The School of Interactive Media and Design

The School of Interactive Media and Design is a newly created school at the University of the Incarnate Word. The school integrates existing programs in a dynamic, thoughtful and cohesive way in an effort to better serve the needs of the Incarnate Word student. The School of Interactive Media and Design programs emphasize the use of technology and provide students with a firm foundation in theory as well as application. Students participating in these programs develop the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to become effective professionals in their selected careers.

The School of Interactive Media and Design offers undergraduate programs in Computer Graphic Arts, Interior Environmental Design, Communication Arts and Computer Information Systems. The school also houses for the Juren Sullivan Center for Fashion Management. Each of these programs is described in more detail in the sections under the appropriate department.

Interactive Media and Design Programs Offered

COMMUNICATION ARTS (COMM)

[]

Within a liberal arts curriculum, the goals of the Communication Arts program are to cultivate the student's imagination and creativity through mastery of the technical skills needed to become effective professionals in the field of communications; to create an environment which fosters the exploration of diverse perspectives and encourages critical interpretation of ideas, images, and symbols; and to encourage students to use their skills and resources to serve their community and society, so that they are prepared to participate confidently, ethically, and competently as concerned and enlightened citizens.

Major requirements for a Bachelor of Arts:

1. 21 semester hours in required Communication Arts courses:

2. COMM 1305 Computer Literacy for Communication Arts

3. 24 semester hours in one of the following concentrations: (A, B, C, D):

A. New Media, Technology and Production Concentration

12 semester hours chosen from the following:

6 semester hours chosen from the following:

6 additional semester hours in upper-division Communication Arts

B. Journalism Concentration

12 semester hours from the following:

6 semester hours chosen from the following:

C. Media Studies Concentration: This program may be taken as an accelerated Bachelor's to Master's degree for qualified students. Students apply to graduate program in the beginning of their junior year.

12 semester hours from the following:

6 semester hours in one of the following:

D. Speech Communications Concentration

12 semester hours from the following:

6 semester hours from the following:

4. 6 additional semester hours in upper-division Communication Arts

SPCH 1311 Public Speaking (required CORE elective)

5. 9 semester hours of English as follows (6 semester hours must be upper division):

ENGL 2365 Professional and Technical Communication

6. 6 semester hours upper division English (ENGL 3375 Creative Writing, is recommended but not required)

7. 6 semester hours of electives in any discipline-related field: art, music, speech, and cultural studies, theatre arts, business, computer graphic arts, political science, history, English, or psychology. [Note: courses taken for the CORE requirement do not satisfy this requirement.]

Requirements for a concentration in Bilingual Communication Arts:

This is a new concentration, which allows students to study Communication Arts and develop a fluency in Spanish to prepare them for working in a bilingual and bicultural work environment. This program may be taken as an accelerated Bachelor's to Master's degree for qualified students. Students apply to graduate program in the beginning of their junior year.

All requirements from 1, 2, 4 and 5 from above. COMM 1301 is counted as a Core Elective in this concentration.

Spanish Language requirement (15 semester hours beyond SPAN 1311 & 1312, which count for the Core requirements for Foreign Language):

Business requirement (6 semester hours):

Bilingual concentration requirement (27 semester hours from the following):

Requirements for a Minor in Communication Arts:

COMM 1301 Introduction to Mass Communication

9 additional hours in COMM, 6 of which must be upper division.

COMPUTER GRAPHIC ARTS (CART)

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Graphic Arts

The Computer Graphic Arts program prepares students to pursue careers in the field of computer-generated imagery including web design, multimedia production, print design and publication, and 3D animation. Graduates find work as web designers, graphic designers, multimedia specialist, 3D animators, and game creators. In addition to layout, illustration, and cinematic skills, students learn professional production values and practices.

The goal of the CGA@UIW program is to prepare students for a demanding and competitive profession. Dedication to this goal means that the program must be selective in quantity in order to offer students the best quality experience we can. A student's success in their concentration depends on a solid foundation in visual design, communication concepts, problem solving ability, and software skills. Since the experiences and backgrounds of entering students vary widely, some students need additional time at the foundation level before they are ready for their concentration courses. Because the Computer Graphic Arts program requires a specific set of skills, all students planning on entering either the Web/Print or 3D Animation concentrations in the Computer Graphic Arts Program must submit a portfolio for review. Passing this review is required for admittance to the Computer Graphic Arts major and before concentration classes may be attempted.

Portfolios will be reviewed at the end of the Foundations (first) year. Transfer students who wish to start in the track classes must submit a portfolio at the scheduled portfolio review time the SPRING semester before they plan to attend.

Since the number of applicants and their desired concentration will vary each year, passing grades in Foundations year classes will not guarantee admission to the classes.

