Fall 2024 Courses

Fall 2024 Courses

Fall 2024 DMD Student Advising Guidelines

DMD students - Below is the list of the following: 

  1. Descriptions of variable topics and new courses to be offered in Fall 2024.
  2. Courses that are available to students on both campuses, either via distance learning or by being taught in our Telepresence Classrooms cross-campus (136 Bishop / 3.12 Stamford). Just be aware of the policies regarding home campus and student fees (the majority of your credits must be taken on your home campus).
  3. 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 # Request Form 

    There are also a few courses or sections of courses (2200, 2210, 3230, 4810) that have a StudentAdmin built in “reserve cap” for specific degree plans/ concentrations-- you can see this in the dynamic class search. Example: you will only be able to register yourself for 3230/4810 in Storrs if you are a BFA Film student.) For students who do not meet the requirements of the reserve cap but are interested in the class, you can email Rossy Pichardo to ask that she add you to our internal waitlist. We will only utilize the waitlist if the classes do not fill with the intended concentration. 

    Any questions regarding permission number or waitlist requests should be directed to Rossy.Pichardo@uconn.edu

     

    ADVISING NOTES: 

    ALL SENIORS: You must take DMD 4040 Agency sometime in your senior year. It is offered both semesters, although more seats are available in the fall semester than spring. Therefore it is highly encouraged that you take DMD 4040 in the fall semester. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE DMD 4045 Digital Content Design Studio (AgencyX) as a substitute (see description below).

     

    ALL SENIOR BFA STUDENTS: You are required to take two capstone courses: 

    1. DMD 4025 Portfolio and Professional Development: Putting It All Together and
    2. DMD 4075 Senior Project. You will need 4075 twice in two consecutive semesters (fall/spring) in order to graduate.
       

      ALL SOPHOMORE BFA FILM STUDENTS: You MUST enroll in TWO Fall courses in your 3rd semester (after you have completed DMD 1001, 1002, 1101, and 1102): 

      1. DMD 2210 Film & Video Editing 1
      2. DMD 3230 Cinematic Storytelling 

      **NOTE Storrs: there are three sections of 2210 offered in Storrs this fall. Section 2210.003 M/W 3:35-6:05 pm is reserved for BFA FILM MAJORS ONLY.

       

      SOPHOMORE BFA Motion Design STUDENTS: You should enroll in TWO Fall courses in your 3rd semester (after you have completed DMD 1001, 1002, 1101, 1102): 

      1. DMD 2200 Motion Design & Animation 1* (REQUIRED fall soph year) 
      1. DMD 2210 Film & Video Editing 1* (as seats are available, or can take in junior year) 

      **NOTE Storrs: there are three sections of 2200 being taught in Storrs this fall. 2200.001 M/W 9:05-11:35am in Storrs is reserved for BFA MOTION STUDENTS ONLY.

       

      BFA GAME DESIGN STUDENTS: DMD 3520 Virtual World and Simulations will be offered in the fall. If you would like to take it, email meredith.friedman@uconn.edu for a permission number (this course is not on the permission request form). She will provide you a number up until the class is filled if you have already taken or will be concurrently taking DMD 2310 3D Modeling I.

      ALL BFA STORRS STUDENTS (ART courses): There will be a reserve cap of 5 seats for DMD BFA students for ART 1030 Drawing 1 and the basic studio classes. Enroll quickly, as they will fill fast. (You do not need to reach out to professors for a permission number unless all five DMD reserved seats have been filled.)

       

      ALL BFA STAMFORD STUDENTS (ART courses):  To request your required ART courses (ART 1030 Drawing 1 + an additional course), please email Haley at - haley.bueschlen@uconn.edu    

       

      ALL B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) STUDENTS: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Due to the accreditation requirements of NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art & Design), as a liberal arts degree the B.A. has a limitation of 30-45% of credits in art and design of the total curriculum. Therefore the B.A. in Digital Media Design plan of study is 45 credits (38%). Students earning the Bachelor of Arts are limited in the quantity of DMD courses that they can take. Please speak with your faculty advisor about possible minors and/or double majors that could fill the remainder of your 120 credits. 

      Interested in pursuing a Summer 2024 or Fall 2024  internship for credit?

