Overview
Jeremy Sarachan (Media and Communication), Chair
Interactive media combines media and communication, English, and coding to create a multidisciplinary course of study in which students critically analyze the effects of emerging media and computing on society. Students also develop a practice of production and innovation through the creation of web and mobile experiences, video games, multimedia narratives, and interactive art.
Overall, the interactive media program offers small classes and a creative and collaborative community. The College's proximity to downtown Rochester allows student participation in internships, experiential learning initiatives, and networking opportunities.
While there are no formal concentrations, students may choose to focus in one of the following areas:
- Interactive Media: Students create responsive websites to prepare for careers as interactive media designers and programmers for a variety of corporate and media-related companies.
- Games: Students study game production to prepare for positions as game designers, programmers, and scriptwriters; to create indie games; to prepare for careers in interactive advertising; and to apply for graduate school in game design.
- New Media Art and Physical Computing: Students develop their skills and aesthetic judgment as new media artists with the opportunity to experiment with computer graphics programming, web technologies, and physical computing (e.g., sensor-embedded installations, wearable computing). After graduation, a student may pursue a master of fine arts degree, or a career as an exhibit designer or an entrepreneur.
- Digital Culture Studies: Students focus on the history of technology and issues related to privacy and community; identity, class, and gender; media industries; and visual rhetoric and communication.
Students have 24-hour access to the Gladys Brooks Media Arts Lab with Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Photoshop, Premier Pro). They also use professional video and sound equipment, and a state-of-the-art high definition television studio. The program also maintains student labs for gaming, eye-tracking, and virtual reality.
The major in interactive media leads to a bachelor of arts degree.