An interactive media degree combines art, design, and computer science, with courses in general education and specific technological aspects. Graduates can pursue careers in web design, animation, and special effects. Master’s degrees may focus on design art and theory, and a Master of Fine Arts is required for teaching at the undergraduate level.
An interactive media degree is usually a four-year degree that combines elements of art and design with computer science. This could be a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interactive Media or a Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Interactive Media. Some universities also offer master’s degrees in similar fields.
As with most four-year degrees, an interactive media degree usually requires a block of general education or liberal arts courses in English, math, history, and science. These can make up the bulk of the first two years of the program. However, students can start taking some interactive media courses during this time.
Some courses required for an interactive media degree may be similar to courses in the traditional arts, such as art history or design principles. They may also include classes in mass communication. They establish a knowledge base that the student can develop in specifically interactive media-related environments.
Other courses are specifically tailored to address technological aspects of interactive media. In these classes, students typically become proficient in Java, HTML, and possibly other programming languages, as well as web design programs like Flash. They will learn to apply these skills to create aesthetically appealing and user-friendly designs for web and desktop use. Web design and interactive media degrees will have a greater emphasis on specific aspects of Internet design.
An undergraduate degree in interactive media is designed to prepare students for careers in the ever-changing world of computer-related design. Jobs are available for animators, web masters, web designers, special effects designers, and others who work with the visually creative goal of technology. Estimates made in 2011 predicted that interactive media would have the best job growth opportunities of any art-related field by 2014.
Interactive media degrees at the graduate level may have slightly different focuses and goals than undergraduate degrees. The Masters in Interactive Media is usually a one-year intensive course that can emphasize design art and theory in addition to practical applications. The terminal degree in this field is the Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media. This degree is often required for those wanting to teach interactive media at the undergraduate level and can be an advantage in the media industry itself.
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