Digital Communication Arts Undergraduate Major (BA, BFA, BS, HBA, HBFA, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus (BA, BS, HBA, HBS only)
Students have the opportunity to focus their studies on a particular part of the discipline of New Media Communications.
BA/BS/HBA/HBS
The BA/BS/HBA/HBS of Digital Communication Arts studies the intersection of media and social life. Throughout history, new media have produced profound changes in human interaction. Family life, politics, commerce, religion, and the distribution of privileges have all been subject to fundamental revision in the wake of new technologies for communication. This provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the nature of these changes and prepares them to anticipate and manage inevitable future changes as the media landscape continues to evolve. This is particularly appropriate for students who seek careers in media research and criticism, graduate studies in media, work in media policy, and gain skills needed to manage media communications enterprises.
BFA/HBFA
The BFA in Digital Communication Arts focuses on media production. The BFA is designed to provide a foundation in media aesthetics, story conceptualization and preproduction planning for linear and nonlinear/interactive projects, video production, sound design and 3D modeling and animation. Students are encouraged to explore their own creativity within a carefully constructed curriculum that serves as a basis for independent work and portfolio development. Faculty members include artists, videographers, editors and composers from professional production environments.
Major Code: 473
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Appraise the relative merits of media technologies on multiple grounds, including: their potential for individual creative expression; their potential to connect individuals to one another; their potential as investments; their efficiency in pursuit of grounds 1-4; and their potential to promote community; their potential for collective human creative expression.
- Select media appropriate to a given task.
- Evaluate and recommend public policy regarding media.
- Manage change in the media environment.
- Criticize media content using historic and emerging standards.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of media, such as digital animation, website design, video production, and writing.
- The major requires a 2.0 GPA for admittance and a 2.3 GPA for graduation.
- Students must receive a C– or better in all degree coursework.
- Courses for the major must be A–F grading (not S/U).
- Transfer students may apply a maximum of 12 credits of lower-division NMC credits toward a degree.
BA/BS/HBA/HBS in Digital Communication Arts
The BA/BS major is 51-63 credits. A minimum of 180 credits are required to earn the degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Media Production Orientation | ||
| NMC 100 | *NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE | 3 |
| NMC 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| NMC 260 | +NEW MEDIA FUTURES | 3 |
| NMC 301 | ^WRITING FOR THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| Intermediate Level | ||
| Select six NMC courses at the 200 or 300 level (can include up to three of the following non-NMC courses): | 18-24 | |
| COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| PROPAGANDA AND SOCIAL CONTROL | ||
| VISUAL RHETORIC | ||
| COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE IN CYBERSPACE | ||
| Advanced Level | ||
| NMC 418 | +VIRAL CONTENT | 3-4 |
| or NMC 342 | +INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS | |
| or NMC 380 | +PRE-PRODUCTION | |
| or NMC 441 | +MEDIA ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| or NMC 487 | +VIRTUAL WORLDS | |
| NMC 493 | +*MEDIA AND POWER | 3 |
| Select five courses at the 400 level (can include one of the following non-NMC courses): 1 | 15-20 | |
| THEORIES OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | ||
| ISSUES IN THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, CLA Core, BA/BS Requirements and Electives | 117-129 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
BFA/HBFA in Digital Communication Arts (Production)
The BFA major requires 105 credits. A minimum of 180 credits are required to earn the degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| ART 121 | DIGITAL CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| NMC 100 | *NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE | 3 |
| NMC 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| NMC 260 | +NEW MEDIA FUTURES | 3 |
| NMC 301 | ^WRITING FOR THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| NMC 418 | +VIRAL CONTENT | 3-4 |
| or NMC 342 | +INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS | |
| or NMC 380 | +PRE-PRODUCTION | |
| or NMC 441 | +MEDIA ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| or NMC 487 | +VIRTUAL WORLDS | |
| NMC 493 | +*MEDIA AND POWER | 3 |
| Foundation Coursework | ||
