Virtual Reality & Immersive Media
Major: Virtual Reality and Immersive Media
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 187.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years); Three Co-op (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 09.0702
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9199
About the Program
The design and production of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), 360° Video and other Immersive Media formats requires a unique skill set—creative thinking, understanding of design, aesthetic sensitivity, and storytelling are balanced with technical knowledge in areas such as 3D Computer Graphics, Animation, Visual Effects, interactivity, digital camera and image processing technologies. Additionally, critical thinking, the ability to collaborate effectively and communication skills are also integral to success in this rapidly expanding industry.
Drexel’s Bachelor of Science in Virtual Reality & Immersive Media program encompasses foundation courses in the applied and social sciences, the humanities, and a wide range of professional digital media coursework to prepare students for careers in VR/AR and related Immersive Media fields. At the heart of the curriculum are the design and production labs and workshops where students are challenged to apply their knowledge acquired from the above disciplines to consequential design problems.
Admission Requirements
In addition to standard application requirements, VRIM requires program director review of an additional, major specific essay question and applicant portfolio.
Degree Requirements
| General Education | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
| MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 4.0 |
| PHYS 170 | Electricity and Motion | 3.0 |
| PHYS 171 | Computational Lab for Electricity and Motion | 1.0 |
| PHYS 175 | Light and Sound | 3.0 |
| PHYS 176 | Computational Lab for Light and Sound | 1.0 |
| UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
| Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits | 9.0 | |
| Required Social Science-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits | 9.0 | |
| Free electives | 24.0 | |
| Art and Art History Requirements | ||
| ARTH 102 | History of Art II | 3.0 |
| ARTH 103 | History of Art III | 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 |
| VSST 111 | Figure Drawing I | 3.0 |
| VSST 210 | Painting Basics | 3.0 |
| Media and Computer Science Requirements | ||
| CS 171 | Computer Programming I | 3.0 |
| FMVD 206 | Audio Production and Post | 3.0 |
| Digital Media Requirements | ||
| ANIM 140 | Computer Graphics Imagery I | 3.0 |
| ANIM 155 | Previsualization for Animated Production | 3.0 |
| ANIM 145 | Realtime Visualization | 3.0 |
| ANIM 211 | Animation I | 3.0 |
| ANIM 212 | Animation II | 3.0 |
| ANIM 215 | History of Animation | 3.0 |
| ANIM 220 | Digital Compositing I | 3.0 |
| DIGM 105 | Overview of Digital Media | 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 100 | Introduction to Web Development | 3.0 |
| Immersive Media Requirements | ||
| VRIM 100 | Digital Tools for VR/AR Media | 3.0 |
| VRIM 110 | Digital Imaging for VR/AR Media | 3.0 |
| VRIM 120 | VR/AR Production Lab I | 3.0 |
| VRIM 220 | VR/AR Production Lab II | 3.0 |
| VRIM 250 | Professional Practices for Immersive Media | 3.0 |
| VRIM 310 | Immersive Media Workshop I | 3.0 |
| VRIM 320 | Immersive Media Workshop II | 3.0 |
| Immersive Media Electives (Choose 5 of the following classes) | 15.0 | |
| Computer Graphics Imagery II | ||
| Digital Compositing II | ||
| Advanced Lighting | ||
| Spatial Data Capture | ||
| Advanced Compositing | ||
| Advanced Animation | ||
| Computer Programming II | ||
| Advanced Programming Tools and Techniques | ||
| Digital Cultural Heritage | ||
| Game Development Foundations | ||
| Character Animation for Gaming | ||
| Independent Study in Immersive Media | ||
| Independent Study in Immersive Media | ||
| Independent Study in Immersive Media | ||
| Independent Study in Immersive Media | ||
| Special Topics in Immersive Media | ||
| Special Topics in Immersive Media | ||
| Special Topics in Immersive Media | ||
| Special Topics in Immersive Media | ||
| Total Credits | 187.0 | |
| * | DIGM 490 is taken 3 times for a total of 9.0 credits. |
| ** | DIGM 491 is taken 3 times for a total of 3.0 credits. |
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
4 year, 1 co-op
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
| PHYS 170 | 3.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
| PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
| UNIV A101 | 1.0 | UNIV A101 | 1.0 | VRIM 120 | 3.0 | ||
| VRIM 100 | 3.0 | VRIM 110 | 3.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
| VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||
| 17 | 17 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ANIM 155 | 3.0 | ANIM 212 | 3.0 | ANIM 220 | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 |
| ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ANIM 215 | 3.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | COOP 101*** | 1.0 |
| CS 171 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | VRIM 220 | 3.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 |
| GMAP 260 | 3.0 | IDM 100 | 3.0 | Elective | 3.0 | FMVD 206 | 3.0 |
| VSST 210 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | VRIM 250 | 3.0 |
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| DIGM 451 | 3.0 | VRIM 320 | 3.0 | ||||
| VRIM 310 | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| Elective | 3.0 | Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
| DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
| Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Electives | 6.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||
| Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Electives | 9.0 | ||
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| 16 | 13 | 16 | |||||
| Total Credits 187 | |||||||
5-Year, 3 co-ops
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | COOP 101*** | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
| PHYS 170 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
| PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
| UNIV A101 | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | VRIM 120 | 3.0 | ||
| VRIM 100 | 3.0 | UNIV A101 | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
| VSST 110 | 3.0 | VRIM 110 | 3.0 | ||||
| VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 17 | 18 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ANIM 155 | 3.0 | ANIM 212 | 3.0 | ||
| ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ANIM 215 | 3.0 | ||||
| CS 171 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | ||||
| GMAP 260 | 3.0 | IDM 100 | 3.0 | ||||
| VSST 210 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | ||||
| 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ANIM 220 | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 | ||
| ARTH 103 | 3.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 | ||||
| VRIM 220 | 3.0 | FMVD 206 | 3.0 | ||||
| Elective | 3.0 | VRIM 250 | 3.0 | ||||
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | ||
| DIGM 451 | 3.0 | VRIM 320 | 3.0 | ||||
| VRIM 310 | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| Elective | 3.0 | Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
| DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
| Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Electives | 6.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||
| Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Electives | 9.0 | ||
| Immersive Media Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| 16 | 13 | 16 | |||||
| Total Credits 187 | |||||||
| *** | 1.Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 2. COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101. |
Facilities
This major is based in the Westphal College's Digital Media Department, located in the Westphal College's URBN Center.
The central creative space for the department is the Animation Capture & Effects Lab (ACE-Lab), featuring a 1200-sq-ft open studio space dedicated to digital media production. The studio features include a 25-foot-by-17-foot green screen cyclorama, studio lighting and modifiers, HD/2k/4k camera systems, camera dolly, Vicon Vantage motion capture system, stereo-360 “VR Video” capture systems, room-scale VR tracking systems, and a full 360° Immersive Projection Dome among other resources.
Additional spaces surrounding the main studio include screening rooms, classrooms and computer labs featuring advanced graphics work stations, VR labs, research labs, meeting rooms and faculty offices.
