CAREERS IN DIGITAL MEDIA

The Creative Media & Digital Culture Program aims to produce leaders and entrepreneurs in the field of digital media. Through courses, workshops, special programs, and the Senior Seminar, students in the Program are encouraged to develop a broad understanding about the creation of media objects and a sense of ethics about the production and use of these objects. While students in the CMDC program have gone on to graduate schools at Carnegie-Mellon, Georgetown University, and Portland State University, others move into careers in digital media. Here is a list of six kinds of careers and courses we recommend for preparing for that career:

 

Media Communication

Writes and creates multimedia content for an organization or news outlet.

  • DTC majors following the “Multimedia Authoring” concentration
  • The special minor offered through the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Specific courses will be noted here in early spring

 

Social Media Coordinator / Specialist

Oversees the policy for and development of social media for businesses and organizations.

  • DTC 338 Special Topics: Social Media
  • DTC 336 Design and Composition
  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • + Professional Writing Certificate
  • + Marketing minor

 

Multimedia / Interactive Design

Conceives, designs, and develops online or multimedia contexts for specific applications and audiences; understands the unique combinations of text, images, and interactive features in online environments.

  • DTC 336 Design and Composition
  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • DTC 335 Digital Animation
  • + Courses in Video that provide hands on experience with capturing and editing
  • FA 434 Time Based Media
  • FA 435 Interactive Design
  • + other DTC and FA courses that focus on design

 

Content Specialist / Strategist

Designs and implements interfaces for online spaces; develops philosophy and methodology of communication; creates plans for development/creation of content and guidelines of voice and style; facilitates usability functions for style, voice, and content.

  • DTC 335 Digital Animation
  • DTC 336 Design and Composition
  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • + Courses in Video
  • + Other DTC courses in creating media objects (video, websites, sound production, digital music, etc.)
  • + Professional Writing Certificate

 

Web Production / Development

Plans and codes websites that are both intuitive and insightful; plans and develops strategies for navigation; establishes links between collections of information in order to promote their effective utilization by users.

  • DTC 336 Design and Composition
  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • DTC 477 Advanced Multimedia Authoring
  • DTC 478 Usability and Interface Design
  • MIS 372 Database Management Systems
  • +Other DTC/MIS courses that offer background in programming and coding

 

Media Communication Specialist

Responsible for all communications, including any online sources that a company makes available about itself, its products, and its mission.

  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • DTC 335 Digital Animation
  • FA 385 Digital Imaging
  • + Video, that provides hands on experience with capturing and editing
  • + Sound production
  • + DTC 338 Special Topics: Social Media
  • + Professional Writing Certificate
  • + FA 381 Beginning Photography

Public Relations and e-Marketing

Creates and distributes information for placing the best context around a situation or company; creates and administers efforts to present products/ services in online contexts, particularly around considerations associated with eCommerce.

  • DTC 336 Design and Composition
  • DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring
  • MIS 375 Electronic Commerce and the Internet
  • + Video, that provides hands on experience with capturing and editing video
  • + DTC courses focusing on social networks
  • + Professional Writing Certificate
  • + Marketing minor