Nov 24, 2024

2011-2012 Graduate Catalog

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2011-2012 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Technology, M.S. (Digital Media Concentration)

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General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Bethany Glassbrenner; glassbrenner@etsu.edu; 423-439-6165

W. Andrew Clark, Graduate Coordinator for Engineering Technology, Geoscience, and Digital Media

203E Wilson-Wallis Hall
Box 70552
(423) 439-5995 Fax: (423) 439-7750
e-mail: clarkw@etsu.edu

Faculty:

Tarig Ali; William Blanton; Hugh Broome; Edward Buxton; Guanghsu Chang; Marian Clark; William Clark; Dennis Coffey; Cheryl Cornett; Andrew Czuchry; Todd Emma; Martin Fitzgerald; Jimmy Hahs; William Hemphill; Peter Hriso; Carroll Hyder; Keith Johnson; Robert May; Jerry Nave; Charles Parker; Norman Riddle; Joseph Sims; Charles Story; Primus Tillman; John Vaglia; James Wronecki.

The Master of Science in technology explores the technologies found in our industrial society, such as implementation and utilization of machines, materials, software, and other technical means, as well as the relation of those elements and systems to human beings, society, and the culture. This program offers four concentrations: engineering technology, digital media, entrepreneurial leadership, and geoscience.

The concentration in engineering technology includes coursework in quality management, project management, and continuous quality improvement. Advanced work in the technical options (such as electronics and manufacturing) can be taken along with relevant courses in management, business administration, computer science, and mathematics.

The digital media concentration provides instruction in the latest techniques of animation, 3D visualization, digital video, interactive multimedia, and digital media project and process management. For more information and examples of student work, visit the web site http://digm.etsu.edu.

The geoscience concentration is designed to provide students with a foundation in research investigations, quantitative techniques, theories of place, and geoscience thought. The concentration provides students with the opportunity to take advanced courses with a focus in geography, geology, or geomatics.

The Entrepreneurial Leadership concentration was formed to provide our graduate students with skills that will help them thrive in the global economy of the twenty first century. The purpose of the Entrepreneurial Leadership concentration is to respond to the ever-increasing need for entrepreneurial leadership skills in the commercialization of innovative technology, and to respond to the broader application of entrepreneurial thinking in existing technology based businesses, health care and higher education. This program is designed to provide the innovative, prudent risk-taker with a practical approach for commercializing innovative technology and for creating wealth by finding implementation methods for transforming creative ideas into value producing technology based business models. In this context wealth can be measured in financial terms or in terms of value added in a social or not-for-profit scenario.

Program Admission Requirements

An undergraduate major or minor in a technically related area.
An undergraduate course in probability and statistics.
An overall GPA of 3.0.

Digital Media Concentration

Faculty: *See Technology

The Digital Media Concentration in Technology offers a multidisciplinary approach to research in, and the creation of, digital and interactive communications, animation, video, and design. This program provides students with a combination of theoretical, aesthetic, and technical knowledge necessary for success as digital media developers, creators, evaluators, researchers, and producers. Graduates from the Digital Media concentration will be able to apply and manage new media tools, technologies, and business practices in a rapidly changing environment for communication, instruction, creative production and research; will be able to analyze and evaluate functional and communication aspects of multimedia design and production; and will have attained a theoretical base upon which to produce and manage successful digital media productions.

Students taking courses in the Digital Media Concentration will pay a program fee of $100 per semester hour for each Digital Media course taken to cover program costs for software, equipment, and facilities.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will be selected according to available space and their potential for unique contribution to this highly selective program. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the digital media field, successful applicants may come from a variety of academic backgrounds—such as art, communication, music, theatre, computer science, technology, architecture, or industrial design—or may have considerable experience in the design and production of digital media products. A student applying for admission must:

Provide a portfolio or other evidence of professional competence in one (1) or more elements of digital media such as web production, interactive CD or DVD development, 3-D modeling/visualization, animation, graphic design, computer art, instructional design (distance learning and/or interactive instructional software), video/film, photography, or audio production.
Demonstrate competency in multiple software programs as evidenced by work included in the portfolio and as documented in application materials.
Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.
Provide a written Statement of Purpose (1,000 - 1,500 words) describing reasons for wishing to enter the program, career goals in the field of digital media, and ideas and topics for research in the digital medias that the applicant intends to pursue.
International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper score) or 213 (computer score), or 79 (internet), or an IELTS score of 6.5.
Include with the application any applicable professional and academic accomplishments (e.g., awards and honors).
Include with the application three (3) letters of recommendation.
Deadlines for application to the digital media program are March 1 for fall admission, and October 1, for spring admission.

