Spring 2025 Courses
Storrs Spring 2025 DMD Student Advising Guidelines
DMD students - Below is information regarding the following:
- Variable topics and other special courses to be offered in Spring 2025.
- Courses that require a PERMISSION NUMBER.
The descriptions of all DMD courses can be found in the UConn Course Catalog.
To request permission numbers, please complete the form. It is best to complete this WITH YOUR ADVISOR during your advising session. Use THIS form: PERMISSION NUMBER FORM
- Any questions regarding requests should be directed to Rossy.Pichardo@uconn.edu
Variable Topics / Specialized courses:
For all concentrations:
DMD 3998.001 / 5998.010 Diverse Perspectives in Digital Media and Design
Tu 5:00pm - 7:45pm, STORRS - In Person, taught by Catherine Masud
*** PERMISSION NUMBER REQUIRED; Counts for Art History/Theory requirement.
Prerequisites: Juniors, Seniors, Graduate students (students who have completed their foundation and 2000-level intro courses) are encouraged to enroll.
To paraphrase James Baldwin, nothing can be changed until it is faced. This is certainly true of the inequities that have historically shaped digital media technologies, content, fields, and careers. This class interrogates how racism, sexism, classism, ageism, and other forms of oppression are perpetuated through digital media works, practices, and industries. We will, as the chief learning activity of this class, meet and talk with contemporary practitioners who are challenging and changing the status quo. For six of our class sessions, we will meet virtually and sometimes in-person with industry professionals, artists, and media scholars from film, game, design, cultural and other sectors so that we can learn how issues of equity manifest in their work, creative processes, and professions. Because these practitioners are also part of DMD’s Diverse Perspectives in Digital Media & Design: 2024 Speaker Series, students will also have the opportunity to participate as hosts in the series, learn how to professionalize their on-camera presence, and gain skill in preparing and moderating live Q&A sessions. Interactions with our guests will be supplemented by readings, in-class film screenings, and engagements with other media works. Over the course of the semester, we will reflect on how our own areas of practice can support greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in digital media and design.
[To see what we do, you can access the past installments of the Diverse Perspectives in Digital Media & Design series here: https://dmd.uconn.edu/major/diverse-perspectives/ ]
Art/Design History/Theory course options:
DMD 3998.001 / 5998.010 Diverse Perspectives in Digital Media and Design
Tu 12:30pm - 3:15pm, STORRS - In Person, taught by Catherine Masud
(See description above)
Motion Design & Animation courses:
DMD 3030.001 Narrative Workshop
Tu/Thu 9:30AM - 12:00PM - In Person, taught by Heejoo Kim
Prerequisites: DMD 2200 and 2210; open to Digital Media and Design majors, others with instructor consent.
This course is designed to guide students complete the preproduction phase of their creative projects, whether they are working on animation, motion media, films/videos, interactive UI/UX design, graphic novels, or emerging media projects such as those incorporating AI, AR, or VR. By engaging in a collaborative learning environment, students will explore and refine their ideas through brainstorming sessions, open discussions, peer critiques, and in-depth analysis of their concepts.
Throughout the course, students will work toward developing preproduction elements, tailored to their chosen medium. This includes creating a solid foundation for their projects by establishing the initial inspiration, fleshing out ideas, and writing a comprehensive synopsis and/or script. They'll also work on character development and producing visual assets such as styleframes or stylescapes. For narrative-based projects, students will create detailed storyboards and animatics to map out the flow of their work. In addition to technical and creative development, this course fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and the ability to analyze and improve one’s work based on feedback—all essential skills for their professional careers in the creative industry.
This class will be particularly crucial for Junior BFA students, as it serves as a steppingstone to their Senior Project. By the end of the course, students will have a well-developed preproduction package, equipping them with a clear vision and direction for the production phase of their Senior Project.
Film/Video courses:
DMD 3641 / 5998.003 // HRTS 3540/5351 Human Rights Archives II: Visual Storytelling Practices
Fri 12:20 - 3:20pm, STORRS - taught by Catherine Masud
Prerequisites: DMD 2200 or 2210. Open to Digital Media and Design majors and Human Rights majors/minors, with instructor consent.
Students will study different approaches and techniques of documentary storytelling using oral history interviews and primary archival materials, focusing on a community that bears the multi-generational scars of genocide and displacement. Students will work collaboratively on a documentary project and also develop their own individual creative projects on a human rights-related theme, using primary archival sources (personal and/or institutional) to enable them to reflect on the importance of history, witnessing, and memory in human rights film practice.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT: catherine.masud@uconn.edu
DMD 3998.004 / 5998.004 Auteur Study
Tue 9:30am-12pm, STORRS Thurs 10:30am-12:00pm In-person, Taught by Justin Liberman
*** PERMISSION NUMBER REQUIRED
Prerequisites: DMD 2810; open to Digital and Media Design Majors, others with instructor consent.