      DMD Internship Coordinator, professor Phil Dwire, will be holding two, 30-minute, online information sessions for DMD students looking to potentially enroll in Summer/Fall 2024 internships on Monday, March 25th at 6pm and Thursday, March 28th at Noon. If students have not completed a DMD 4081 internship for credit in the past, they must attend one of these two sessions in order to pursue an internship. Registration links to follow.

       

      DIGITAL PUBLIC HISTORY MINOR!

      RISING SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS in STORRS: Fascinated by the diverse stories, people, and places of the past?  Interested in applying your digital media talent to projects that engage, educate, and empower communities? Consider our new Digital Public History minor! Combining DMD and History courses, this minor provides experiential learning opportunities in the classroom as well as external internships with museums, archives, and other cultural organizations. Visit our website and email any questions you have to Professor Ceglio (Clarissa.Ceglio@uconn.edu)

      https://digitalpublichistory.programs.uconn.edu/ and https://digitalpublichistory.programs.uconn.edu/who-we-are-2/

      Variable Topics / New course Detailed Descriptions: 

      STORRS CAMPUS:

      ALL MAJORS:

      DMD 3610 / 5998.010 / HIST 3103 Collaborating with Cultural Organizations I:  Methods** 
      STORRS In Person, (M/W 3:35 - 4:50pm), taught by Dr. Ceglio 

      Museums, archives, and other nonprofit cultural organizations are mission-driven institutions with complex, sometimes fraught, histories. Today, many such organizations seek to explore new ways to communicate ideas, make collections accessible, inspire learning, connect people, and build community. In addition to learning about the histories, structures, and functions of mission-driven cultural organizations, we will explore methods of collaborating meaningfully and effectively with them and their communities. This will include consideration of the ways in which digital media, from apps to virtual reality (VR) to hashtags, are being used to critically engage publics in questions about the past, present, and future. We will explore, too, the place of digital public history within contemporary debates about cultural organizations’ histories and responsibilities with regard to social justice, activism, and inclusivity.  

      Learning Objectives  

      • Gain understanding of cultural institutions as mission-driven service institutions  
      • Explore principles and methods of community-focused collaboration   
      • Build competency in Omeka, an open-source software for building online collections and exhibits   
      • Conduct research on the past, present, and future prospects of a topic relevant to the concerns of contemporary cultural organizations and express that research as an online exhibition 
      • Acquire familiarity with basic approaches to background research, project planning, and strategic foresight methods 

      NOTE: Upper-level BA students who have hit (or who are approaching) the maximum allowed number of 45 total DMD course credits may register for this class using HIST 3103.
      NOTE: Required for all Digital Culture majors and Digital Public History minors (https://digitalpublichistory.programs.uconn.edu/ ) and serves as recommended preparation for Spring 2025 DMD 3620 Collaborating with Cultural Organizations II: Practice 

       

      DMD 3640 / 5998.006 / HRTS 3640 
      Human Rights Archives I: Documenting & Curating Community Memory 
      STORRS In Person,  (Fri 12:20 - 3:20pm), taught by Professor Masud 
      Prerequisites: Open to Digital Media Design majors and Human Rights majors or minors only; open to juniors or higher; instructor consent required. Recommended preparation: DMD 2200, 2210, or HRTS 3149W. 

      This is the first part of a two-semester practice-based unit. Designed to introduce students to the use of human rights archival materials in documentary storytelling, Human Rights Archives Part I will focus on methods and best practices of collecting and managing digital image and audio-visual archival assets. Students will engage with existing human rights-related archival collections, both private and institutional, to develop an appreciation of the “living” archive and its importance both as a repository of witnessing and memory and as a vehicle for the continuous retelling of history in the present moment. A series of relevant readings, films, and response assignments will help to provide context and connections. Later in the semester, students will apply what they’ve learned about human rights archives, digital asset management, and storytelling by documenting and digitizing the family stories and artifacts of an immigrant community that bears the multi-generational scars of genocide and displacement. The assets collected through this collaborative community-centered project will form the basis of an important new collection that students will be involved in processing, organizing, and cataloging. This collection will be a primary resource for the visual storytelling work in the second course of the unit. Part I, however, is not considered a prerequisite for Part II. 

