Digital Media Studies 2007/2008
The digital media studies (DMS) program at the University of Denver provides transdisciplinary support for the technically literate critical thinker who wishes to become adept at using digital media within a variety of scholarly, professional and creative contexts.
DMS fosters the work of innovative graduate students interested in using digital methods and forms to explore the many technologies and media that alter every aspect of our existence.
Our faculty members are active artists, scientists and scholars engaging such innovative areas of research and production as digital cinema, performance media, computer games, interactive narrative, Web and network practice, biomedia, and sound art. DMS production courses support instruction in technologies related to these areas. Our critical content includes seminars and lectures that explore the artistic, historical, critical, philosophical, legal, political and cultural dimensions of digital media. Courses delivered by adjunct faculty reflect our ties to various industries,
professionals, and independent artists and researchers. We also support an ongoing series of international visiting artists and scholars.
DMS draws students from many disciplines and backgrounds. We seek students who have a solid track record of independent thinking and creative problem solving. Our students form connections across the arts and sciences as a way to track digital media’s transformation of our tools of expression, our means of cognition and symbol processing, and our modes of social organization.
The program’s core faculty regularly present creative work, perform and participate in conferences on an international scale. We look for students eager to join us as participants within this global community of digital scholarship and artistry.
Participation may take the form of critical and creative publication, networked discussions, conference or festival contributions, performance, ideos, audio works, games, interactive media, locative media projects and more. Our program
supports this agenda by combining a rigorous foundational curriculum with a flexible set of electives and opportunities for directed research and production.
Digital Media Studies
Sturm Hall, Room 216
2000 E. Asbury Ave.
Denver, CO 80208
303-871-7716
dms.du.edu
Application Requirements and Deadlines
| Program | Degrees Offered | Number of Credits | Full Time/Part Time | Tests Required—Min. Scores |
| Digital Media Studies | MA | 48 | FT/PT | TOEFL—120/260/620(IBT/CBT/PBT) GRE—Varies |
Additional Requirements
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Three letters of recommendation
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Essay of Personal Statement
Admission Forms:
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
For complete international applicant information, please visit the Office of International Admission site.
DU offers extensive support for international students seeking to learn English or improve their English language skills. Visit the English Language Center’s Web site for more information.
GRADUATE RECORD EXAM (GRE)
Applicants must request that Educational Testing Services forward results to the University of Denver, Office of Graduate Admission. The institution code for the University of Denver is R4842. For information concerning GRE registration please visit www.gre.org or contact:
Graduate Record Examination
Educational Testing Service
P. O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
609-771-7670
Applicants should take the entrance exam well in advance of their intended application date. Please allow at least 14 business days for your general test scores and six weeks for your subject test scores to be received. Several departments and schools will not process applications until scores have been received. Entrance exam scores older than five years from the date of the application may not be acceptable for
admission. Contact the department for specific requirements.
APPLICATION FEES
A $60 application fee is required. This is a nonrefundable application fee,(bank draft or personal check) drawn on a U.S. bank, that covers the cost of processing application materials. A credit card payment is acceptable for
online applications only. Applications will not be processed until this fee is paid. No waivers or deferrals are allowed.
TRANSCRIPTS
Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from each postsecondary institution they have attended, or are presently attending, where 2 quarter hours (or 1 semester hour) or more, were completed. The University is not responsible for obtaining an applicant’s transcripts, including any record of work completed at the University of Denver. Applicants must also account for any study undertaken outside the United States.
An official transcript must include the original signature of the registrar and/or the seal of the issuing institution, and must be enclosed in an envelope with the stamp or signature of the registrar across the sealed flap. Proof of a bachelor’s, and if applicable, a master’s degree is required from a regionally accredited college or university. Requested transcripts should be mailed to the applicant and submitted to the University of Denver with supplemental admission materials. Please do not request transcripts to be mailed directly to the University of Denver from other institutions.
All credentials submitted become property of the University of Denver and cannot be copied or returned to the student or any person(s).
ESSAY
You should submit a two- to four-page personal statement (approximately 1,000 words). Your statement should explain your motivation for application, personal and professional goals, and your preparation for graduate-level work at the University of Denver.
