Full-Time Faculty: Barry Berlin, Chair, John S. Dahlberg, Benjamin J. Dunkle, Stanton H. Hudson, Jr., Barbara J. Irwin, Melissa B. Wanzer, Charles J. Wigley III, Thomas S. Wolfe.
Communication Studies has gone digital with a Bachelor of Science degree through the Digital Media Arts program. As new and more powerful communication technologies in the digital age transform ways in which we communicate and interact, students will have a vast array of new career options. Students can position themselves to take advantage of these new opportunities by gaining cutting-edge practical and theoretical skills to create and design content using digital tools.
The digital media arts degree in the Communication Studies department focuses on digital design through technical and critical approaches in a 13-course, 39-credit major. State-of-the-art facilities are featured at the Digital Media Arts' home in Lyons Hall.
Admission
Prospective Digital Media Arts majors must have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.00, including a minimum grade of C- in all Digital Media Arts courses taken to date. The performance of all majors is subject to review relative to their continuation in the program, using such criteria as academic record, demonstration of appropriate communication skills, co-curricular activity, interdisciplinary engagement, and community involvement.
Review of Prospective Majors
The Communication Studies Department has adopted a two phase program to review the academic progress of new Digital Media Arts majors.
Phase I
The first phase will be used to evaluate the progress of the fall 2003 freshman class. A committee will screen each member the DMA class during the summer 2004. The committee will base its findings on the overall grade-point average of each student. The freshman DMA majors will be ranked, and the number accepted to the major will be based on the number graduating seniors during the previous spring.
Phase II
Phase II will be implemented for the freshman class of fall 2004. This class would be evaluated for progress within the major in the spring 2006, when they are second-semester sophomores and have accumulated 45 credits. This would be a fuller evaluation, consisting of a GPA review, the student's GPA in DMA 201 and at least two other DMA courses, as well as a portfolio review. The number of students accepted into the major would be based on the number of graduating seniors the previous year. Thereafter, Phase II would be the system of evaluation to be used to screen prospective DMA majors who are sophomores with 45 credits.
In regard to transfers, the department will review each after he/she has taken three DMA courses at Canisius.
Digital Media Arts majors select an academic sequence within the major. They need at least 39 hours (or 36 hours for dual majors) but are limited to a maximum of 54 hours in Digital Media Arts.
A minimum overall average of 2.00 in all coursework is required of all Digital Media Arts majors in order to be certified for graduation.
The Digial Media Arts curriculum:
| 1. ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 101, RST 101 |
(4 courses) |
(12) |
| 2. Area Studies courses |
(14 courses) |
(42) |
| 3. Major course requirements: |
(13 courses) |
(39) |
| DMA 201 |
Introduction to Digital Media Arts |
(3) |
| DMA 202 |
Digital Media and Culture |
(3) |
| DMA 203 |
Digital Design Concepts |
(3) |
| DMA 204 |
Digital Media Law and Ethics |
(3) |
| DMA 205 |
Digital Graphics |
(3) |
| DMA 206 |
Interactive Multimedia |
(3) |
| DMA 207 |
Digital Media Programming |
(3) |
| DMA 408 |
Capstone |
(3) |
| A minimum grade of C- is necessary in all required courses. Students receiving a grade of D or F must repeat the course to continue to be a major. |
(10 courses) |
|
| 4. General electives |
(9 courses) |
(27) |
| DMA electives |
(5 courses) |
(15) |
5. DMA major electives fall into three categories:
Design, Technical and Critical. With the guidance of their advisors, DMA majors would select 5 courses from among the following major electives to create a coherent program of study. At least 2 of the courses selected should be in design. All courses below having assigned numbers are already being taught by various departments throughout the college. Those without numbers are in development. |
Large Scale Programming |
(4) |
| Total |
(40 courses) |
(120) |
Design
COM 342-Hypermedia (web-site design)
COM 381-Desktop Publishing
COM 394-Advanced Web Design
DMA 339-Digital Imaging
DMA 390-3D Modeling for 2D Imagery
DMA 393-Advanced Digital Design
FAS 110-Two-Dimensional Foundations
FAS 111-Studio Drawing
FAS 113-Studio Design
Technical
COM 361-Intro to TV Production
COM 461-Advanced TV (Studio) Production
DMA/FAM 310-Digital Audio/Music Production (COM 362)