      DMD 3998.006 / NRE 4695 Environmental Storytelling** 
      STORRS In Person, (Fri 10:10a -1:10p), taught by Professor Lindemann 
      (Co-taught with Professor Laura Cisneros from Natural Resources & the Environment)  
      Prerequisites:  sophomore or higher and instructor consent. 
      Recommended Preparation: At least one of the following courses: DMD 1070 Intro to Web Design, DMD 2200 Motion Design & Animation 1, OR DMD 2210 Film & Video Editing 1
      **Fulfills concentration elective credit for BFA Digital Film/Video Production, BFA Motion Design & Animation, and BA in Digital Media Design (Generalist), and other concentrations with advisor approval.  

        Students in this course will experience a unique approach to environmental action! Framed in culturally-sustaining strategies and focusing on environmental issues relevant to Connecticut communities, this course introduces students to participatory environmental storytelling using film, animation, digital media and geospatial technology. Throughout the semester, students will develop skills in research and data collection, effective visual storytelling, video, animation, and online mapping. Students will participate in workshops for high school student-teacher teams in the Eco-Digital Storytellers (EDS) program and collaborate on a team project that assesses environmental assets and concerns, explores possible solutions, and uses multimedia storytelling to envision an environmental future. Students enrolled in this course are eligible to apply for 5-month paid environmental education internship positions as EDS mentors during the Spring ‘25 semester. EDS is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. 

      For more information and to see a syllabus: https://nrca.uconn.edu/eds/#course   

       **PERMISSION # REQUIRED!!
       

      DMD 4045 Digital Content Design, Creation, and Distribution Studio - AgencyX** 
      Hybrid STORRS / STAMFORD, (Wed/Fri 10:10 - 12:10pm), taught by Professor Dwire
      Professor Dwire will be in-person in Stamford on Wednesdays and in-person in Storrs on Fridays each week. 
      Prerequisites: open only to junior/senior Digital Media and Design majors (priority to seniors that have had 4040 Agency), instructor consent required. 

      Do you LOVE DMD? Want to help share your passion for DMD with the world? Then join AgencyX, DMD’s student marketing team. Work with a cross-disciplinary team to develop, design, and execute an integrated marketing campaign for the Digital Media and Design Department’s Fall 2024 undergraduate recruitment efforts. Learn how to build and manage digital advertising campaigns using Meta for Business, Google Ads, Blip Billboards (Digital Outside-of-Home, OOH) and other digital ad solutions. If you are interested, email Professor Dwire at phil.dwire@uconn.edu.  

      **PERMISSION # REQUIRED!! This course can also substitute for DMD 4040 Agency.
       

      Animation courses: 

      DMD 3320 / 5998 Storyboarding & Visual Development **
      STORRS In Person, (T/TH 3:30-6:00 pm), taught by Professor Recchia  
      Prerequisites: DMD 2210, 2200, 2300, 2500; DMD 2700 or DMD 1070; open to Digital Media and Design majors, others by instructor consent. NOT OPEN to students who took this course as DMD 3998 in a prior semester. 

      Visual development, storyboards, and sequential imaging are the primary methods to communicate in animation, film, gaming, industrial design, and advertising. Drawing is the foundation of visual development. The ability to draw, as an artist/designer, enables you to rapidly visualize, communicate, and contribute to a narrative and is the fastest and most economical way to do so. Many directors rely on storyboard artists and look for them to contribute to the narrative.  In fact, animation storyboard artists are integral members of the story department and are expected to provide valuable insight to the rest of the team. 

      Storyboarding and Visual Development is designed to teach and encourage our DMD students to: 1) perform research, drawing upon the knowledge and skills gained as a DMD artist; 2) interpret a story, using any number of methods, traditional, digital or practical, in order to contribute their artistic sensibilities to enhance the creative vision of the writer, director or production designer. 

      By providing these experience and tasks enables students to develop their presentation skill sets such as developing a visual and verbal concept, aided by verbal direction, all built on research and collaboration 

       

      DMD 3998.001/5998: Advanced 3D Animation/ Motion Design 
      ONLINE SYCHRONOUS, (Tu/Th 6:30pm - 9:00pm), taught by Sung in Sohn 
      Prerequisites: DMD 2200 (After Effects) AND prior experience in Cinema 4D with one more of these courses: DMD 2230 3D Motion 1, DMD 2300 3D Animation 1, DMD 2310 3D Modeling 1 

      Advanced 3D Animation/Motion Design is a comprehensive course that investigates deeply into various aspects of the VFX, animation, and motion media industry. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to refine and elevate their technical abilities in both 2D and 3D animation, as well as motion design and vfx techniques. The primary objective is to equip students with the necessary skills to produce high-quality work that is not only creatively compelling but also commercially viable, making it suitable for inclusion in professional portfolios and demo reels. 

