Design your professional path with an interactive media degree

This course introduces students to the Franklin University community and provides strategies for successful transition to and participation in that community. Topics include University resources and procedures, strategies for advancing communication skills, the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments, and the development of an academic and career plan.

This course prepares students to be successful lifelong learners both academically and in their chosen careers. Franklin courses require a high level of self-directed learning and focus on skills required in the workplace and the classroom that are easily transferable between the two environments. The course includes strategies for advancing communication skills, including the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments. The assignments and activities in the course are created to closely simulate teamwork found in the workplace.

By using applied critical and creative thinking, students in this course will develop a set of communication skills that will enhance their personal and professional relationships and endeavors. This course will focus on skill development in key areas such as self, perception, listening, verbal messages, conversations, relationships, conflict management, persuasion, and public speaking.

This public-speaking course emphasizes the fundamentals of extemporaneous speaking. Skill-building activities and assignments focus on research, organization, reasoning, style and delivery of presentations as well as listening and audience engagement.

This course focuses on using spreadsheets to solve business applications.

This is an intermediate course focusing on the composition of research papers. Students in this course prepare to be active participants in professional discourse communities by examining and practicing the writing conventions associated with their own fields of study and work. By calling attention to the conventions of disciplinary writing, the course also prepares students for upper-division college writing and the special conventions of advanced academic discourse. Course activities include three extended research papers, semi-formal writing addressing interdisciplinary communication, and readings fostering critical engagement with disciplinary conversations.

The course examines current theories and best practices of working collaboratively in professional contexts. Students apply these concepts to analyze their own work experience, generating strategies for how to improve their performance in work groups. Students will learn basic project management skills and work in online virtual teams to complete a final communication project.

This course covers a broad range of important topics within human computer interaction (HCI) and its implications for the design of interactive systems. By understanding the user?s viewpoint and technology?s effect on people, we can better plan for the selection, design, implementation, and use of technology so that the effects are positive rather than negative. The focus is on the design of interactive systems and human-computer interfaces. The course will cover the current literature and the knowns and unknowns about HCI and design. The design process is centered on the user and is based on a multidisciplinary approach through a synthesis of computer science, cognitive science, and psychology. HCI designers also use analytical and empirical techniques to assess, predict, and evaluate whether a design meets user requirements.

In this course students will apply the fundamentals covered in Fundamentals of Graphic Design (DCOM/GRPH 210). A strong focus is placed on preparing students to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences through graphic design. Students will learn to apply these principles using traditional methods supported by computer technology.

This course explores current trends in digital media design and production. The focus will be on creating media that can be used in interactive media projects, web sites, and social media contexts. The course examines common practices and methods of creating professional quality media using current technologies. Students work individually and in teams to design, develop, and implement digital media for projects.

This upper-level Interactive Media Design course provides practical application and experience in the creation of digitally mediated communication for training and instructional purposes. Students work individually and within teams to produce professional quality media used for interactive training and instruction. The course provides hands-on experience in conducting a training needs analysis, followed by the design of a suitable innovation, and ending with the implementation of a solution. Students use computer software and technology to present text, graphics, video, audio, and animation in an integrated way to produce interactive training and instruction.

This upper-level Interactive Media Design course provides practical application and experience in the creation of digitally mediated communication for entertainment. Students work individually and within design teams, filling the necessary roles to produce professional quality entertainment media. The course provides hands-on experience conducting a needs analysis, followed by the design of a suitable innovation, and ending with the implementation of a solution. Students use computer software and technology to present text, graphics, video, audio, and animation in an integrated environment that produces an interactive and engaging media product.

This upper-level Interactive Media Design course provides practical application and experience in the creation of digitally mediated communication for advertising purposes. The course provides students with the knowledge and experience to design interactive media used in advertising to satisfy marketing objectives. The course provides hands-on experience conducting a needs analysis, followed by the design of a suitable advertising innovation, and ending with the implementation of a solution. Students utilize computer software and technology to present text, graphics, video, audio, and animation in an integrated way to produce interactive marketing materials.

In this course, students create interactive media products for actual clients, thus gaining the most practical experience possible in an education setting. The practicum is organized like an actual design firm with the instructor as the organizational leader and students filling different roles in the organization. Students are placed in design teams based on their experience and talents. Within the teams, they collaborate to design and develop solutions to practical problems that require interactive media solutions. These problems may be training, marketing, or entertainment oriented or a combination of all three. IMD490 and IMD495 make up the final IMD capstone course progression and as such the two courses must be taken in sequential order and in separate terms.

This is the final course in the Interactive Media Design major. Students at this level have completed all of the instructional elements of the curriculum. The capstone prepares students to find employment in the interactive media industry. The course completes the practicum sequence, requiring students to take on management roles in the assigned projects. In addition, students will assemble their portfolios and prepare for final presentations. Finally, they will present their work and receive feedback, preparing them for the interview process. IMD490 and IMD495 make up the final IMD Capstone Course Progression and as such the two courses must be taken in sequential order and in separate terms.