Learning Outcomes

The certificate provides the following competencies.

  • The ability to think about and develop works of art that use digital technology in creative ways.
  • The ability to participate in critical discourse about such artistic works.
  • The ability to collaborate across disciplines on artistic projects at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds.
  • The ability to use art and digital technology to identify, attract, and interact with audiences in a meaningful and creative way.

The undergraduate Certificate in Public Digital Arts requires a minimum of 24 s.h. of coursework, including at least 18 s.h. earned at the University of Iowa or in approved study abroad courses. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in coursework for the certificate. Courses taken pass/nonpass do not count toward the certificate.

The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) students may earn the certificate when the undergraduate classification is primary.

Students should declare their intent to earn the certificate at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Programs office, at the Academic Advising Center, or on MyUI.

Students complete two core courses, five track courses, and one capstone project. They must meet with the certificate director or a public digital arts advisor every semester to discuss their course selections and plan for the capstone course.

The Certificate in Public Digital Arts requires the following coursework.

Required Core Courses

Both of these:
ARTS:2800/CINE:2800/CS:2800/DANC:2800/DIGA:2800/MUS:2800/THTR:2800Digital Arts: An Introduction3
THTR:3895/DANC:3895/DIGA:3895Performance, Art, and New Technologies in Society3

Track Courses

Students must complete five courses from one track (15 s.h.). At least one of the electives must be taken from the Department of Computer Science (prefix CS), unless students have already taken a college-level introductory computer science course or proficiency can be demonstrated. Students who wish to count a course not listed in a track may submit a request for approval to the certificate director.

Some of these courses have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for a course. Some of these courses also have specific restrictions such as only open to certain majors.

Interactive Design and Intelligent Spaces Track

From human-computer interaction to experiential museum experiences, people are constantly interacting and interfacing with both the physical and digital worlds. How does embedded computation change the way we experience our surroundings? Do immersive environments change the way we experience art and performance?

In this track, students explore how the human body interacts with and can control computers, digital technologies, visual and aural media, and so on, in order to create unique, engaging, and embodied user experiences. Students explore the value of and practical skills needed to create dynamic spaces within the built environment that react to their physical surroundings and the inhabitants within.

Fundamentals

CS:1110Introduction to Computer Science3
CS:2110Programming for Informatics4
CS:2520Human-Computer Interaction for Informatics3
CS:4980Topics in Computer Science II (when topic is virtual reality)3
INTM:2710/CINE:2869Introduction to Intermedia3
May include this course:
THTR:2880/DANC:2880/DIGA:2880Installations and Interactive Performance3

Specialized

CERM:3010Ceramics III: Slip Casting4
CS:3980Topics in Computer Science I (when topic is hybrid mobile application development)3
ISE:5650Mechatronics Engineering for Smart Device Design3
ISE:5995Contemporary Topics in Industrial Engineering (when topic is creative engineering design)arr.
MUS:3285/DIGA:3285New Musical Instruments: From Design to Performance3
MUS:4250Composition: Electronic Media I3
MUS:4251Composition: Electronic Media II3
SCLP:2810Undergraduate Sculpture I3
SCLP:3840/DIGA:3840Robotic Art Studio4
SCLP:4835/DIGA:4835Electronic Objects and Spaces4
SCLP:4840/DIGA:4840Air, Actuators, and Motors4
TDSN:2210Introduction to 3D Design3
TDSN:2240/CEE:2240Digital Drafting with AutoCAD3
TDSN:2250Digital Prototyping3
THTR:3230/ARTS:3230Scene Design I3
THTR:3250Lighting Design I3
THTR:3260Sound Design for the Theatre3
THTR:3270Entertainment Design3
THTR:4230Scene Design II3
THTR:4250Lighting Design II3

New Modes of Storytelling Track

Digital and emerging technologies are changing the ways stories are told and experienced. How can we as storytellers, artists, and engineers use digital media and new technologies to engage 21st-century audiences? Students explore the ideas and technologies that are shaping new modes of storytelling through a variety of transdisciplinary methods across multiple platforms, such as live performances, online experiences, mobile technologies, digital video, immersive installations, and augmented and virtual reality.

Fundamentals

ANIM:2125Introduction to Animation3
ANIM:3125Animation I4
ARTS:2000/ASP:2000/EDTL:2000/RHET:2000Big Ideas: Creativity for a Lifetime3
CINE:1100The Art of Smartphone Filmmaking3
CINE:1834/THTR:1834Modes of Film and Video Production4
CINE:4843Film/Video Production: Image Design4
CINE:4845Film/Video Production: Editing4
CINE:4890Media Production Workshop4
CNW:2770The Art and Craft of Writing for New Media3
CS:1110Introduction to Computer Science3
CS:2110Programming for Informatics4
CS:2520Human-Computer Interaction for Informatics3
CW:3218/INTD:3200Creative Writing for New Media3
THTR:3230/ARTS:3230Scene Design I3

