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Interactive Media

FACULTY Professor Lamoureux; Associate Professor Ham (chair), McGill; Assistant Professor Cavanah.

The Interactive Media program offers majors in Animation, Game Design, and Interactive Media with a concentration in Web and Application Design. Minors in Game Design (open only to Computer Science and Computer Information Systems majors) and Interactive Media are also available.

Mission

Bradley University’s Interactive Media Program prepares its learners to be critical thinkers in a continually evolving field that requires interdisciplinary, theoretical, and application knowledge in the design, development, and production of interactive media.

The Department of Interactive Media at Bradley University maintains a strong focus on creative and conceptual problem solving in the authoring of material for aspiring new-media professionals within a sound theoretical framework. Students will learn the importance of content research and project planning while becoming familiar with aesthetic conventions and the production environment within each of the component media types. Interactive Media majors and minors incorporate the various media items into stand-alone projects with authoring tools designed for the Internet and modern media devices.

Admission Requirements

  1. Bradley students transferring into the program must have a 2.25 grade point average for at least 12 hours of coursework in order to declare a major in Interactive Media.
  2. Students transferring from other institutions must have a 2.25 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be admitted to a major in Interactive Media. External transfer students not having a 2.25 overall grade point average must earn a 2.25 at Bradley for at least 12 hours of coursework before declaring a major in Interactive Media.
  3. Courses taken at other institutions must be evaluated by the Admissions Office and then by the department chair. Due to the fast pace at which technology changes, Interactive Media courses considered for required or elective transfer credit must have been completed within four years from the proposed admission date for the student.
  4. Current Bradley students and external transfer students who meet program admission requirements and who wish to change to or add an Interactive Media major must first meet with an advisor or the department chair for an initial academic advisement session and orientation to the department.
  5. Applicants apply to Bradley University and indicate one of the three concentrations in Interactive Media as their major.
  6. Students who wish to transfer from other institutions must submit a portfolio and complete a technology‐based assessment so that the Department of Interactive Media can determine proper course placement. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information regarding content, submission dates, format, and mailing address. Once completed, please contact the Department of Interactive Media to schedule the assessment.
  7. Internal and external transfer students may need at least one extra semester to complete graduation requirements because of prerequisites and core course requirements in the major. Students choosing to switch between concentrations may also need at least one extra semester to complete graduation requirements.
  8. Due to the strong technology component of this major, all students are required to meet current department hardware and software requirements. These requirements help ensure that majors are immersed in current technologies and become fluent in standards required to be successful in Interactive Media.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Students majoring in Interactive Media must have a grade point average of 2.50 for all required courses taken in the major. Students must also earn a C or better in every required course within the major. Both requirements include courses required for the concentration and courses outside the Department that are required for the major.
  2. Students may not enroll in Interactive Media courses for which a required course is a prerequisite unless they have earned a C or better in the required course.  

Majors

The Department of Interactive Media offers three majors: Animation, Game Design, and Interaction Media.

Animation Major

A grade of “C” or better is required in each of these courses for graduation as an Animation Major.

Course Requirements (55 hrs.)

  • ART 101 Drawing I - 3 hrs.
  • ART 102 Drawing II - 3 hrs.
  • IM 110 Introduction to Interactive Media Design - 3 hrs.
  • IM 115 Introduction to Interactive Media Development - 3 hrs.
  • IM 120 Concepting and Storytelling for Interactive Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 150 Foundations of Interactive Design - 3 hrs.
  • IM 226 Interactive Media Practicum I - 4 hrs.
  • IM 240 Two-Dimensional Animation I - 3 hrs.
  • IM 241 Two-Dimensional Animation II - 3 hrs.
  • IM 243 History of Animation - 3 hrs.
  • IM 313 Intermediate Interactive Media Authoring - 4 hrs
  • IM 350 Intellectual Property Law and New Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 413 Advanced Interactive Media Authoring - 4 hrs
  • IM 426 Interactive Media Practicum II - 4 hrs.
  • IM 457 Digital Animation I - 3 hrs.
  • IM 458 Sound Design - 3 hrs.
  • M 471 Digital Animation II - 3 hrs.

Game Design Major

A grade of “C” or better is required in each of the core requirements for graduation as a Game Design Major. Completion of the core requirements and two Game Design electives.

Core Requirements (44 hours)

  • IM 110 Introduction to Interactive Media Design - 3 hrs.
  • IM 115 Introduction to Interactive Media Development - 3 hrs.
  • IM 120 Concepting and Storytelling for Interactive Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 150 Fundamentals of Interactive Design - 3 hrs.
  • IM 180 Introduction to the Game Industry – 1 hrs.
  • IM 226 Practicum – 4 hrs.
  • IM 280 Quality Assurance in Games – 1 hr.
  • IM 288 Game Design I – 3 hrs.
  • IM 289 Game Production I – 3 hrs.
  • IM 313 Intermediate Interactive Media Authoring – 4 hrs.
  • IM 350 Intellectual Property and New Media – 3 hrs.
  • IM 380 Critical Game Studies - 3 hrs.
  • IM 451 Computer Game Design – 3 hrs.
  • IM 426 Practicum – 4 hrs.
  • IM 459 Computer Game Capstone Project - 3 hrs.

