The Digital Media Arts (DMA) Program, offered through the Communication Studies Department, focuses on the converging fields of digital design, video and interactive media. The program is organized into four concentrations to help students focus on a specific area of study: graphic design, web design, digital filmmaking and game design. Quite often, DMA students will dual major or minor with computer science, fine arts, communication studies, business and marketing, and others. It’s an approach that is highly encouraged by the DMA faculty, because it develops important cross-functional skill sets and content-specific expertise.
In their senior years, students take an advanced course within their concentration that qualifies as a senior project and portfolio course. The portfolios and senior projects are assessed each year for two goals: 1. Majors will design and construct effective messages through the use of digital tools; 2. Majors will evince technical ability in digital media. Additionally, DMA students gain valuable experience by working with faculty on creative research projects through CEEP, community-based learning projects and the Video Institute. Whether it’s a graphic design or web design piece for a local non-profit, a documentary film, or a serious video game, the experience gained by the students often translates into exciting opportunities after graduation. DMA assessment reveals that students consistently meet and exceed program goals, and the successes of our alumni in the industry confirm these findings.
Pictured above: DMA students win the city of Buffalo’s Serious Game Competition, spring 2015
Submitted by: Sara Morris, PhD, associate vice president, academic affairs