Specialized

CINE:2866Film/Video Production: Nonfiction3
CINE:2868Film/Video Production: Fiction3
CINE:4841Film/Video Production: Sound Design4
COMM:1840Introduction to Media Production3
CS:4980Topics in Computer Science II (when topic is virtual reality)3
CW:3215/INTD:3300Creative Writing and Popular Culture3
DANC:3050Body/Image: Dance and Media in Discourse and Practice3
INTM:2710/CINE:2869Introduction to Intermedia3
MUS:3285/DIGA:3285New Musical Instruments: From Design to Performance3
MUS:4250Composition: Electronic Media I3
MUS:4251Composition: Electronic Media II3
SCLP:2810Undergraduate Sculpture I3
SCLP:3840/DIGA:3840Robotic Art Studio4
SCLP:4835/DIGA:4835Electronic Objects and Spaces4
SCLP:4840/DIGA:4840Air, Actuators, and Motors4
THTR:3250Lighting Design I3
THTR:4230Scene Design II3
THTR:4250Lighting Design II3
May include this course:
THTR:2880/DANC:2880/DIGA:2880Installations and Interactive Performance3
May include this course:
THTR:2890/DANC:2890/DIGA:2890/INTM:2890Producing and Directing Digital Video3

Sound Design Track

Sound is a critical component to the audience experience of traditional and new media. Students focus on sound design by selecting additional courses in electronic music production and composing, audio engineering, and acoustics, among others.

This track provides an opportunity for students to focus their training in (or specialize in) the theory and practical skills needed to create and produce sound design for live public performances in theater, dance, and/or music that use digital and new technologies; interactive sound art; public art exhibitions, installations, or gallery settings; music and sound recordings for analog and digital release; internet, mobile technology, and new media applications; augmented and virtual reality; and games.

Fundamentals

CINE:4841Film/Video Production: Sound Design4
MUS:3780Audio Recording I3
MUS:3781Audio Recording II3
MUS:4250Composition: Electronic Media I3
MUS:4251Composition: Electronic Media II3
THTR:3260Sound Design for the Theatre3

Specialized

CS:1110Introduction to Computer Science3
CS:3980Topics in Computer Science I (when topic is interactive multimedia programming)3
CS:4980Topics in Computer Science II (when topic is virtual reality)3
JMC:2020Multimedia Storytelling3
JMC:3440Multimedia Narratives3-4
MUS:3190Center for New Music Ensemble (when topic is LOUi laptop orchestra)1
MUS:3280Spectral Nature of Sound: Acoustics, Analysis, and Resynthesis3
MUS:3285/DIGA:3285New Musical Instruments: From Design to Performance3
SCLP:3840/DIGA:3840Robotic Art Studio4
SCLP:4835/DIGA:4835Electronic Objects and Spaces4
May include this course:
THTR:2890/DANC:2890/DIGA:2890/INTM:2890Producing and Directing Digital Video3

Visual Design Track

Visual modes of communication consume our daily experience, from informational road signs to internet interfaces to the omnipresence of digital screens. Visual design is a crucial aspect to telling stories and communicating in both traditional and new media. Students focus on visual design by selecting additional courses in digital video, theatrical design, graphic design, 3D design, and animation, among others.

The track provides an opportunity for students to focus their training in (or specialize in) the theory and practical skills needed to create and produce visual design for live public performances in theater, dance, and/or music that use digital and new technologies; interactive visual art; public art exhibitions, installations, or gallery settings; film and video productions for analog and digital release; internet, mobile technology, and new media applications, including 360 video; augmented and virtual reality; and games.

Fundamentals

ANIM:2125Introduction to Animation3
ANIM:3125Animation I4
CINE:1834/THTR:1834Modes of Film and Video Production4
CS:1110Introduction to Computer Science3
CS:2110Programming for Informatics4
CS:2520Human-Computer Interaction for Informatics3
THTR:3202Graphic Design for the Entertainment Industry2-3
THTR:3230/ARTS:3230Scene Design I3
THTR:3250Lighting Design I3
THTR:3270Entertainment Design3
THTR:4230Scene Design II3
THTR:4250Lighting Design II3
May include this course:
THTR:2890/DANC:2890/DIGA:2890/INTM:2890Producing and Directing Digital Video3

Specialized

CERM:3010Ceramics III: Slip Casting4
CINE:2868Film/Video Production: Fiction3
CINE:3195Undergraduate Seminar (when topic is video games and cinema)3
CINE:4821Film/Video Production: Selected Topics4
CINE:4843Film/Video Production: Image Design4
CINE:4845Film/Video Production: Editing4
CINE:4890Media Production Workshop4
CS:4980Topics in Computer Science II (when topic is virtual reality)3
GEOG:1050Foundations of GIS4
SCLP:3840/DIGA:3840Robotic Art Studio4
SCLP:4835/DIGA:4835Electronic Objects and Spaces4
SCLP:4840/DIGA:4840Air, Actuators, and Motors4
TDSN:2210Introduction to 3D Design3
TDSN:2240/CEE:2240Digital Drafting with AutoCAD3
TDSN:2250Digital Prototyping3

Choose Your Own Adventure Track

This track is geared toward the creative entrepreneur, the trail blazer who does not fit into the tracks listed above, and toward the student who wants to forge a new path. This track allows a student to work with a public digital arts advisor to create a specialized plan of study.

Capstone Project

The capstone project must result in a work that is both artistic and digital, and it must be shared in a meaningful way with the public. The project must be informally approved by the certificate director at least one semester before the work takes place. A student then selects at least one faculty member from an appropriate department as a formal advisor. The student submits a written proposal to the certificate director and the advisor. The proposal must include a description of the work; a statement of why the student is prepared to accomplish the work; and a list of equipment, materials, space, or funding required. Once the proposal is approved by the director and advisor, the student enrolls in an independent study course with the advisor as instructor. The student meets with the advisor on a regular basis and engages other faculty and students as needed. Once the project is complete and shared publicly, the advisor evaluates the project and submits a letter grade.

Capstone project (consult certificate director)3