MAILING ADDRESS
Mail all supplemental admission materials, including official transcripts, in one package to:
University of Denver
Office of Graduate Admission
University Hall, Room 216
2197 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The Digital Media Studies program provides some scholarship hours (based on merit and need), grant money for Colorado residents, and federal work/study awards (need-based). Please complete and return the Application for Graduate Financial Aid.
The University centrally processes all requests for financial aid for entering students. To apply for loans and departmental assistance, you must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For complete instructions, see DU’s Office of Financial Aid. To receive priority consideration, it is important that you complete this process by the application deadline.Contact Information
Digital Media StudiesSturm Hall, Room 216
2000 E. Asbury Ave.
Denver, CO 80208
303-871-7716
dms.du.edu
Master of Arts in Digital Media Studies
The MA degree is intended for students interested in the interplay of critical scholarship, creative expression, technical research and hands-on production in a variety of interconnected media. DMS graduates are prepared to work for many forms of corporations, small businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions as they continue to grapple with developments in digital technologies. Graduates of the program are also prepared for advanced degree work in such fields as cultural and media studies, philosophy, art and art history, science studies, communication, journalism, business, education and more.
CREDIT-HOUR REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of 48 credit hours in DMS and related courses.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All students are required to take one foundation course in the design area, two foundation courses in the technical area and one foundation course in the critical area (for a total of 16 credit hours). Students are required to take one advanced course of their own choosing in the design and critical areas (8 hours) and one research methods course (4 hours). With guidance from the graduate director, students will pursue 16 unrestricted elective hours to build upon their work in DMS either by pursuing additional advanced DMS graduate courses or by examining graduate-level courses in related areas in other departments. In addition, the master’s degree in DMS requires an
MA thesis or project that can vary in credit hours depending on the scope of the project.
The graduate foundations curriculum must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If it is appropriate, and approved by the graduate committee, other graduate courses may be substituted for part of the graduate foundations curriculum.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
DMST 4000 Digital Design Concepts
DMST 4100 Technical Foundations of Digital Media
DMST 4150 Advanced Technical Foundations of Digital Media
DMST 4200 Critical Approaches to Digital Media
DMST 4850 Digital Media Studies Research Methods
DMST 4800 Thesis,1–8 hrs. or DMST 4900 Project, 1–4 hrs.
Course Descriptions
The MA in digital media studies integrates three foundational areas of
study: critical, design and technical. DMS students are required to take
foundation course work in each area, along with advanced courses in each area. Students also take further advanced course work in their particular areas of interest.
DMS CRITICAL COURSES
DMST 3010 Digital Noesis
This course examines the impact of digital media on human cognitive processes.
The seminar also considers the progression from primary orality to
secondary orality and the residue of orality in digital media.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3190 Innovations in Mass Communications
This course examines the historical, current and future relationships between
communication technology and social formation. Starting with examinations
of preliterate societies and early writing systems, the course traces the development of communication technology and its relationship to social change. The course uses this critical historical understanding to inform assessments and speculations about current and near-future relationships between digital media and society.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3200 Telecommunication and Internet Law
This course examines past, current and evolving legal policy and regulatory issues affecting telecommunications, telecommunications-related industries, and the Internet. Laws and policies effecting multichannel television, wireline and wireless telephone companies, and the Internet will be examined in depth. Focus is placed on the role of public policy in light of a rapidly changing information environment, critical evaluation and understanding of the rationale behind policy and regulatory activity, and the exploration of the various complex problems arising from the evolving information environment and its products.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3300 Telecommunication and Internet Technology
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3700 New Media Law and Regulation
This course examines current conflicts in mass communications law. While particular emphasis is given to the legal problems of broadcasting, cable and the new communications technologies, other topics may include libel, privacy, obscenity, newsgathering, copyright, media ownership and advertising regulation. Students in the class will “design” the syllabus to focus on those issues and controversies of particular interest to them. The primary purpose of the course is to give students an understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities of the mass media and those who work in the media. It should also provide insight into how the legal process works and an understanding of the principles and philosophies that underlie the restraints on and privileges of the media.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3900 Special Topics
This course includes various special topics in critical studies offered throughout the year. Recent topics have included Advanced Critical Approaches; Designing Digital Learning; and the Heidegger Seminar.
