Adobe After Effects workspace

New media is all about the continual change of technology, diffusion of innovation and skillful content creation.

Students with a Digital Communication Arts degree will need to know all the different programs and software to help prepare them for careers in the industry. Students are encouraged to find internships, on-campus employment opportunities or work with a faculty member to find opportunities (lab assistants, projects) to enhance their knowledge of technologies. 

Here you will find a wide variety of internet programs, software and digital platforms that students may use in some NMC classes to prepare them for the future.

The NMC Program recommends that students consult with the NMC faculty before purchasing the software. The NMC Program will not guarantee that all classes will be available every term. Please contact the NMC advisor Daniel (Danny) Gruss regarding any questions about the availability of courses or how they will count towards your major or minor.
 

Contact Daniel (Danny) Gruss


Software and Program Skill by Course

Social media are curiously positioned as being both emergent media and convergent media--they function because of the coalescence of existing media forms and the creation of new ones. This class will use multiple perspectives to explore the past, present, and future of social media.

Credits: 3
Software: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, etc.
Prerequisites: NMC 101
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Foundational elements and principles of art and design in relation to visual media production and the communicative arts. Topics include composition, layout, color theory, typography, image manipulation, graphics creation and design in visual media. Provides core competencies digital visual communication arts tools.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: NMC 101
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Computational approaches to cultural research have changed what it means to work with media today. This course provides a foundation in data science tailored for work in social and cultural research including basic work in natural language processing, social network analysis, and information visualization.

Credits: 3
Software: RStudio, Gephi
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Foundational elements and principles of sound design in relation to audio production and the communicative arts. Topics include elements of sound, technical terminology, types of equipment and digital audio workflows. Provides core competencies in audio recording, editing and manipulation in sound media.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Audition
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: NMC 101
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Designing systems of interaction is important for understanding how people come to be a part of social networks. Students will participate in a series of simulation games that will explore the dimensions of the interaction between publics and social networks, culminating in an original research project.

Credits: 3
Software: Google Analytics Certification
Prerequisites: NMC 240 and NMC 260
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Studio course in video art and time-based media projects. Emphasis on experimental approaches to video art in a contemporary art context, linear and non-linear video production and the projection and screening of video art projects. Introduction to the history of video art as an art form. Lec/studio.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut 
Prerequisites: ART 222 and ART 263
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Explores several techniques for communicating narrative through pictorial design with digital arts tools. Builds a digital drawing skill set including vector based drawing, digital painting, 3D illustration, collage, typography and photographic compositing. Covers illustration in editorial content, publishing, advertising, social media and the entertainment industry. Emphasis on visual research, creative workflows, concept development through the creation of illustration and design content.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Dimension, Adobe InDesign
Prerequisites: NMC 241
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Principles of spatial design, interactive design and immersive storytelling as they relate to Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality (collectively referred to as Extended or X-Reality). Additional topics include the history and current applications of X-Reality technology.

Credits: 4
Software: Maya, Unity, TiltBrush or Gravity Sketch
Hardware: Oculus Quest
Prerequisites: NMC 101
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Explores creative application of sound design for linear narrative, interactive and experimental visual media. Topics include evolving sound aesthetics for visual media in a historical and technological context. Emphasis on post-production synchronization, sound effect creation and manipulation, music underscoring and expressive experimentation in the audio visual story.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Audition, Adobe Premiere Pro
Prerequisites: NMC 255
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

An intermediate-level production class in which we will develop, launch, distribute, and maintain professional-quality podcasts and use podcasting tools and resources for other storytelling enterprises.

Credits: 3
Software: Adobe Audition, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop
Prerequisites: NMC 255
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Focuses on pre-production or the planning phase of various audio/visual storytelling media. Explores creative application of visualizing a text narrative into a audio/visual media production. Topics include story structure, concept development, visual research, cinematic language, shot composition, storyboarding, animatics and editing.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro
Prerequisites: NMC 101
Recommended: NMC 241
Campus: Corvallis 

Explores foundational elements and principles of animation for motion design. Topics include introductory animation techniques, history of motion graphics, the production process and workflows. Concept development, visual research, asset creation will be exercised through the creative development and execution of motion design projects.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects Cinema 4D Lite, Adobe Premiere Pro
Prerequisites: NMC 101
Recommended: NMC 241
Campus: Corvallis 

Web apps are applications that are loaded as web pages. They can store data locally and continue to function while offline. In this hands-on class, students will create web apps that run on smart phones. No prior programming skills are required. Programming concepts that are required to create interactive web apps will be covered in this class.

Credits: 3
Software: Visual Studio Code, Notepad or TextEdit
Platforms: HTML, CSS, Javascript
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Create websites that focus on the server side. Sever side website can store or retrieve data from users. In this hands-on class, students will create server side websites. No prior programming skills are required. Programming concepts that are required to create interactive server side websites will be covered in this class.