DMA 387-Digital Video Production (COM 387)
DMA 389-2D Computer Animation
CSC 111-Intro to Programming
MCIS 211-Programming Concepts for Business
MCIS 467-Advanced Business Programming
Critical
COM 328-Scriptwriting
COM 374/FAH 374-Film History
COM 375/FAH 375-Film Classics
DMA 340-Writing for the Digital Media
DMA 359-Criticism and Evaluation
PHI -Aesthetics
Other
DMA 488-Internship I Seminar
DMA 498-Internship II Seminar
(optional)
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall |
|
Spring |
|
| Freshman Year |
|
|
|
| ENG 101 |
3 |
ENG 102 |
3 |
| DMA 201 |
3 |
RST 101 |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
DMA 202 |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
Free elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Sophomore Year |
|
|
|
| PHI 101 |
3 |
DMA 204 |
3 |
| DMA 203 |
3 |
DMA 205 |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
Free elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Junior Year |
|
|
|
| DMA 206 |
3 |
DMA elective |
3 |
| DMA 207 |
3 |
DMA elective |
3 |
| DMA elective |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| Free elective |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Senior Year |
|
|
|
| DMA elective |
3 |
DMA 408 capstone |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| DMA elective |
3 |
Free elective |
3 |
| Free elective |
3 |
Free elective |
3 |
| Free elective |
3 |
Free elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
|
|
Total |
120 |
Facilities
Four computer labs, digital video editing stations, an audio/music production studio and a digital television studio/control room are available for student use in Lyons Hall.
The Lyons Hall third-floor Mac Lab, in Lyons 312, features 24 Macintosh G4 towers with CD-RW drives, 40 GB hard drives, 533 MHz processors, 512 MBs of RAM, 250 MB zip drives and 15-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.
Software available on each computer includes Adobe Illustrator, Imageready, After Effects, Pagemaker, Pagemill, Photoshop, iMovie, iTunes, Appleworks, Realplayer, Macromedia Director, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Microsoft Office, Quark Express, Protools, and Cinema 4D.
A scanner and a laser printer flank the MacLab in 312. A touch-screen in an instructor's bunker controls a VCR, DVD player, an Elmo documentation presentation system, and ports for plug-and-go setups, including laptops and laserdisc players.
A web and imaging lab, in Lyons 325, provides two G4 Macs, an iMac with DVD burner, a Windows 98 Gateway, two scanners, three drawing tablets and a high-end color printer. Software is identical to the software in Lab 312.
A 14-station computer lab, in Lyons 122, is set up for advanced digital courses.
A digital video and audio lab, in Lyons 413, houses two Media 100s for non-linear digital video editing, in addition to a Final Cut Pro/iDVD G4 video editing station for creating DVDs. It also features a audio/music recording studio using Pro Tools with whisper room and 5 iMac DVs.
In the Media Center on the fourth floor of Lyons Hall, a 26' x 30" television studio features a hard cyclorama, lighting grid with dimmer control and three digital studio video cameras.
The control room has custom-built consoles to house the digital video switcher/ with special effects, a 16-channel audio mixing board, teleprompter, DAT audio recorder, character generator, and an intercom/IFB system. The digital video-mastering format is DVCAM with BetaCam SP playback capabilities, S-VHS and Hi-8 video transports. Four equipment racks house the audio/video distribution, including patch panels and routers.
The studio also has the capability to send video to the campus cable RF video system.
The college's Media center provides the TV studio's operational support.
Across from the TV studio, a screening room provides comfortable tiered seating, a video and DVD projector, as well as a professional sound system.
Students may sign out the following equipment from the Media Center: 4 Kodak DX3600 Digital Still Cameras, 1 Nikon CoolPix 2000 Digital Camera, 12 Video Camcorders: 2 Canon ZR-10 Mini Digital DV Cams, 1 Panasonic DV600D, 3 Cannon GL-1, 1 Sony Digital 8 DCR-TR7000, 1 Sony Digital 8 DCR-TRV120, 1 VHS RCA CC4252, 1 VHS Panasonic AG-188, 1 Hi8 Sony CCD-TR7000, 1 Hi8 Sony CCD-VX3.
Additional Information
Internships awarding up to 12 credits total may be earned by qualified Digital Media Arts majors at approved locations in Buffalo or in other cities. The internships are individually arranged, require Department approval, and are available only to juniors and seniors with a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.50 and a digital media average of at least 2.70. Internships are taken on a Pass/Fail basis and count as a free elective.
