Develop your creative skills and technical expertise to build robots, systems, and interactive experiences.
About the Major
Explore, build, and reshape the digital landscapes of tomorrow with a B.A. in Information Science and Arts. The B.A. degree will give you a solid mathematical and technical foundation and emphasizes computational arts, such as creative coding and digital storytelling.
You'll have access to laser cutters, 3D printers, and other technologies in our new rapid prototyping lab, allowing you to build almost anything you can imagine!
Hands-on learning: Participate in internships and develop valuable contacts with local and national companies, such as Hydrant, Octavia Digital Media, and the Enterprise Technology division of State Farm
Areas of Study
You'll take courses in creative coding, human-computer interaction, virtual reality, user experience, interactive art, sound technology, multimedia design, and game development.
The degree consists of courses organized into three tiers:
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Core coursework: dealing with enormous quantities of data, computer programming, digital ethics, statistics, and the fundamental ideas in information science.
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Research Methods, Data Analysis, Intensive Computing, and Society: Coursework includes classes in qualitative Internet research, quantitative methods for the digital marketplace, as well as options to take coursework in game design and human-computer interaction.
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Advanced and specialized techniques in Computational Arts: Customized course selection based on student focus. Coursework can include computing and the arts, creative coding, designing installations, and digital storytelling, as well as Individual Studies and required Senior Capstone (ISTA 498) course.
Required Minor
You are required to have a minor or second major. We encourage you to specialize in one area where information science, information technology, or information arts makes an impact. Examples might include studio arts, music, theater, dance; or in any area of the humanities, science, or business and marketing.
Career Pathways
Our graduates are prepared for jobs requiring interdisciplinary and out-of-the-box thinking, primarily in fields that work with computational data tied to humans interacting with computers.
Potential jobs in this field of study can include:
- Computational art/simulation/installation technician
- Sound engineer
- Audio-visual technician
- Data engineer
- Digital marketing director
- Web designer and administrator
- User experience (UX) designer
- System developer