Students who do not pass the portfolio review may resubmit a portfolio the following year. Student's who plan on resubmitting a portfolio for review should retake some or all of the CART foundation courses to enhance their portfolio.

Please note that acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to the Computer Graphic Arts major.

It is University policy that students must pass courses in their major with a minimum grade of a C.  Students who make a D or less must re-take their major courses. In the Computer Graphic Arts (CART) program, students may attempt each CART course twice.

If, in two tries, the highest earned grade is less than a C, the student must have the permission of the CART faculty to continue as a major and attempt the course for a third time.

If, after faculty approval, the third attempt at the course is earns a grade less than C, the student must change majors.

The 129-hour Bachelor of Fine Arts program requires an 88-hour major.

Requirement for a Major in Computer Graphic Arts:

ARTS 1301 Drawing I

ARTS 3357 Introduction to Photography

CART 1100 Orientation to CART

CART 1301 Introduction to Computer Graphics

CART 1302 Digital Imaging

CART 1380 Foundations of Digital Design

CART 1390 Typography

CART 4100 Commercial Arts Seminar (Must be taken 6 times)

CART 4301 Advanced Projects Practicum

CART 4302 Cooperative Education Internship

or repeat Advanced Projects Practicum

CART 4303 Senior Portfolio

PHIL 3375 Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art and Beauty

or other upper level PHIL course

ARTH 2361 Art History: Ancient through Medieval

ARTH 2362 Art History: Renaissance through Modern

ARTH 4361 Contemporary Art or other upper level ARTH course or

INTD 3362/3363 History of Architecture and Furniture

And one of the following two areas of concentration. Note, students must pass Portfolio Review and be accepted to the major before enrolling in these courses:

3D Animation Emphasis

CART 2300 Web I - Basic Web Design for 3D

CART 2301 3D Animation I: Modeling

CART 2311 3D Animation II: Animation

CART 3300 Web II - Advanced Web Design for 3D

THAR 2330 Performance for Animators

CART 3301 3D Animation III: Narrative Animation

CART 3311 3D Animation IV: Character Animation

CART 3315 Visual Narrative Conventions

CART 3321 History of Animation

ARTS 3331 Ceramic Sculpture

CART 4311 3D Animation V: Production

Graphic Design Emphasis

CART 1310 Visual Language

CART 2300 Web Design I: Introduction to Web Design

CART 2304 Concepting

CART 2310 Print Design I: Introduction to Design for Print

CART 3300 Web Design II: Advanced Web Design

CART 3310 Print Design II: Visual Systems

CART 4300 Web Design III: Web/Multimedia/Database Integration

CART 4310 Print III: Information Design

CART 4330 History of Communication Design

CART 4399 Special Topics

BMKT 3331 Principles of Marketing

BMKT 3333 Fundamentals of Advertising

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CIS)

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems (CIS).

With an emphasis on global applicability reflecting the ubiquitous nature of computing today, the Computer Information Systems program provides students with a broad base of theoretical and experiential knowledge and skills, ranging from those associated with computer science to practical modern business applications. CIS courses also provide students with the "soft skills" required for success in today's organizations, such as teamworking, decision making, visual modeling, project management, non-technical communications, and understanding business processes. The CIS program has been prepared in accordance with guidance from professional organizations and regional businesses and is continually upgraded to include new technologies and the ways computers are used throughout the world. CIS graduates are prepared to be valuable and integral members of a diversity of organizations, able to plan, design, build, and explain the operations of computer systems and networks, as well as install, configure, program, protect, administer, and apply system and application to aid them in making decisions and in performing their missions more effectively and efficiently.

A Minor in Computer Information Systems is available for students who wish to enhance their chosen field of study, since computer information systems and concepts are employed in nearly all organizations today.

Major Requirements for the Computer Information Systems Major

The CIS Major consists of 48-51 credit hours, including ten required courses, your choice of two of four available concentrations, plus four supporting courses that provide you with an understanding of the environment in which computer information systems are implemented in practice. The following courses (or their equivalents) are required:

* Identical to BINF designations for the same courses required for the BINF concentration on the BBA degree.

Areas of concentration (select two of the four):

Database and Website Management

Computer Programming

Windows Networking

UNIX/Linux Networking

Supporting Courses:

Requirements for a Minor in Computer Information Systems

The CIS Minor consists of 12 credits of study designed to give a broad base of understanding in computer hardware, networks, operating systems, and software applications.

CIS 2325 Personal Productivity Applications*

CIS 2328 Hardware and System Software*

Either CIS 2340 Windows Operating Systems or CIS 2350 UNIX/Linux Operating Systems

Plus any one of the following:

CIS 2330 Programming Languages I*

CIS 2335 Network +

CIS 3310 Database Management Systems

CIS 3340 Windows Client-Server Networking

CIS 3350 UNIX/Linux Client-Server Networking

* May take BINF designations for the identical course.