Opportunity for independent study (three credits) may be available for qualified upperclass students by arrangement with the department chair and faculty supervisor. These would be as free electives.
Dual majors are available with the permission, and guidance, of both chairs.
Courses 2003 - 2005
Some Communication Studies courses count as DMA courses. Please refer to the Communication Studies section in this catalog for descriptions.
DMA 201 (COM 211) Intro to Digital Media 3
Introduces the fundamentals of digital systems and technologies through class lecture and hands-on approaches. Software and hardware used for web design, multimedia, video production, graphics and audio production.
DMA 202 (COM 212) Digital Media Culture 3
Explores how digitization impacts our personal, business, cultural, institutional and international lives. Also examines the ways in which digital media transform communication and expression.
DMA 203 (COM 213) Digital Design Concepts 3
Introduces both the conceptual, perceptual and manual skills in traditional design, as well as hypertext. Topics include typography and visual communication, color theory, the principles of form, structure, spatial design and photomanipulation.
DMA 204 (COM 326, PSC 326) Digital Media Law/Ethics 3
Introduces a wide range of legal issues in cyberspace, including: the First Amendment, copyright, libel, hate speech, morality/obscenity, privacy, commercial speech and national security.
DMA 205 (COM 215) Digital Graphics 3
Examines digital graphics and how they are created and used in web designs, multimedia and desktop publishing. Software packages like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will be used.
Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 206 (COM 216) Interactive Multimedia 3
Examines the types, processes and applications of multimedia content. Emphasis will be on the production and manipulation of video, sound and animation files to create interactive computer presentations using Macromedia Director. Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 207 Digital Media Programming 3
Explores the structure of the Internet, its software, and different programming languages. Covers XHML, Javascript, CSS as they apply to web design.
Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 310 (COM 362, FAM 310) Digital Music/Audio Production 3
Fundamental techniques of digital audio and music production presented using current technologies in digital recording, software and audio post-production. Discussion on current trends in music technology and the tools used for composing and producing electronic music.
DMA 339 Digital Imaging 3
Art and technology of digital image creation using digital still cameras, computers and software. Topics to include photography, scanning, color correlation, compositing, transforming digital images. Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 340 Writing for the Digital Media 3
Intensive writing assignments employing message-design principles/ style guidelines for writing for the web, CDs, DVDs, etc.
DMA 359 Criticism and Evaluation 3
Planning the digital project, developing goals, measuring outcomes. Selected topics in mediated-communication. Students will submit work for review in design competitions, portfolio reviews and requests for proposals (RFPs).
Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 387 (COM 387) Digital Video Production 3
Focuses on both the technical and creative processes involved in digital video field production and post-production. Topics include scripting, lighting, camera operation, audio, non-linear editing and video streaming for the web.
Prerequisite: COM 361 or permission of instructor.
DMA 389 2D Computer Animation 3
Introduction to the history and techniques of traditional animation, including storyboarding, object creation and manipulation through time and space using the twelve principles of animation. Discussion on motion analysis in conjunction with advanced timing, acting, scenes, secondary actions, image synthesizing and special effects in relation to the modern computer. Prerequisite: DMA 201 or permission of instructor.
DMA 390 - 3D Modeling for 2D Imagery 3
Introduction to the complexities of 3D design using Maxon's Cinema 4D to create photo realistic 2D imagery and 3D models. Prerequisite: DMA 201, DMA 205 or permission of instructor.
DMA 393 Advanced Digital Design 3
Advanced course demanding innovational, intellective, design and technical skills in multimedia and cyber-communication projects. Authoring, video and sound editing computer applications, animation, as well as cyberspace file transfer and programming are emphasized. Prerequisite: DMA 203 or permission of instructor.
DMA 408 Capstone 3
Students will develop a portfolio helpful for an entry-level position in digital media. A professional-level project will be required of all majors to demonstrate specific strengths in visual communications, web-based research, interactive CDs, DVDs, web site design, traditional print materials, and the like.
DMA 488 Internship I Seminar 3-9
Student experientially learns digital media functions in compatibly matched professional setting, locally or out-of-town. Prerequisite: Junior or senior year. Minimum grade point average. Consult chair.
DMA 498 Internship II Seminar 3-9
Sequel to DMA 488 for students taking a second internship.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior year. Minimum grade point average. Consult chair.