Interdisciplinary Electives (6 hours)

Choose two of the following:

  • IM 452 Computer Game Modification – 3 hrs.
  • IM 455 Computer Graphics – 3 hrs.
  • IM 456 Computer Game Engine Programming – 3 hrs.
  • IM 457 Digital Animation – 3 hrs.
  • IM 458 Sound Design – 3 hrs.

Interactive Media Major

A grade of “C” or better is required in each of these courses for graduation as an Interactive Media Major.

Core Requirements (36 hours)

  • IM 110 Introduction to Interactive Media Design - 3 hrs.
  • IM 115 Introduction to Interactive Media Development - 3 hrs.
  • IM 120 Concepting and Storytelling for Interactive Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 213 Basic Interactive Media Authoring - 3 hrs.
  • IM 226 Interactive Media Practicum I – 4 hrs.
  • IM 250 Introduction to New Media Theory - 3 hrs.
  • IM 285 Introduction to Video for Interactive Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 313 Intermediate Interactive Media Authoring - 4 hrs.
  • IM 350 Intellectual Property Law and New Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 365 Designing for the Word Wide Web - 3 hrs.
  • IM 426 Interactive Media Practicum II – 4 hrs. 

Concentration in Web and Application Design (19 hours)

  • IM 215 Introduction to Scripting Languages - 3 hrs.
  • IM 325 Search Engine Optimization and Analytics - 3 hrs.
  • IM 344 Virtual World Building and Research - 3 hrs.
  • IM 413 Advanced Multimedia Authoring - 4 hrs.
  • IM 460 Interactivity in Emerging Media - 3 hrs.
  • IM 465 Advanced Web Design - 3 hrs.

Total Hours : 52–55

Minors

The Department of Interactive Media offers two minors, Interactive Media for all students and Game Design for Computer Science/Information Systems majors.

Admission Requirements

  1. Bradley students transferring into the program must have a 2.25 grade point average for at least 12 hours of coursework in order to declare a minor in Interactive Media or Game Design.
  2. Students transferring from other institutions must have a 2.25 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be admitted to a minor in Interactive Media or Game Design. External transfer students not having a 2.25 overall grade point average must earn a 2.25 at Bradley for at least 12 hours of coursework before declaring a minor in Interactive Media or Game Design.
  3. Courses taken at other institutions must be evaluated by the Admissions Office and then by the department chair. Due to the fast pace at which technology changes, Interactive Media courses considered for required or elective transfer credit for the Interactive Media or Game Design minor must have been completed within four years from the proposed admission date for the student.
  4. Students who wish to transfer from other institutions must submit a portfolio and complete a technology based assessment so that the Department of Interactive Media can determine proper course placement. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information regarding content, submission dates, format, and mailing address. Once completed, please contact the Department of Interactive Media to schedule the assessment.
  5. Internal and external transfer students may need at least one extra semester to complete graduation requirements because of prerequisites and core course requirements in the minor.
  6. Due to the strong technology component of this minor, all students minoring in Interactive Media are required to meet current department hardware and software requirements. These requirements help ensure that minors are immersed in current technologies and become fluent in standards required to be successful in a career in Interactive Media. (Students minoring in Game Design are exempt from these requirements.)

Minor Requirements

  1. Students minoring in Interactive Media or Game Design must have a grade point average of 2.50 for all required courses taken in the minor. Students must also earn a C or better in every required course within the minor. Both requirements include courses required for the concentration and courses outside the Department that are required for the minor.
  2. Students minoring in Interactive Media or Game Design may not enroll in Interactive Media courses for which a required course is a prerequisite unless they have earned a C or better in the required course.
  3. Students minoring in both Interactive Media and Game Design may not apply the same coursework to both minors, with the exception of IM 113 and IM 285.

Game Design Minor

The 24‐hour Game Design minor is only open to Computer Science and Computer Information Systems majors. The following courses are required for the minor:

  • IM 113 Introduction to Interactive Media ‐ 3 hrs.
  • IM 285 Introduction to Video for Interactive Media ‐ 3 hrs.
  • ART 332 History of Graphic Design ‐ 3 hrs.
  • IM 451 Computer Game Design ‐ 3 hrs.
  • IM 453 Concepting and Storytelling for Game Design ‐ 3 hrs.
  • IM 459 Computer Game Capstone Project ‐ 3 hrs.
  • Choose 2 of the following courses (6 hours total):
    • IM 452 Computer Game Modification ‐ 3 hrs.
    • IM 455 Computer Graphics ‐ 3 hrs.
    • IM 456 Game Engine Programming ‐ 3 hrs.
    • IM 457 Digital Animation ‐ 3 hrs.
    • IM 458 Sound Design ‐ 3 hrs.

Interactive Media Minor

The Interactive Media minor is a 21‐semester‐hour program consisting of courses that provide an overview of skills in Interactive Media. The minor can be applied to a variety of major programs of study. Coursework will be selected in consultation with the advisor. The following courses are required for the minor:

Authoring (9 hours)

  • IM 113 Introduction to Interactive Media ‐ 3 hrs.
  • IM 285 Introduction to Video for Interactive Media ‐ 3 hrs.
  • ART 205 Typographic Design ‐ 3 hrs.
  • Theory (3 hours) (Choose one):
    • IM 250 Introduction to New Media Theory ‐ 3 hrs.
    • IM 350 Intellectual Property Law and New Media ‐ 3 hrs.

Electives (9 hours)

Interactive Media courses, with a minimum of six hours at the 300‐level or higher

This is the official catalog for the 2015-2016 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.