Interactive Media Studies (co-major)
Degree: No specific degree is designated for this co-major. Students select another major at Miami (receiving the degree designation of that major) and choose Interactive Media Studies as a second major.
What is Interactive Media Studies?
Interactive media is the integration of digital media, including combinations of electronic text, graphics, moving images, and sound, into a structured digital computerized environment that allows people to interact with the data for appropriate purposes. Interactive Media Studies is an interdisciplinary program that brings together students and faculty throughout the university to investigate how interactive media informs and transforms their disciplinary perspective. Through problem-based learning and team-oriented projects, students learn how to apply their theoretical knowledge to innovative digital solutions.
What are the features of Miami's program?
Co-major: The term "co-major" is unique and indicates that students must be concurrently enrolled in and must complete another major at Miami University. This co-major complements the primary major, which provides significant depth and breadth in an academic discipline.
Interdisciplinary: This program includes courses that span across the breadth of Miami University's offerings. From arts to the humanities to computer science, the IMS co-major brings the inherently interdisciplinary world of technology to the traditionally disciplinary student..
Concentrations: In order to focus their experience on a particular area of interactive media and to better complement their disciplinary area of focus, students choose from among the following four concentrations: Digital Art and Design; Digital Game Studies; Digital Humanities and Social Science; and Self-Designed (adviser approval required).
Are there special admission requirements?
Yes, students are admitted to the co-major upon successful completion of the following requirements:
- Application made in March of the first year or October of the second year
- A 2.5 Miami g.p.a.
- Application with portfolio of related work (art, writing, code, etc.)
- Interview of selected students
What courses would I take?
During your first year of study, you'll begin taking the College of Arts and Science requirements, such as literature classes and foreign language courses, as well as Miami Plan courses. In your sophomore year, you'll begin taking courses in the journalism major along with courses related to your second major. In your junior and senior years, you'll concentrate on upper-level journalism courses, continue coursework in your second major, and participate in internships.
What can I do with this major?
Journalism graduates seek careers in many areas. Our students are well-prepared, not only for any job requiring writing, editing, or publication design. Graduates may become magazine editors, newspaper or TV reporters, freelance writers, or copywriters. Typically, about 10 percent pursue graduate degrees in fields such as journalism, creative writing, literature, technical writing, history, or law.
Who can I contact for more information?
For general information about Miami University, please contact:
Office of Admission
301 S. Campus Ave.
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056-3434
513-529-2531 (v/t)
www.muohio.edu/requestinfo
For specific information on the Interactive Media Studies major, please contact:
Armstrong Institute for Interactive Media Studies
2045 FSB
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-1637
aims@muohio.edu
www.muohio.edu/ims