This course sits at the cross section of film theory and production and will consist of both film screenings and production studio work. Students will be asked to consider cinema and film production through an analytical lens, by watching films from auteur filmmakers and creating work that is both referential to and builds upon the theories and practices we cover in class. This course will help strengthen film student’s command of production by considering the theory and history of cinema, helping them become more well-rounded filmmakers. Questions? Email: Liberman@uconn.edu
DMD 3998.003/5998.001 Advanced Documentary
Tue/Thu 3:30-6:00p , STORRS in person, Taught by Heather Cassano
*** PERMISSION NUMBER REQUIRED
Prerequisites: DMD 3820; open only to Digital Media and Design majors, others with instructor consent.
Building on the theory and documentary techniques learned in DMD 3820, this course will introduce students to advanced documentary production techniques including multi-camera interview production, recreations and reenactments, story development and structure, pitching and fundraising, and other advanced directing skills. Over the course of the semester students will create a short documentary film (under 25 minutes), beginning in the pitching and ideation stage and culminating in a festival-ready polished film. This course will also cover film festival strategy and distribution, and making a career as a documentary filmmaker. Questions about the course? Email: heather.cassano@uconn.edu
DMD 4835.001/5835 Narrative Short Film Production
Mon/Wed 12:20 - 2:50PM, STORRS In-person, Taught by Justin Liberman
Prerequisites: DMD 2810 and 3830; open only to Digital Media and Design majors, others with instructor consent.
Catalog Description: Production of narrative short films, delineating the role of the director, from script breakdown through post-production, with emphasis on directing actors and other methodologies necessary to realize the dramatic possibilities of a cinematic story. Students create several shorts and analyze the works of master directors.
Course Content: This course offers an in-depth exploration of narrative short filmmaking that takes students through different stages of production as they direct their own projects and practice working in various crew positions during in-class workshops. Students will have an opportunity to bring a 10-15 pg screenplay to life, shooting, editing and polishing a short film that is ready for festival submission. The class focuses on the essential elements of directing that include building a visual language, casting & directing actors, and collaborating with cinematographers. Guest lecturers include industry cinematographers, award-winning directors, and professional actors. This course is a MUST HAVE for any film student wanting to complete a short film from start to finish and understand and experience the crew roles and professional etiquette required on-set. Questions? Email: Liberman@uconn.edu
Web / Interactive Media Design courses:
DMD 4536 Disruptive Technologies
Mon/Wed 2:30 - 5:00pm in-person, STORRS Taught by ZhenZhen Qi
*** PERMISSION NUMBER REQUIRED
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students
Exploration of emerging interactive technologies, creating rapid fire prototypes utilizing experimental hardware and software. These skills enable students to develop interactive installations and unique gameplay scenarios. More specifically, for spring 2025, students will be guided through weekly explorations of software environments such as Blippar(AR), Vuforia(AR), Unity VR, and OpenAI API(AI), in conjunction with hardware such as Oculus Rift, personal handheld devices such as smartphones and iPads. Students will also complete a final project in their chosen area.
Digital Media Business Strategies courses:
DMD 3998.002 / 5998.002 AI in Marketing Communications
Tue/Thu 3:30 – 4:45p, STORRS – In person, Taught by Miao Guo
*** PERMISSION NUMBER REQUIRED
Prerequisites: Juniors and Seniors; open to Digital and Media Design Majors, others with instructor consent.
This hands-on course introduces students to key AI tools and programs that enhance various aspects of marketing communication, including writing, research, presentation, design, multimedia, and promotional projects. Students will develop AI strategies and best practices to elevate their communication work today. The course is designed to teach students how to leverage AI to improve the clarity, style, and impact of their writing, energize their research practices, craft image-rich presentations, and design marketing materials for effective promotional campaigns. Additionally, the course will explore foundational principles of writing, communication, and marketing to ensure purposeful and effective use of AI tools.
List of STORRS courses that require permission numbers and their requirements:
DMD 3998.001/5998.010 Diverse Perspectives in Digital Media - Tu 5:00pm - 7:45pm
- Requirements: Juniors, Seniors, Graduate students (must have completed first year and 2000-level intro courses)
DMD 3998.002 / 5998.002 AI in Marketing Communications - Tue/Thu 3:30 – 4:45p – In person
- Requirements: Juniors and Seniors; Open to Digital Media Design majors, others with instructor consent.
DMD 3998.003/5998.001 Advanced Documentary - Tue/Thu 3:30-6:00p In person
- Requirements: DMD 3820; open only to Digital Media and Design majors, others with instructor consent.
DMD 3998.004 Auteur Study - Tues: 9:30am-12pm Thurs: 10:30am-12:00pm In-person,
- Requirements: DMD 2810; open to Digital and Media Design Majors
DMD 4040 Agency - T/Th 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
- Requirements: Senior in last two semesters prior to graduation
DMD 4075 Senior Project - M/W 9:05 - 11:35 am
- Requirements: BFA student enrolled in DMD 4075 Senior Project in Fall 24 or graduating in December 2025
DMD 4536 Disruptive Technologies- M/W 2:30-5:00pm
- Open to Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students
View courses for Cross Campus