Credits: 3
Software: Visual Studio Code, Notepad or TextEdit
Platforms: HTML, CSS, Javascript
Prerequisites: NMC 260
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Explores core skills of interactive design within media communications and systems, including conceptualizing interactive systems, prototyping, iterating, and managing interactive design workflow processes. Primarily examines interactivity through the lens of app design, while considering how these principles apply to other domains such as web interactivity, digital applications, tangible products, and mixed reality. Expands interactive formats and user experiences through visual consideration. Emphasizes hands-on aspect for artists to re/create interactive designs and focuses on the practical facet of the design.

Credits: 3
Software: Figma or Pencil
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Credits: 3
Software: Adobe XD, Sketch, Lens Studio
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis

Credits: 3
Software: n/a
Platforms: CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), SCSS (Sassy CSS)
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Credits: 3
Software: Tableau Public
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Online media is often filled with memes, likes, shares, tweets and even hilarious cat videos. Companies like Buzzfeed exist to create, maintain and drive traffic to content. In 2015, collectively the top 10 YouTube content creators made 70.5 million dollars. So, what’s the secret to going viral? This class is designed to look at this question by examining the culture of viral content, the social and psychological influences that shape online behavior and the business of creating and spreading viral content. Throughout the term, students will apply these principle concepts in an attempt to make their own viral content.

Credits: 3
Software: Adobe CC suite
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Explores advanced techniques in motion graphics design. Builds an advanced animation skill set including complex compositing, animated textures, looping, basic rigs, hierarchies and behaviors. Emphasis on in-depth concept development, advanced asset creation and storytelling through motion. Analyze motion design content within contemporary visual culture.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, Adobe Premiere Pro
Prerequisites: NMC 385
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis 

Explores compositing and digital effects as production techniques in digital storytelling. Explores several compositing techniques and workflow options for digital manipulation of moving image content. Topics include green screen extraction, motion and camera tracking, rotoscoping, and 2D/3D workflows.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro
Prerequisites: NMC 241 and NMC 380
Recommended: NMC 385
Campus: Corvallis 

Examines theory and production of the documentary genre. Covers all stages of producing a documentary film from the idea through development, marketing, planning, shooting, editing, and post-production.

Credits: 4
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a
Campus: Corvallis and Ecampus

Hands-on introduction to the world of 3-D computer modeling and animation, including investigations of light, texture, form, spatial design and motion. Course includes discussions of professional and artistic practice and critique of student and professional work. Lec/lab.

Credits: 4
Software: Maya, Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop, Sketchfab
Prerequisites: Restricted to Digital Communication Arts or New Media Communications minors.
Recommended: NMC 351
Campus: Corvallis 

An in-depth theoretical and hands-on investigation of advanced animation tools and techniques used for educational, scientific, entertainment, and expressive communication projects. Tools and techniques covered include motion capture (full body, face, hand), automated lip-sync dialogue processing, dynamic simulation, particle motion, and other simulation or performance-based animation approaches. Students will work individually and in teams to explore the communicative and creative possibilities of the described technologies.

Credits: 4
Software: Maya, Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut, Adobe Photoshop, Mixamo
Prerequisites: Restricted to Digital Communication Arts or New Media Communications minors.
Recommended: NMC 351
Campus: Corvallis 

Explores design of virtual space from theoretical, historical and practical perspectives. Compares and contrasts real world physical space with virtual space. Examines narrative back story, style, form, color, light, motion and sound in video games. Develops detailed cultural and environmental backs stories for virtual worlds based on research. Plans and maps layout of interactive virtual worlds that encourage exploration. Researches and applies principles of color, light, form, motion, sound and spatial narrative design. Builds interactive virtual spaces using 3D modeling and game development software. Creates cinematic trailers of virtual worlds, including complex camera moves and soundtracks. Designs logos for virtual worlds based on principles of design, and research of brand identities.

Credits: 4
Software: Maya, Unity, Adobe Photoshop
Prerequisites: NMC 101 and NMC 351
Recommended: n/a 
Campus: Corvallis 

Credits: 3
Software: Figma
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a 
Campus: Corvallis 

Credits: 3
Software: Visual Studio Code
Optional: IDEs Android Studio or Xcode, Dart and Flutter
Prerequisites: n/a
Recommended: n/a 
Campus: Corvallis 


Equipment

To checkout cameras and other available equipment for student loan please visit Media Services.

Mo-Cap: Motion-capture is the process of capturing live movement and performance in a 3-D environment and translating the data to create life-like animated motion.  The NMC motion capture lab features a Vicon 8-camera system -- the same technology used in video games and feature films.  Advanced animation students have the opportunity to experience human performance capture first hand in this state of the art facility.

New Media Lab: The study of video game aesthetics and social interaction in virtual space is emphasized in the New Media Lab.  The lab is a great place to learn about storytelling, networking, and the use of color, light, sound and animation as students play the latest games on the most recent consoles.  The New Media Lab is continually updated to keep up with current developments in the field.

A colorful laptop computer monitor in a dark room