Students whose preparation is lacking in certain areas may be required to take additional undergraduate coursework that will not be counted toward the master’s degree.

Concentration Requirements

Students in the Digital Media Concentration may select either the thesis option requiring 33 credit-hours including DIGM 5960 - Thesis, or the nonthesis option requiring 36 credit-hours including DIGM 5970 - Digital Media Research Project.

Core Requirements

All students in the digital media concentration must complete the following core courses:

ENTC 5950 - Methods of Research (3 credits)
DIGM 5820 - New Media Communication and Research (3 credits)

Choice of two (2) of the following graduate courses:

ENTC 5170 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation (3 credits) or
BADM 5170 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation (3 credits)
ENTC 5030 - Investigation in Technology (3 credits)
ENTC 5070 - Leading Empowered Problem Solving Teams (3 credits)
ENTC 5640 - Innovative Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
ENTC 5630 - Project Management (3 credits)
ENTC 5800 - Strategic Experience (3 credits)
ENTC 5060 - Scheduling for Project and Quality Management (3 credits)

Total Core Hours: 9 Credit Hours

Guided Electives

Students must take at least 21 additional hours (Thesis Option), or 24 hours (Non-Thesis Option) of graduate-level guided electives. A combination of research and production electives must be chosen in consultation with your graduate committee chair and/or the digital media program graduate coordinator, and should support your chosen study emphasis.

Select approved elective courses from the list indicated below:

DIGM 5147 - Fundamentals of Character Animation (3 credits)
DIGM 5146 - Character Animation Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5617 - Advanced Raster-Based Imaging (3 credits)
DIGM 5616 - Raster-Based Imaging Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5627 - Motion Tools II: Compositing (3 credits)
DIGM 5626 - Motion Tools II Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5637 - Advanced Interaction Design (3 credits)
DIGM 5636 - Interaction Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5647 - Advanced Animation (3 credits)
DIGM 5646 - Animation Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5657 - Advanced Web Design (3 credits)
DIGM 5656 - Advanced Web Design Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5666 - Product Design Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5667 - Advanced Product Design (3 credits)
DIGM 5817 - 3D Effects Animation (3 credits)
DIGM 5816 - 3D Effects Animation Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5821 - Digital Media as an Art Form (4 credits)
DIGM 5827 - Motion Tools III: Application (3 credits)
DIGM 5826 - Digital Video Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5877 - Advanced Modeling & Lighting (3 credits)
DIGM 5876 - Modeling and Lighting Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5887 - Technical Direction for Animation (3 credits)
DIGM 5886 - Technical Direction Graduate Laboratory (1 credit)
DIGM 5900 - Independent Study in Digital Media (1-9 credits)
DIGM 5910 - Experimental Media I (3 credits)
DIGM 5915 - Experimental Media II (3 credits)
DIGM 5957 - Topics in Digital Media (2-4 credits)
Guided electives may also be taken in Technology, Computer Science, Art, Communications, Business, Math, and other departments as appropriate to support a student’s chosen study emphasis and as approved by the program.

Internship and Co-Op experiences are encouraged, but credits cannot be applied toward program requirements.

Total Guided Elective Hours: 21-24 Credit Hours

Note:

Production-oriented courses may be combined graduate/undergraduate courses. These courses have numbers that end in a “7” (e.g., 5xx7). No more than ten (10) hours, Thesis Option, or eleven (11) hours, Non-Thesis Option, of 5xx7 courses may be applied toward program requirements. Also, no more than ten (10) hours, Thesis Option, or eleven (11) hours, Non-Thesis Option of Independent Study, may be applied toward program requirements.

Culminating Experience

All students in the Digital Media Concentration will be required to complete a “culminating experience” consisting of either DIGM 5960 Thesis (Thesis Option) or DIGM 5970 Digital Media Research Project (Non-Thesis Option). Both the Thesis and the Digital Media Research Project options require that the student work under the guidance of an advisory committee.

An oral presentation and defense of the completed culminating work must be scheduled. At this time the committee will conduct a final review of the Thesis or Research Project. The student may (1) pass; or (2) fail, with an opportunity for further study and re-evaluation by the advisory committee. A second failure will result in the student’s dismissal from the program. All M.S. candidates in Digital Media must provide the Department of Technology with a copy of the completed work, archived in an appropriate format, as approved by the committee.