Program Succeeds Media Technology, Bridges Design and Technical Disciplines
Reflecting a heightened emphasis on technology within a creative context, 麻豆社区app has established an Applied Computer Science Department, effective with the fall 2017 semester, the university announced today. 聽Housed in the School of Media, Culture & Design (MCD), the program will grant the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Applied Computer Science.聽
Successor to MCD鈥檚 Media Technology Department, the Applied Computer Science program is a hybrid design/technology degree that prepares students for technical careers in the creative industries. 聽With a strong foundation in computer science, experience design, media production and project management, students pursue creative projects using cutting-edge technologies.
The B.S. in Applied Computer Science blends cutting-edge, hands-on technology experience with practical and focused courses that put graduates in the best possible position to pursue the career of their choice in the tech industry. 聽It represents a new and inclusive approach to computer science, emphasizing real-world applications and skills that make Woodbury graduates stand out.
鈥淭he Applied Computer Science Department is true to its name,鈥� said Sue Vessella, Dean of the School of Media, Culture & Design. 聽鈥淲e鈥檙e not simply emphasizing theoretical knowledge of computer science, but rather placing students in a position where they have an applied context for the work they鈥檙e doing. 聽What are the important approaches, skills and projects that will prepare students for the types of jobs they鈥檙e interested in, whether in gaming, the entertainment industry, theme parks, virtual reality or any other creative discipline?鈥�
The Applied Computer Science curriculum seeks to transform students from passive end-users to active agents of technological change. 聽The department鈥檚 Virtual Reality tools give students the opportunity for hands-on experience with the latest technologies (HTC Vive, Microsoft Hololens). 聽The department provides access to new technologies, bringing professionals from across the technology industry to campus as lecturers and mentors. 聽 Core areas of focus include:
鈥淭he department鈥檚 philosophy is to embrace the notion of user-centered design and user-centered development,鈥� Vessella said. 聽鈥淲e need to understand who鈥檚 using the software, what they need to get done, and how usage can become more efficient, more enjoyable, more creative and more inspiring.鈥�
鈥淎pplied Computer Science offers students the best of both worlds,鈥� she noted. 鈥淲oodbury is home to award-winning, high-quality design programs that computer science students within a typical large university wouldn鈥檛 be in a position to access. And we also offer students a deep dive into the technical side of things, which gets them in the door to that job interview. 聽When you combine those two, it鈥檚 a potent combination that makes those students very attractive to potential employers.鈥�
Unique to Applied Computer Science is the Design/Media Concentration, a sequence of five elective studio courses chosen from Woodbury鈥檚 award-winning design departments: 聽Filmmaking, Animation, Game Art & Design, Fashion Design and Graphic Design. Working with a mentor, students design a customized concentration that reflects their interests and career aspirations, providing a competitive advantage when compared to more traditional computer science departments.
Supporting the Applied Computer Science Department are extensive technical facilities, centered around a 20-seat dual-platform teaching and production lab with state-of-the-art Mac/Windows workstations, a dedicated, electronics teaching and production facility, and a Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality lab. 聽Equipment available includes SDI switching and confidence monitoring, DJI Inspire One drone, Microsoft Kinect camera kits for 3D sensing, HTC Vive VR system, Microsoft Hololens, digital still and video cameras, portable Mac Pro workstation for video production, extensive projection hardware for media installation, and more.
Woodbury鈥檚 School of Media, Culture & Design is a dynamic school with the special mission of educating the next generation of creative professionals. 聽It offers eight undergraduate degrees in the fields of animation, communication, fashion design, filmmaking, game art and design, graphic design, media technology and psychology. 聽Students are encouraged to explore the areas between and around these disciplines as they develop their personal vision and professional paths.