Interactive Media Studies

Professors: Stephen Macek, Stephen Renk, Caroline St. Clair
Associate Professor: Zachary Jack
Assistant Professors: Hale Ekinci, Matthew Kirkpatrick, John Madormo, Kay O’Donnell

Mission Statement

Interactive Media Studies is an interdisciplinary program that blends Art, Computer Science, English and Speech Communication to offer a major and minor addressing multimedia based communication. Students learn to critically analyze multimedia and its application, and to use interactive digital technologies to express themselves with audio, video, text, graphics and animation delivered via the web and other digital media systems.

The Interactive Media Studies program draws from course work in a number of traditional disciplines across the college, combining graphic design with the history and language of visual communication and the role of the media in reflecting and shaping cultural experience. Students learn to use graphics and media technology in socially responsible ways, expand their conceptual and organizational abilities and improve their communication and presentation skills through the required courses, internships and choices of tracks based on interest. The program culminates in a portfolio workshop course to prepare students for entry to fields such as journalism, information systems, graphic or Web design, advertising and public relations.

Degree offered: B.A.

Integrated Five-Year Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs

North Central College’s integrated B.A. or B.S./M.S. in Web and Internet Applications program allows a student to earn both a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) and the Master of Science degree in Web and Internet Applications, normally in five years of study. Admission to this program is open to all academically strong students who have completed CSC 160 , CSC 161 , CSC 220  and CSC 230 , with an overall G.P.A. of at least 3.333.

Integrated Five-Year Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs  

Programs

• Interactive Media Studies, B.A.

• Interactive Media Studies Minor

Courses

• IMS 100 - Introduction to Visual Literacy
• IMS 113 - Multimedia Practicum
• IMS 125 - Computer Animation with Flash
• IMS 200 - Professional Writing for Digital Platforms
• IMS 215 - Introduction to Web Programming
• IMS 220 - Video Editing and Production
• IMS 230 - Digital Audio Editing and Production
• IMS 260 - Introduction to New Media
• IMS 297 - Internship
• IMS 299 - Independent Study
• IMS 320 - Motion Graphics
• IMS 343 - Digital Illustration and Prepress Production
• IMS 382 - Computer and Electronic Music
• IMS 390 - Special Topics
• IMS 397 - Internship
• IMS 399 - Independent Study
• IMS 490 - Portfolio Workshop
• IMS 497 - Internship
• IMS 499 - Independent Study