      This course places a strong emphasis on cultivating skills that are directly applicable to the current demands and trends within the motion design and animation industry. This ensures that students are well-prepared to meet the expectations of employers and clients upon graduation. Through a combination of structured lessons, practical exercises, and hands-on projects, students will gain invaluable experience and expertise in utilizing industry-standard software and techniques.

       

      List of CROSS-CAMPUS courses:

      DMD 3440 Intro to Mobile App Development, T/Th 5:00 - 6:15pm  

      • Requirements: DMD 1060 and 1070; open only to Digital Media and Design majors, others with instructor consent. 

      DMD 4045 Digital Content Design Studio - AgencyX, Wed/Fri 10:10am-12:10pm

      • Professor in person one day per week each campus 
      • Prerequisites: open only to junior/senior Digital Media and Design majors (priority to seniors who have had DMD 4040 Agency), instructor consent required. 

      List of courses that require permission numbers and their prerequisites:

       

      STORRS STUDENTS ONLY: 

      DMD 3010W.001 Critical Perspectives Digital Media, M/W 10:10 - 11:25am 

      • Prerequisites: ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 or 2011.
      • Priority:  DMD 2010 + Junior/Senior in DMD program 

      DMD 3230.001/ 3230.001L Cinematic Storytelling, (Required for BFA Film majors), Mon 12:20-1:35pm (lecture)/ Wed 12:20-2:50pm (lab)

      • Prerequisites:  DMD 1002 and 1102; 
      • Priority: BFA Film majors
      • You must sign up for both the lecture and lab sections

      DMD 3998.006 Environmental Storytelling, Fri 10:10 - 1:10 pm  

      • Prerequisites:  sophomore or higher and instructor consent.  
      • Recommended Preparation: At least one of the following courses: DMD 1070 Intro to Web Design, DMD 2200 Motion Design & Animation 1, OR DMD 2210 Film & Video Editing 1

      DMD 4025 Portfolio and Professional Development, T/Th 12:30-2:30pm OR T/Th 2-4pm

      • Prerequisites:   BFA SENIORS ONLY; BFA student enrolled in DMD 4075 Senior Project in Fall 24 and graduating in Fall 2024 or May 2025

      DMD 4040 Agency, M/W 9:05 - 11:05am 

      • Prerequisites:   Senior in last two semesters prior to graduation 

      DMD 4045.001 – Digital Content Design Studio - AgencyX, Wed/Fri 10:10am - 12:10pm

      • Prerequisites: open only to junior/senior Digital Media and Design majors (priority to seniors who have had DMD 4040 Agency), instructor consent required. Recommended preparation: DMD 2710, 3035, 3200 and 3300.

      DMD 4075 Senior Project (Open to BFA Seniors ONLY), M/W 12:20p - 2:20p  

      • Prerequisites:   Senior B.F.A Digital Media and Design majors only. To be taken twice in two consecutive semesters in the student's senior year. 

       

      STAMFORD STUDENTS ONLY: 

      DMD 3998.802 Creative Leadership for Digital Media, Wed only 3:35p - 6:05p  

      • Prerequisites: BA in DMD (generalist) OR Digital Media Business Strategies (BA) Juniors or Seniors only; open to Digital Media and Design majors, others by instructor consent.   

      DMD 4040.801 Agency, T/Th 2:00-4:00pm 

      • Prerequisites:  Senior in last two semesters prior to graduation 

      DMD 4045.801 – Digital Content Design Studio - AgencyX (Open to Seniors), In-person Wed/Fri 10:10am - 12:10pm

      • Prerequisites: open only to junior/senior Digital Media and Design majors (priority to seniors who have had DMD 4040 Agency), instructor consent required. Recommended preparation: DMD 2710, 3035, 3200 and 3300.

      DMD 4075.801 Senior Project (Open to BFA Seniors ONLY), M/W 12:20p - 2:20p 

      • Prerequisites:  Senior B.F.A Digital Media and Design majors only. To be taken twice in two consecutive semesters in the student's senior year.