Digital Arts Department

Overview
MS Digital Arts

Master of Science in Digital Arts

As Silicon Valley continues to produce innovative smart devices and make advancements in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), the role of a digital artist is more important than ever. A consumer’s insatiable appetite for new content drives the demand for skilled designers, storytellers, and artists needed to create that content.

In ITU’s Digital Arts program, you’ll learn from experienced industry professionals who integrate design fundamentals, professional skills, and entrepreneurial know-how. By utilizing animation, sound, lighting, and other tools, you’ll learn to produce live action, interactive, and augmented media. Plus, you’ll create your own multimedia portfolio and write thesis papers for peer-reviewed publications. Upon completion, you’ll be prepared for leadership roles in fields like digital art production, advertising, film, gaming, AR, VR, and mobile and app development.

Curriculum

The 39-credit Digital Arts program curriculum is composed of core courses, electives, interdisciplinary electives, ITU Presents, Nugget courses, capstone project or thesis, and an internship. The program is designed to be completed in 16 months.

Program Structure

Required Courses

  • 3 Core Courses (9 credit hours)
  • Capstone course – Project or Thesis (3 credit hours)
  • Internship (1 credit hour)
  • Nugget courses (up to 3 credit hours)
    • ITU Presents (1 credit hour)
    • ITU Nuggets (2 credit hours)

Internship

1-8 credit hours

Transfer Credits

Up to 9 credit hours from a graduate program of a regionally accredited school with department chair’s approval.

39 total credit hours

Required Core Courses

  • DGA 501 New Media Production
  • DGA 621 Producing Digital Media
  • DGA 631 Digital Media Startup

Elective Courses

With approval from the DGA Department any course from

  • Department of Business Administration
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Engineering Management
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Required Capstone Course 

DGA 690 Master’s Project
or DGA 692 Master’s Thesis

Internship

  • INT 593 Internship
  • ITU Presents
  • ITU Nuggets Courses

     

     

     

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for granting of the Master’s and Doctoral degree.

Concentrations

Customize your education to match your career goals by choosing one of the following concentrations:

UI/UX:

Learn from courses such as Dynamic UX, Design Fundamentals, User Interfaces and User Experiences, and Web Graphic Design.

Digital Marketing:

Learn from courses such as Social Network Marketing and Publishing, International Marketing, Marketing with Social Media, and Competitive Marketing Strategies.

Production:

Learn from courses such as Screenwriting, Production, and Editing.

Interactive Media and Games:

Learn from courses such as Intro to Game Development, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality, 3D Modeling and 3D Printing, CG Software Fundamentals, and Unity 2D/3D Game Development Platform.

Game Design and Development:

Learn from courses such as Intro to Game Development, Intro to Games Programming, and Unity 2D/3D Game Development Platform.

Mobile Design and Development:

Learn from courses such as Mobile Application Development, User Interfaces and User Experiences, and Dynamic UX.

Global Entertainment Management:

Learn from courses such as Business of Entertainment, Production Management, and Artist Representation.

Required Courses for Each Concentration

UI/UX Concentration
(9 credit hours)

  • DGA 518 UI/UX: User Interface and User Experience 
  • DGA 528 Dynamic UX 
  • one (1) of the following courses: DGA 507 Design Fundamentals, DGA 512 Web Graphic Design, DGA 520 Motion Graphics

Digital Marketing Concentration
(6 credit hours)

  • DGA 523 Social Network Marketing and Publishing
  • one (1) of the following courses: MKT 585 International Marketing, MKT 590 Marketing with Social Media, MKT 551 Competitive Marketing Strategies

Interactive Media and Games Concentration
(9 credit hours)

  • DGA 508 CG Software Fundamentals

  • An additional two (2) of the following courses: DGA 524 Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality; DGA 529 Introduction to Games programming Unity, SpriteKit using C#, and Swift DGA 661; Unity 2D/3D Game Development Platform; DGA 510 Intro to Game Development; DGA 609 3D Modeling and 3D Printing, DGA 520 Motion Graphics

Production Concentration
(9 credit hours)

  • DGA 526 Screenwriting

  • DGA 527 Production

  • DGA 522 Editing I

  • DGA 520 Motion Graphics

Mobile Design And Development, Game Design and Development, and Global Entertainment Management

These concentrations require the Digital Arts Department Chair approval for concentration course requirements.

Declaring or Changing a Concentration

You can declare your Digital Arts program concentration when admitted. You can also add or change your concentration at any point before you complete 19 credit hours. Any approved transfer credit will be counted towards the 19 credit hours. Requests to declare or change your concentration must be made by the first day of the trimester in which you will attempt your 20th credit hour.

Admission Requirements

  • Click here for Admission Requirements.

*U.S. citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. are waived from this requirement.

*Who has 2+ years of work experience in the United States are waived from this requirement.

ITU in Action

 

 

Who
should apply

ITU’s Digital Arts program is designed for students who want to create an attention-grabbing portfolio while acquiring new skills in technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, animation, graphics design, and more.

Apply Now

Learning Outcomes

Apply foundational digital production skills to create stories, visualizations and designs.

Apply collaborative skills and evaluate team dynamics to successfully complete team-oriented master digital art projects.

Create professional grade digital productions by utilizing general production pipelines from conception to production, marketing and distribution.

Apply understanding of software, hardware, and the production process to identify appropriate industry standards to complete digital productions.

Analyze products and situations to effectively articulate and identify opportunities for innovation and experimentation in art, design, and product development.

Create a portfolio of projects that showcase multiple art and media skills in design, animation, filmmaking and interactive design.