co-op employers of film and video students include:
- Brownstein Group
- Comcast
- Digitas Health
- eCity Interactive
- Electronic Ink
- Happy Cog
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center web page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.
Dual Accelerated Degree
The accelerated degree program enables academically qualified students to earn both their bachelor's degree and a master's degree in digital media — graduating sooner than they would in traditional programs.
Current Drexel digital media students may apply for the accelerated BS/MS degree through the Graduate College after completing 90.0 credits, but no more than 120.0 credits. Contact the Graduate College for further information.
Minor in Interactive Digital Media
About the Minor
The Interactive Digital Media Minor requires the completion of eight courses (minimum 24.0 credits). The minor provides basic foundations in interactivity, including: design and development of websites and mobile applications with the opportunity for individualized tailoring according to the student's interests. It is open to all University students and is administered and advised by the Digital Media program.
Program Requirements
| Required Courses | ||
| DIGM 100 | Digital Design Tools | 3.0 |
| IDM 221 | Web Design I | 3.0 |
| Select six of the following: | 18.0 | |
| Introduction to Web Development | ||
| History of Web Development | ||
| User Interface Design I | ||
| User Interface Design II | ||
| User Experience Design I | ||
| Web Design II | ||
| Scripting for Interactive Digital Media I | ||
| Scripting for Interactive Digital Media II | ||
| Interactive Graphics | ||
| Web Game Design | ||
| Content Management Systems | ||
| Interactive App Design I | ||
| Interactive App Design II | ||
| Interactive Digital Media Workshop I | ||
| Interactive Digital Media Workshop II | ||
| Special Topics in Interactive Digital Media | ||
| Experimental Interactive Technologies | ||
| Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction | ||
| Web Systems and Services I | ||
| Web Systems and Services II | ||
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
Facilities
Digital media program facilities include a motion capture and green screen studio, a screening room, DSLR digital still cameras, HD video cameras and lighting equipment, triple boot PowerMac stations (Mac / Windows / Unix) with dual monitors, wacom tablets, game consoles, mobile devices, and 2 undergraduate open labs with 24/7 access.
Additionally, the program houses the RePlay Lab in the URBN Center which is a collaborative effort between the Digital Media program and the Computer Science department (in the College of Computing & Informatics). At Drexel University, game development does not "live" in solely one department, and so mirrors the true nature of game development in commercial settings.
