Senate Document Number 3200S
Date of Senate Approval 2/10/00
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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:
Effective Date: Fall 2000
Delete: On pg 134, the opening paragraph from "The Multimedia…objectives are:"
Add: The Multimedia Arts and Sciences program emphasizes learning how to present new ideas through the use of computer manipulation. The major provides a process specifically designed to let students explore scripting, presentation, and multiple visual and aural environments in order to attain specific interactive objectives. Students will have opportunities to hone their computer skills and apply theory learned in the classroom. Ultimate applications will include interactive presentations, as well as use of non-linear, computer based media. The program objectives are:
Delete: On pg 134, under Major in Multimedia Arts and Sciences, sections I, II, III.
Add:
c. Specialty Unit--choose option 1, 2, 3 or 4:
Option 1): Music: MUSC 384, 385, 386, 387 (requires MUSC 131 and PHYS 102).
Option 2): Mass Communication/Video: MCOM 205; and either MCOM 382 or 435.
Option 3): Computer Animation: MMAS 310; and either CSCI 346 or MMAS 410.
Option 4): Interactive Design: MMAS 320, 420.
III. Other program requirements--Oral competency is satisfied in MMAS 221 by delivery of a formal presentation judged satisfactory by the program faculty. The senior demonstration of competency is satisfied by completion of MMAS 490 with a grade of C or better.
Delete: On pg 135-136, course titles and descriptions for MMAS 121, 221, 310, 340, 401, 439, 440, 490.
Add:
121 Networking and Hypertext Design (CSCI 121) (3)
Design and development of networked and/or hypertext interactive documents. Digital
representation of images and sound for computer documents. Examines research and design
methods, as well as how to utilize the media as a means of communicating original and unique
ideas and visions. Corequisite: MMAS 107. Fall and Spring.
221 Multimedia in Practice I (3)
Skills of collaborative work, and design of large scale projects. Further refinement of technical,
aesthetic, and critical thinking skills developed in MMAS 121 and 151, in addition to other
coursework being taking. Prerequisites: MMAS 121, 151. Fall and Spring.
310 Intermediate Computer Animation (CSCI 310) (3)
Intermediate technical, artistic, and critical skills required to create convincing 2-D and 3-D
animation within the computer. Extensive training with high-end animation. Compositing and
video output packages will allow for the combination of live-action shots with computer
generated animation. Prerequisites: MMAS 151, 221; ART 101 or CSCI 201; or permission of
instructor. Fall.
340 Internship (3)
Supervised work in a community setting. Students will receive hands-on training in the
creation of multimedia projects in an applied setting. Prerequisite: MMAS 221; or permission
of instructor. See program director.
439 Senior Capstone Project I (1)
Part one of a two-part capstone project for seniors. Students will work either collaboratively
(strongly encouraged) or independently on a long-term, large-scale project which both hones
their specialized skills, and challenges them to push the boundaries of their knowledge.
Students will discuss both from where the projects arise (the social, cultural, scientific and
aesthetic environment), and their effects. Prerequisite: MMAS 321. Fall.
440 Senior Capstone Project II (1)
Continuation of the capstone projects established in part one. Prerequisite: MMAS 429.
Spring.
490 Proseminar and Portfolio (3)
Students will construct a portfolio of completed projects for use in the work or graduate school
environment. Students will study the effects of this convergent media upon culture, the arts
and the evolution of ideas, and examine where multimedia has been and will likely go.
Students will consider the impact of new media from multiple viewpoints. Prerequisites:
MMAS 321; or permission of instructor. Fall.
Add: The following new course titles and descriptions:
151 Digits In Motion (MCOM 151) (3)
Artistic and technical skills of 2-D and 3-D animation, video editing (post-production) and
compositing, sound processing and sound effects. Research methods and critical skills.
Corequisites: MMAS 107, 121; or permission of instructor. Fall and Spring.
320 Intermediate Interactive Design (3)
Intermediate technical, artistic, and critical skills involved in creation of cutting edge interactive
design. Via in-depth theory and practical application of technology, psychology, and layout,
students will create compelling interactive products. Prerequisites MMAS 121, 221; ART 101
or MCOM 341. Spring.
410 Advanced Animation Techniques (CSCI 410)
(3)
Advanced techniques utilized to create challenging and compelling computer animation,
including character animation. Students will use research, material or concepts from other
university courses to present idea driven work that expresses their perspective on a
humanistic topic of their choosing. Prerequisite: MMAS 310. See program director.
420 Advanced Interactive Design (3)
Advanced techniques for designing and scripting complex interactive media, including
database front ends. Prerequisite: MMAS 320. See program director.
Impact Statement The altered multimedia arts and sciences major curriculum should have a substantial positive impact on the quality of students graduating from the program. There will be little increase in personnel necessary to teach the new curriculum--though there will be some redistribution of how the load will be shared by departments versus the present program. At the same time, further enhancements to major courses, as well as the potential for wider cross-listings, will benefit more of the university at large.
Equipment resource needs will remain unchanged, or even will be diminished slightly from the present program.
Students in the major will have a more contiguous and focused path through the major via several new or altered courses which, while remaining interdisciplinary, embed the knowledge and skills within a multimedia framework. Additionally, students will take major courses nearly every semester, providing a more continuous accretion of skills and understanding than does the present program.
Finally, course work has been abstracted, as much as possible, from the underlying technology, allowing the proposed courses to change according to new technology without their descriptions being rewritten. This will save a great deal of time and effort in the future, as changes to the curriculum will happen far less frequently than would be necessary otherwise.
Rationale: Changes to the multimedia arts and sciences major curriculum reflect specific needs of majors (and minors), including coursework (MMAS 221 and 321) designed to provide collaborative, "real world" projects in which students pool their broad-based, liberal arts knowledge, and the technical and critical skills they have earned in MMAS and related classes. Additionally, new MMAS coursework will increase the interdisciplinary nature of the major, pulling concepts for classroom discussion and assignments from any and all disciplines the university currently offers. As staffing now exists to teach this type of coursework, it will be beneficial for students to utilize their knowledge and skills in environments which simulate the work place or graduate program for which they are bound.
In addition, several other courses have either been altered or created--and which are cross-listed with other departments--that introduce and hone talents and critical knowledge necessary to success in the multimedia industry (MMAS 121, 151, 310, 348, and 410). As cross-listed classes, these will be available to students in other majors, enhancing the general state of education across the campus.
From the logical beginnings of the current program, this proposed curriculum will enhance the following goals stated in the original document: interdisciplinary study, critical and esthetic thought, practical application, flexibility, logical course flow, and broad-based but focused research, thought and production.
The above changes to the major program have been wrought not to reject the current curriculum, but to edit and enhance it to better fulfill its stated goals in ways which were not, in fact, possible before the arrival of full time staff dedicated to the major. While there are many changes, none are fundamental: the proposed program will be what the present is: an interdisciplinary, idea centered major which uses the tools of the next millennium to reflect the best of human thought and creativity.