| ART 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| ART 115 | 2-D CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| ART 131 | DRAWING CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| ART 263 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 4 |
| NMC 322 | LANDMARKS IN MEDIA CONTENT | 3 |
| NMC 351 | NEW MEDIA VISUALIZATION | 4 |
| TA 242 | VISUAL PRINCIPLES OF THEATRE | 3 |
| TA 346 | SCENE AND STAGE DESIGN | 3 |
| WR 407 | SEMINAR | 4 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: NEOCLASSICISM TO CONTEMPORARY | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES: 1945-PRESENT | ||
| *THE NEW AMERICAN CINEMA | ||
| *FILMS FOR THE FUTURE | ||
| NMC Electives | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| SURVEY OF SOCIAL MEDIA | ||
| HISTORY OF BROADCASTING | ||
| THE MEANING OF VIDEO GAMES | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS | ||
| *DIGITAL PORNOGRAPHY | ||
| MEDIA THEORY | ||
| MEDIA EFFECTS | ||
| NEW MEDIA AND SOCIETY | ||
| MEDIA ETHICS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| Production Coursework | ||
| Select 11 courses from the following: | 35-41 | |
| BASIC RECORDING TECHNIQUES | ||
| INTERMEDIATE RECORDING TECHNIQUES | ||
| ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES | ||
| APPLIED SOUND DESIGN | ||
| VIDEO ART | ||
| SOUND DESIGN FOR VISUAL MEDIA | ||
| +PRE-PRODUCTION | ||
| FIELD PRODUCTION | ||
| PRACTICUM 1 | ||
or NMC 410 | INTERNSHIP | |
| COMPOSITING AND DIGITAL EFFECTS | ||
| DOCUMENTARY | ||
| NEW MEDIA 3-D | ||
| NEW MEDIA ANIMATION | ||
| ADVANCED COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCE | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed and Electives | 71-75 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
NMC 409 and NMC 410 must equal a total of three credits to count as one course at this level. NMC 409 and NMC 410 credits can be combined to equal three. A maximum of three credits of NMC 409/NMC 410 can count in the major
Major Code: 473
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| NMC 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC 260 | +NEW MEDIA FUTURES | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC 100 | *NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE | 3 |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Art & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NMC 301 | ^WRITING FOR THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC 418 | +VIRAL CONTENT | 3 |
| NMC 493 | +*MEDIA AND POWER | 3 |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| NMC Advanced Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| NMC Advanced Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| NMC 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC 260 | +NEW MEDIA FUTURES | 3 |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC 100 | *NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE | 3 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| BS Science | 4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NMC 301 | ^WRITING FOR THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| NMC 418 | +VIRAL CONTENT | 3 |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC 493 | +*MEDIA AND POWER | 3 |
| NMC Intermediate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 3 | |
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| NMC Advanced Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC Advanced Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Fine Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ART 115 | 2-D CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| NMC 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| ART 121 | DIGITAL CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| NMC 260 | +NEW MEDIA FUTURES | 3 |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 131 | DRAWING CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| NMC 100 | *NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE | 3 |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 263 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 4 |
| NMC 322 | LANDMARKS IN MEDIA CONTENT | 3 |
| TA 242 | VISUAL PRINCIPLES OF THEATRE | 3 |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| ART 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| NMC Elective | 3 | |
| Film Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NMC 301 | ^WRITING FOR THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| NMC 351 | NEW MEDIA VISUALIZATION | 4 |
| NMC 418 | +VIRAL CONTENT | 3 |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| NMC Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| TA 346 | SCENE AND STAGE DESIGN | 3 |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC 493 | +*MEDIA AND POWER | 3 |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| WR 407 | SEMINAR | 4 |
| NMC Production | 4 | |
| NMC Production | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| NMC Production | 4 | |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NMC Production | 4 | |
| NMC Production | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course