DMST 4200 Critical Approaches to Digital Media
This course introduces graduate students to the growing body of theoretical discourse defining the field of digital media studies. The class will establish some of the major historical, cultural, sociopolitical, philosophical and other critical trends shaping this emerging field. We’ll conduct discussions both within the traditional classroom setting and in various networked formats. Class assignments will utilize digital writing, publishing and communication media, including word processing software, HTML, asynchronous discussion formats and blogs.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4503 Seminar in Internet Communication
This course involves students in the planning, development and evaluation of Internet-based communication plans, paying particular attention to advanced Web site concept development, Web-based promotion and various tools of Internet communication (including e-mail, chat, discussion groups, instant messaging, IP telephony, streaming audio/video and more).
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4901 Computing and Society
This course explores the social implications of technical practices. While many examples are drawn from the area of computing practice, organization and social experience, other issues are illustrated with examples from the history of technology, science and philosophy.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMS DESIGN COURSES
DMST 3315 Designing Social Awareness
This course produces multimedia team projects for local nonprofit organizations. It engages issues of social responsibility in design.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3325 Site-Specific Design
This course produces projects investigating three-dimensional space, virtual space and site-specific public installations.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3355 Interactive Art and Design
This course introduces and extends the concepts, aesthetics and techniques critical to the exploration and authoring of interactive art and design works. It explores human computer interactions; user/audience interface design and development; interactive logic; author-audience dialogue; metadata/multimedia asset acquisition and authoring environments; motion graphics/animation composition, development and integration; audio editing/incorporation/reinforcement and interactive scripting techniques. Emphasis is on the spectrum of realized and developing interactive media deployment and distribution ranging from screen media to environments. Technology includes Flash MX and related digital imaging and audio acquisition software.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3375 Advanced Design
This course engages contemporary issues in culture, theory and design. Projects utilize interactive multimedia.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4000 Digital Design Concepts
This course is a graduate-level/introductory design course on steroids! It bridges the gap between those who claim they’re unable to render a straight line and those who proclaim art stardom. It is a rigorous investigation into transcending principles of design, issues of visual communication, popular culture and critical theory. The ever-present goal is the ability to communicate clear ideas through the use of images—establishing not just aesthetic presentations but ones that are also based on intent and concept. Creativity and critical approaches are the main principles guiding all that this course presents. By the end of the course, the goal is for all of the students to be aware of how images communicate, how people read visuals, and how to construct visuals in a critical and aesthetic way.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4335 Identity and Branding
This course focuses on the theories and practice involved in creating identities through the use of visual structures to understand how signs, symbols and design elements can represent character.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4345 Typography
This course is a rigorous investigation of the expressive potential of typography as a critical element of visual communications and electronic media.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4355 Net Art and Design
This course grounds conceptual framework on net art and includes an understanding of the psychological, social and cultural contexts of net art history, net access and distribution, net culture, network-driven collaboration and community building, hypertext and rich media narrativity, visual semiotics, identity, content delivery architectures and venue development. Aesthetic and technical reinforcement of this conceptual base will explore network architectures; user/audience interface/navigation design, development and experimentation; metadata/multimedia content utilization; enhanced interactivity; online collaborations; and venue development and redefinition. Technology used includes Dreamweaver MX and related digital imaging and embedded multimedia authoring software.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4365 Digital Video Art
This course continues the investigation of theories and practice of electronic media, especially in areas of animation and interactivity.
5 qtr. hrs.
