Animation & Interactive Media

The Animation & Interactive Media curriculum focuses 3D modeling, character animation, motion capture, character rigging, texture and lighting, compositing, etc. Finishing classes in surface texturing, rendering, dynamics, particles and MEL scripting will combine all that students have learned into an animation & Interactive Media portfolio that will demonstrate their ability to create professional quality assets for film, television, video games, and more.

This is an advising track only and not an official program as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Media Arts; Track: Digital Arts & Technology

College of Visual & Perf Arts

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 72

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: B.F.A. Digital Arts & Technology

Prerequisite courses (MAR 101L, MAR 112A, MART 102, MART 111A) must be completed or be in the process of completion before applying to the B.F.A. program.

Lower Division Core

Rule: Complete all courses.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description MAR 101L - Intro to Media Arts
Offered every term. Overview of the media arts and their interaction, integration and development in the creation of story beginning with the early years of photography and movie-making through the introduction of radio and television up to the digital revolution.
 3 Credits
Show Description MAR 112A - Intro to Non-Linear Editing
Offered every term. Study of the history, process and philosophy of narrative film/video editing and an introduction to Final Cut nonlinear editing software.
 3 Credits
Show Description MAR 210 - Creation of Media Story
Offered autumn.  Media Arts majors only.  An introduction to screenwriting and visualization for media story. Focus is on developing visual writing skills and effective utilization of critical story elements.
 3 Credits
Show Description MAR 251 - Dig Video Prod Tech
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only.  Intermediate study of digital video cameras, lighting, sound, and their use in specific production situations.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 102 - Digital Technology in the Arts
Offered every term. An introduction to the relationship between aesthetics and the emerging capacities of digital technology. The course will explore the basic evolution of hardware, system software, and the Internet and will present a brief history of the pioneers of both traditional and digital art. It will also look at contemporary and emerging trends in the artistic application of digital technology.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 111A - Intro to Photoshop
Offered every term. Online Course. This project-oriented design and compositing course introduces students to the fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop while focusing on artistic expression in a digital technology environment.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 255 - Photoshop: Art and Design
Offered every term. Online Course. This project-based course explores a variety of design principles and techniques through Adobe Photoshop.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 256 - Illustr: Vector and Layout Des
Offered every term. An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of still image design and manipulation using Adobe Illustrator, the industry leading application for creating vector-based content. This project-based course demystifies the powerful Illustrator toolsets and workspace and enables students to actualize their ideas by helping them to develop an efficient production process. No prerequisites required.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 21 Total Credits Required

Upper Division Core

Rule: Complete all courses.

Note: Elective: 6 cr.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description MART 300 - Visions of Film
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only.  Study of major film theories that led to the constitution of visual film language and their application in contemporary film narrative and direction.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 302 - Intro to Motion Design
Offered spring.  Media Arts majors only. This project-oriented course will introduce students to the basic technical and aesthetic components of digital motion design using the industry standard software programs Photoshop and After Effects.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 305 - 3D Animation I
Offered Autumn. This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts, principles, and practices of 3D digital modeling with Maya. Students will develop 3D modeling techniques, including production of geometric and organic objects. Through lectures, tutorials, in-class exercises and projects, students will be exposed to various techniques that may be used for innovative and artistic content such as filmic animation and compositing. Open to Media Arts majors only.
3 Credits
Show Description MART 325 - Fund of Digital Animation
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to two-dimensional digital animation, focusing on character and motion design animation fundamentals including: cell animation (frame by frame), motion-tweening, working with key frames and motion paths, moving elements on a 2D stage, object choreography and text animation.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 330 - Principles of Sound Design
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Introduction to fundamental concepts, principles and practices of digital sound recording and editing in order to establish a common aesthetic and technical language necessary to develop quality audio design.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 335 - Experimental Animation
Offered spring. This course focuses on the development and creation of experimental animation projects using traditional stop motion animation techniques such as hand drawn, silhouette, object and clay. Projects created in this class may have elements created using iStopmotion, Dragonframe and other digital capture platforms. Open to Media Arts majors only.
3 Credits
Show Description MART 336 - Directing the Fic Film
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only.  Developing, directing and editing a five to seven minute fiction movie. In depth work on creation of shooting script, casting, work with actors and location work. Emphasis on collaborative process and diligence and preparation in all levels of production.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 340 - Princ of Interactive Media
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. This course is designed to help students gain the skill sets necessary to successfully create work in the constantly evolving internet environment. It covers the fundamentals of website structure, content design and navigation and focuses on directory structure, visual design, user navigation, audio/video integration and domain management.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 341 - Intro to Web Design
Offered every term. Online Course. Students will gain necessary skills in this introduction to the fundamentals of website structure, content design and navigation. Areas of focus will be directory structure, visual design, user navigation, audio/video integration and domain management. This course is open to all university students and geared to non-majors.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 416 - Production Studio I
Offered Autumn. Prereq., Media Arts major. This course offers a thorough look at storyboarding/previsuals, idea sketches and writing synopsis, as well as identity and promotion of finished works. This is also an opportunity for the student to begin production of the projects that will be continued in MART 457 Postproduction Studio.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 425 - Tech of Digital Animation
Offered autumn. Media Arts majors only. Advanced techniques of 3D motion graphics and animation.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 440 - Tech Interactive Media Design
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Pre-requisite MAR 340. Advanced interactive media design class that builds on the foundation of principles taught in MAR 340.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 441 - Web Technologies
Offered every term. This online advanced web technologies course will explore the latest in HTML5 and CSS3 in order to creating complex interactive functions and user experiences. Gaining an understanding of the overall environment of web design technologies will allow for a more integrated set of web design skills and a greater understanding of how the internet works.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 450 - Topics in Film/Media Studies
Offered spring. Media Arts majors only. Research and exploration of contemporary film, video, digital art and design. Focus on areas of student research both in commercial and non-commercial venues and styles.
 3 Credits
Show Description MART 457 - Production Studio II
Offered Spring. Prereq., Media Arts Major. This course covers the principles and techniques of finishing projects. Students will focus on advanced rendering tools, prototype testing, installation and final performances, refined editing/titles/credits, enabling students to leave with a well polished finished project.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 42 Total Credits Required