BFA in Digital Media
Aberdeen, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Northern's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with digital media emphasis offers outstanding educational opportunities in graphic design, interactive design, and other new media.
The BFA in digital media degree program prepares you to excel in highly technical areas of art and design, including:
- Commercial photography
- Video production and editing
- Web design and programming
- 2D animation
- Illustration
- Graphic design
- Product/packaging design
It's the perfect gateway to attending graduate school for a master of fine arts degree (MFA) or doctorate in art education degree.
A BFA in digital media offers a rich selection of upper-level courses to enhance your academic experience and professional potential. In this program, you'll engage intensely with your art and design practice while being immersed in technological advancements and art history. In your final year, you'll take your first steps into the industry through career planning in the senior capstone course; upper-level media courses; and optional internship opportunities. The capstone course requires a portfolio, thesis, public exhibition, and career mentoring.
The program offers three areas of emphasis:
- Interactive media such as animation, video, and web
- Graphic design and static media such as corporate identity, digital imaging, digital illustration, and photography
- New Media, the intersection of traditional studio arts and digital media
With a solid foundation gained early in the program followed by challenging classes with a focus on your individual interests, you'll have plenty of time and opportunity to grow your design practice before entering the workforce.
- Students will acquire and demonstrate understanding and proficiency with fundamental concepts of visual art and design. (Cross-curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
- Students will acquire and demonstrate understanding and proficiency with fundamental precepts in art and design history. (Cross-curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Intercultural Knowledge)
- Students will acquire and demonstrate understanding and proficiency with fine art media. (Cross-curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
- Students will acquire and demonstrate understanding and proficiency with digital art media. (Cross-curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
- Students will acquire and demonstrate understanding and proficiency with professional methods of practice. (Cross-curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving)
First Year Fall
- IDL 190, Freshman Seminar 2
- Natural Science with Lab Course (see catalog) 3-4
- ARTD 113, Introduction to Digital Media 3
- ART 111, Drawing I 3
- ART 121, Design I 2D 3
First Year Spring
- ENGL 101, Composition I 3
- MATH 103, Mathematical Reasoning* 3
- ART 123, Three Dimensional Design 3
- ART 270, Photography Techniques I 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
Second Year Fall
- ARTH 211, History of World Art I 3
- ARTD 231, Graphic Design I 3
- ARTD 333, Web Design I 3
- ARTD 335, Digital Illustration I 3
- ENGL 201, Composition II 3
Second Year Spring
- ARTH 212, History of World Art II 3
- ARTD 334, Digital Imaging I 3
- ARTD 338, Digital Video Design I 3
- Arts and Humanities Course (see catalog) 3
- SPCM 101, Fundamentals of Speech*
Third Year Fall
- ARTH 311, History of World Art III 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
- Major Elective Course (see catalog) 3
- Major Elective Course (see catalog) 3
- Behavioral/Social Sciences Course (see catalog) 3
Third Year Spring
- ARTH 312, History of Graphic Design 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
- Natural Science with Lab Course (see catalog) 3-4
- Behavioral/Social Sciences Course (see catalog) 3
Fourth Year Fall
- ART 498, Undergraduate Research and Scholarship 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
- Major Elective Course (see catalog) 3
- Major Elective Course (see catalog) 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
Fourth Year Spring
- ART 489, Senior Capstone 3
- Digital Media Emphasis Course (see catalog) 3
- Major Elective Course (see catalog) 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
- Elective or Minor Course 3
*Fulfills a General Education Requirement. Other course options may be available.
**Fulfills a major requirement. Other course options may be available.
***Fulfills a general elective. Other course options may be available.
This plan of study is not an official document. Depending on placement scores, developmental courses may be required. Course rotations may change. Please visit with a professional advisor at least once a semester to review appropriate course choices and plan updates.
The field of digital media is diverse, ranging from education to print/static design to interactive, web, and/or video occupations. A BFA in Digital Media presents several potential career paths, including graphic designer, art director, illustrator, photographer, filmmaker, web designer, arts manager, independent designer, and video editor. According to Americans for the Arts, 72 percent of all employers say that creativity and critical thinking are necessary characteristics of business leaders and that creativity is the No. 1 skill they seek when hiring.