Interactive Media is relatively new field and expanding with the advent of new technologies. Today, it can include web design and development, game design, sound design, and robotic arts. Interactive Media programs that stress the latter often augment their digital/software/hardware curriculum with fabrication courses so that students can bring their three-dimensional aspirations to fruition. Whereas programs that are more virtually-oriented will stress education in communication theory and...
Interdisciplinary majors often afford students the opportunity to construct and pursue a personalized program of study, often across department lines. In other cases, a college may offer a specific course of study that is inherently interdisciplinary but not necessarily personalized.
Interior design and interior architecture touch on virtually every aspect of the shape, color, and usefulness of interior spaces. Although often thought of as limited to residential design, in fact much of the field is involved with commercial design for offices, stores and institutions. This design work requires knowledge of lighting, furniture, manufacturing and materials, regulations such as the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), computer aided design (CAD), and specialized client needs....
Landscape Architecture is the process of designing and creating the three-dimensional spaces between buildings and in the natural environment. The work involves a combination of creativity, spatial ability, drawing skill, and knowledge of construction methods, cultural geography, ecology, history, materials, plants, structures, and technology. Students of Landscape Architecture programs learn how to thoughtfully address and investigate the relationship between aesthetic, cultural and ecological...
Lighting Design is an aspect of environment design and/or set design, which includes and can focus on the study of the physiological and psychological effects of lighting design, sustainable practices, civic responsibility, and of course, the aesthetic design of lighting itself.
This is a broad, new, evolving area incorporating combinations of electronics, interactive media, programming, sound art, three-dimensional modeling and video. As a field with somewhat blurred boundaries, it has some basis in the fine arts but mainly makes use of design skills and computers. Communication is usually at the center of this work, so students are aided by a knowledge of graphic design and visual theory, as well as computer software. Graduates of Media Art and Design programs are...
Medical Illustration is a highly specialized area, only offered by a handful of colleges, which prepares students with the drawing and painting skills needed to work in service to the medical professions.
Light metals and jewelry offer many possibilities for working and creating in a variety of materials and processes, but usually with a foundation of solid working knowledge of nonferrous metals and metalsmithing. Some people concentrate on making unique objects for a single customer. Others move into larger-scale designs for a wider market, such as mass-produced jewelry or table settings. The work settings parallel this format, ranging from single-artist studios to larger companies. But in all...
College music programs span a wide range, so it is important to understand what kind of instruction and what type of music you are interested in pursuing. Most programs include private instruction, multiple performance opportunities in both large and small ensembles, as well as a solid foundation in theory, musicianship, history, music and recording technology, and music business.
