Digital Media Technology
Overview
The bachelors degree in Digital Media Technology provides students with opportunities to learn about the processes involved in the planning, development and publishing of web content, games, animation, visual effects, interactive simulation and other multimedia. Graduates of this program are expected to be technical management-oriented professionals for employment in creative, advertising, educational, and other commercial environments.
According to IBISworld.com, digital media, web development, game development, animation, visual effects, interactive simulation, and related services combined account for more than 400 billion dollars of the United States economy. At the time of this writing, over 100,000 available jobs related to the aforementioned areas are listed on job posting websites such as talentzoo.com, monster.com, and indeed.com. In total the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there to be 300,000 positions added to the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media sectors by 2026.
Students will complete 37 hours in required courses and must complete 3 courses in one focus area.
REQUIRED COURSES
The degree in Digital Media Technology at Eastern Illinois University has required courses that provides students with a balance of management and supervision skills needed to be successful in leading teams and projects in web development, game development, animation, visual effects, interactive simulation, image capture, and other media production. Click here to learn more about the Required Courses for this degree.
GAME DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA
Game Development, interactive media, and simulation are areas where there is a demand for technically proficient individuals with multiple skillsets ready to handle any task. With approximately 287,200 video game designers in the United States, the video game designer's job market is predicted to grow by 9.3% between 2016 and 2026. Click here to learn more about the Game Development Focus Area.
WEB DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA
Businesses every year will hire 17,900 front end developers, search engine specialists, content managers, or UI/UX designers. When creating a website, developers and designers have to make their client’s vision a reality. They build particular types of websites, such as ecommerce, news, or gaming sites, to fit clients’ needs. Different types of websites require different applications. Click here to learn more about the Web Development Focus Area
ANIMATION AND VISUAL EFFECTS FOCUS AREA
Employment of special effects artists and animators is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Projected growth will be due to increased demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television. Click to learn more about the Visual Effects Focus Area.
MEDIA COMMUNICATION FOCUS AREA
Overall employment of film and video editors and camera operators is projected to grow 29 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The number of Internet-only platforms, such as streaming services, is likely to increase, along with the number of shows produced for these platforms. Click here to learn more about the Media Communication Focus Area
AUDIO TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA
About 18,000 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.Growth is expected to stem from businesses, schools, and entertainment industries seeking to improve their audio and video capabilities. They will need technicians to set up, operate, and maintain equipment. Click here to learn more about the Audio Technology Focus Area
DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN FOCUS AREA
About 23,900 openings for Digital Artists and designers are projected each year over the next decade. Digital artists and designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. Click here to learn more about the Digital Art and Design Focus Area
Degree: Digital Media Technology, Digital Media
Completion time: 44-46 hours required for the major and 120 hours required for graduation
Internships:
Interested in jobs with a degree in digital media technology? Several positions are posted at the websites below.
Contact the Digital Media Program coordinator Dr. Gabe Grant at gjgrant@eiu.edu to inquire about current opportunities and to be added to the exclusive Teams channel where several targeted jobs and internships have been posted.
Resources
-
Degree Plan (PDF)
- Program Information in EIU
Catalog