By Aleah Ralph
The College of Charleston’s Department of Computer Science has announced a new Computing in the Arts major concentration, Digital Media. Students can enroll in the concentration for the Fall 2016 semester.
The concentration will provide students with opportunities to learn about graphic design, animation, video, and more. Faculty within the computer science department are thrilled about the new addition and how it will advance the Computing in the Arts major.
“We are really excited to finally have this new Computing in the Arts concentration in place,” says Bill Manaris, the program director for Computing in the Arts at the College. “This is something that has been in the works for a long time, and now with the Clemson Digital Production Arts MFA in town (which is seeking our graduates), and companies like Moondog Animation (that provide internships for our students), we are poised to serve a critical education and market niche. Our graduates will be prepared for competitive jobs around the country and abroad. This new concentration will provide them with lifelong skills on how to combine computing (including, and most importantly, future technologies — yet to be developed) with artistic creativity and critical thinking in the visual domain. This is a great moment.”
Computer Science faculty expects that graduates of the digital media concentration will be qualified for computer-based careers in art and design, including positions like digital animator, graphic designer, website content developer, art director, and public relations/marketing specialist. To learn more about the Computing in the Arts’ new concentration, Digital Media, visit the Department of Computer Science’s blog.
In related coursework, computer science professor William Bares teaches a popular “Animation and Virtual Worlds” class within the Computing in the Arts program. Students in Bares’s course spend the semester learning to create movie animations and games while also learning the basics of visual storytelling, lighting, and cameras using a 3D animation package. More than that, students also learn the ins and outs of building complex software systems and appreciate the skill set needed for writing elegant code.
Watch the video below to learn more, and also be sure to check out more information on the Computing in the Arts major offered by the College’s Department of Computer Science.
This article was written by Aleah Ralph, a junior from Fort Mill, S.C., majoring in communication at the College of Charleston. She is a writing intern for The College Today.
