Interactive Media Production (AAS)
Award: Associate of Applied Science Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Assistant Professor Rachel Kalwa, 443-412-2678, rakalwa@harford.edu, or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
In Harford Community College’s interdisciplinary Interactive Media Production (IMP) Program, students learn the fundamentals of a user-centered design process, focusing on how people impact design and how design impacts people. Students will conduct research to develop and design a portfolio of interactive projects that solve real world problems and prepare students for emerging professions and transfer to four-year programs. Core classes in interactive media cover such topics as User Experience (UX), Extended Reality (XR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), motion capture, web and social media platform development, and game and app development.
Program Goals
- Apply media tools, art and design concepts, and computer science skills to develop real world projects that support interactive experiences.
- Analyze user needs and efficiently manage projects, applying teamwork skills in a collaborative environment.
- Use problem solving and creativity to design interactive media projects.
- Implement human-computer interaction concepts and immersive design concepts.\\n
- Create a portfolio of professional-level interactive media for targeted and diverse groups within the global community.
Employment Information
Interactive media is a thriving field with job opportunities starting at the associate degree level both regionally and nationwide. The degree is designed for entry-level jobs in digital design such as user interface designer, multimedia technician, video producer, production engineer, motion graphics artist, and other emerging fields. All students will take core classes in computer information systems and the arts. Student will then be able to select courses with either a technical or a creative focus, depending on their employment goals. Overall employment is projected to grow 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
This degree produces graduates sought after by employers in both the private and public sector. See also the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report for web developers and digital designers.
Diversity Requirement
To satisfy the diversity requirement: Associate degree students must complete one 3-credit diversity course (D). It is recommended that students select one of the 3-credit (GB), (GAH), (GI) course electives from those that also appear on the approved list of diversity course graduation requirements.
Required Courses
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| IM 110 | Entertainment and Interactive Media Production | 3 |
| ART 101 | Fundamentals of 2D Design | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology (GB) | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 103 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
| BA 104 | Advertising and Sales Promotion | 3 |
| CIS 102 | Introduction to Information Sciences (GI) | 3 |
| IM 160 | Interactive Studio Workshop | 3 |
| Biological/Physical Lab Science Elective (GL) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| IM 230 | Introduction to UX (User Experience) and Immersive Experience | 3 |
| ART 120 | Digital Foundations I | 3 |
| BA 225 | Project Management | 3 |
| CIS 136 | Introduction to Internet Technologies | 3 |
| CMST 105 | Interpersonal Communication (GI) (D) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| IM 260 | Interactive Media Capstone | 4 |
| Physical Education | 1 | |
| ENG 209 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| CMST 210 | Group Communication and Leadership (GAH) | 3 |
| ART 231 | 3-D Modeling and Animation | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Transfer Information
An A.A.S. degree is designed as a go-to-work degree. Students interested in transferring to a four-year institution in UX, interactive media, or game design should see an advisor. Some will want to enroll in this degree program while others will be better served by a degree in Art & Design or Computer Science, depending on their transfer goals.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)