DMS TECHNICAL COURSES
DMST 3211 Introduction to Interactive Media
This course involves the basics of collecting, digitizing and manipulating sound and video/still images while engaging in a theoretical exploration of the developing field of interactive media. Students produce a final project that involves scripting, integrating and constructing one larger interactive piece using elements already prepared in the smaller projects.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3215 Introduction to Field Production and Editing
This course in video production focuses on the techniques and aesthetics of editing through the use of state-of-the-art, computer-based, nonlinear technologies. Students apply both the Classic Hollywood Continuity Style and Alternative Editing Styles to different projects for this class. Additionally, students learn the basics of single-camera, film-style field production.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3230 Multimedia Authoring Tools
This course examines advanced approaches to multimedia authoring, including animation, interactive scripting, application integration, platform compatibility and Internet delivery.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3501 Web Building and Site Management
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of Web site development and management, including HTML, DHTML, graphical Webbuilding tools (Macromedia Dream Weaver and others), multilevel site planning and construction, navigation schemes, basic interactivity (via JavaScript and CGI), information organization, Web site management and the delivery of basic multimedia content.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3502 Advanced Web Building and Site Management
This course includes different sections that address various aspects of advanced Web development including Cold Fusion MX application development, Flash MX, ActionScripting, Javascript, DHTML, Web animation, streaming content, and more.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3510 Web Application Development
This course focuses on Cold Fusion MX application development.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3550 Digital Audio Production
This course introduces the tools and techniques of digital audio production, including sampling and synthesis; sound editing and effects processing; multitrack recording; audio sequencing and mastering; and distribution.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3560 Advanced Digital Audio Production
This course applies the tools and strategies of digital audio production to interactive projects and live performances. Students will have the opportunity to build digital audio installations for the Web, Internet, or gallery. This course combines a solo project for the Web, gallery or live performance, with additional production taking place in a networked collaborative environment. While the emphasis of the class is on production, the class explores and discusses recent trends in the field of digital audio from both technological and creative perspectives.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3600 Introduction to 3-D Modeling and Animation
This course surveys techniques for modeling, lighting, materials and animation in virtual environments. This class provides intensive software instruction. This introduction allows the other classes to concentrate upon the performances rather than the software.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3630 Advanced 3-D Character Animation
This course explores the principles of character animation. Progressive projects are focused on particular subsets of these principles. Also included are character modeling and rigging.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3650 Advanced 3-D Modeling and Animation
This course concentrates on the preproduction and production of a short animated film by a small group of two or three students. Included is conceptual development, narrative creation, art direction, basic cinematography, beginning special effects, as well as increased attention on animation.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 3900 Special Topics
This course includes various special topics in technical production offered throughout the year. Recent topics have included Digital Cinema, Multimedia Systems, World Wide Web Programming, Streaming Media.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4100 Technical Foundations of Digital Media
This course provides the fundamental concepts of digital systems. The courses provide an overview of digital computing hardware and covers basic principles in primary areas covered in the DMS technical classes: video, audio, animation, programming and Web. Discussions of relevant issues and building of bridges with the design foundation class also occurs, including networks and interactivity. Concurrent to these areas we have a complete CSS/XHTML Web building class. While introducing particular software requirements, this portion of the course facilitates ways into thinking about standards and open source, accessibility and other areas surrounding Web development. By its end, the course provides a sound basic creation literacy in digital media.
4 qtr. hrs.
DMST 4150 Technical Foundations of Digital Media II
This course introduces time-based media and interactivity through Flash. Basic animation principles as well as interface design are addressed. As the course moves forward, it becomes a foundation-level object-oriented programming class taught for students with a liberal arts background. The class introduces programming fundamentals and the particular problem-solving methods associated with object-oriented programming. This course builds further media literacies and teaches iterative design approaches.
4 qtr. hrs.
Faculty
Rafael Fajardo
associate professor and director
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design
James LaVita
professor
PhD, New York University
PhD, University of Texas, Austin
Research interests: dance ethnology and dance history; folklore; performance, aesthetics and expressive culture; technology, computing and culture
Scott Leutenegger
professor
PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Trace Reddell
assistant professor
PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder
Research interests: digital cinema; performance media; sound and netradio. art; cybernetic biofeedback; situationist practice; drug and media ecologies; spatiality; cosmology; speculative astrobiology; ambient imagination design; dreamware; hypnomedia; technoshamanism
Timothy Weaver
assistant professor
MFA, University of Colorado, Boulder
Research interests: biomedia; biomimetics; cybertherapy; emerging forms of interactivity and narrativity; immersive environments