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Interactive digital media students will learn how to design and develop non-linear applications including websites, apps, interactive exhibits and casual games. The areas of study within the program are rooted in several different disciplines: visual communication, media fluency, coding/authoring, user research, and analysis and assessment revision.
The BA in Interactive Digital Media program at Webster is unique because if offers a strong foundation in user experience (UX) design, media production and web-based programming languages. Our students work closely with practitioner faculty, applying theoretical knowledge to hands-on projects, building a portfolio of high-quality work.
The Webster Difference
“The small class sizes helped me learn better and allows students to have better communication with their professors and other classmates.”
Sophia Ziegler
BA in Interactive Digital Media, '22
Practical Experience
Interactive Digital Media students complete a practical experience as part of their degree requirement. Our students have an excellent track record for securing internships, which often lead to permanent positions.
We have a full-time staff member in the School of Communications who is dedicated to finding and securing internships for our students. Each year, we have an Internship Expo on campus attended by several companies and organization looking for interns. These internships may be paid or unpaid depending on the student’s arrangement with the employer.
Our majors have interned at businesses and organizations around St. Louis as well in other states in countries, including Integrity Media, Momentum, 963 Collective, Websanity, FleishmanHillard, Twist, Coolfire Media, and C3 Presents (Austin, Texas).
16th in the Midwest
Webster University continues to be highly ranked on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges report, now listed as 16th in Midwest Regional Universities and included in four best-of categories. This year, the University's score rose to its highest level since the ranking system was established.
Details of Webster's Interactive Digital Media programs
Offers a BA in Interactive Digital Media, minors in Interactive Digital Media and Online Content Creation, and a certificate in User Experience Design
Our 122-credit hour Interactive Digital Media BA is a versatile and career-focused production-based degree program that gives students the creative problem solving skills to build a variety of interactive experiences and push web-based enterprises to the next level. Students apply user-centered design principles, professional media production techniques and web-based programming languages to develop websites, apps, interactive exhibits and casual games.
Required Courses
- COAP 2000 Introduction to Web Programming (3 hours)
- DESN 1210 Design Concepts (3 hours)
- DESN 3500 UI/UX (3 hours)
- EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production (3 hours)
- EPMD 1001 Introduction to Adobe Photoshop (1 hour)
- EPMD 1002 Introduction to Adobe Illustrator (1 hour)
- EPMD 1101 Introduction to WordPress (1 hour)
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Digital Media (3 hours)
- INTM 2200 Visual Design for Interactive Media (3 hours)
- INTM 3050 Information Visualization (3 hours)
- INTM 4200 User Experience Design in Theory and Practice (3 hours)
- MDST 1010 Media Foundations (3 hours)
- MDST 3100 Social Media Strategies & Tactics (3 hours)
- MDST 2500 Professional Development for Media Careers (3 hours)
- ADVT 4040 Advertising Production (3 hours)
FTVP 3500 Production House (3 hours)
or MDST 4950 Internship* (3 hours)
* Capstone Course
A minimum of 12 credit hours must be chosen from the following:
Skill Electives
- ANIM 2200 3D Modeling (3 hours)
- ANIM 3200 3D Animation and Rigging (3 hours)
- ANIM 4400 Photorealistic 3D Animation (3 hours)
- ART 3060 Text and Image (3 hours)
- COAP 2100 Web Technology Principles (3 hours)
- COAP 2130 Web Scripting (3 hours)
- COAP 2190 Mobile Web Design (3 hours)
- COAP 3000 Advanced Web Scripting (3 hours)
- COAP 3110 Interactive Site Development (3 hours)
- COAP 3120 Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (3 hours)
- COAP 3200 Advanced Web Programming (3 hours)
- COSC 2070 Introduction to Mobile Technology (3 hours)
- CSIS 1500 Introduction to Business Technologies (3 hours)
- CSIS 2300 Electronic Commerce (3 hours)
- DESN 2200 Design Play (3 hours)
- DESN 2300 Type Dialogues (3 hours)
- DESN 3200 Design Theory and Methods (3 hours)
- GAME 1500 Introduction to Video Game Design (3 hours)
- GAME 1000 Analog Game Design (3 hours)
- GAME 3000 Video Game Design I (3 hours)
- GAME 4000 Video Game Level Design (3 hours)
- GAME 4500 Video Game Design II (3 hours)
- INTM 3150 Special Topics (3 hours)
- MNGT 2700 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (3 hours)
- MNGT 3740 Global Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
Although any combination of these courses can be taken to fulfill the skills elective degree requirements, courses can be grouped by the following areas for students who want to focus on a particular aspect of interactive digital media:
User Experience Design
- ART 3060 Text and Image (3 hours)
- DESN 2200 Design Play (3 hours)
- DESN 2300 Type Dialogues (3 hours)
- DESN 3200 Design Theory and Methods (3 hours)
Web and App Development
- COAP 2100 Web Technology Principles (3 hours)
- COAP 2130 Web Scripting (3 hours)
- COAP 2190 Mobile Web Design (3 hours)
- COAP 3000 Advanced Web Scripting (3 hours)
- COAP 3110 Interactive Site Development (3 hours)
- COAP 3120 Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (3 hours)
- COAP 3200 Advanced Web Programming (3 hours)
- COSC 2070 Introduction to Mobile Technology (3 hours)
Game Design
- GAME 1500 Introduction to Video Game Design (3 hours)
- GAME 1000 Analog Game Design (3 hours)
- GAME 3000 Video Game Design I (3 hours)
- GAME 4000 Video Game Level Design (3 hours)
- GAME 4500 Video Game Design II (3 hours)
Online Business/Entrepreneurship
- CSIS 1500 Introduction to Business Technologies (3 hours)
- CSIS 2300 Electronic Commerce (3 hours)
- MNGT 2700 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (3 hours)
- MNGT 3740 Global Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
Virtual and Augmented Reality
- ANIM 2000 3D Modeling (3 hours)
- ANIM 3200 3D Animation and Rigging (3 hours)
- ANIM 4400 Photorealistic 3D Animation (3 hours)
The minor in interactive digital media is intended to give students from all academic disciplines within the university an opportunity to acquire planning, design and coding skills needed to develop websites, apps, interactive exhibits and casual games. Students will have an ability to code interactive applications using core web languages and to articulate the design and structure of interactive applications using flowcharts, wireframes and prototypes. Students will gain facility with multiple forms of media (graphics, audio, video, animation, photo) and their associated software.
Students may not major and minor in the same subject matter area.
Required Courses
- COAP 2000 Introduction to Web Programming (3 hours)
- EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production (3 hours)
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Digital Media (3 hours)
- INTM 2200 Visual Design for Interactive Media (3 hours)
- INTM 3050 Information Visualization (3 hours)
- INTM 4200 User Experience Design in Theory and Practice (3 hours)
Social media influencers, online video producers, bloggers, and other web-based content creators have redefined how we think of the making of media, blurring the lines that once separated traditional production fields. The minor in Online Content Creation is designed for the student who wishes to work across platforms creating and deploying online content for themselves or others using a variety of methods and modalities. This program can be completed entirely online. Graduates of this program will demonstrate a basic proficiency with different forms of social media and build a successful online presence with a unique aesthetic.
Required Courses
- AUDI 1000 Audio Production for Nonmajors (3 hours)
- AUDI 1063 Introduction to Podcasting (3 hours)
- EPMD 1004 Introduction to Adobe After Effects (1 hour)
- EPMD 1101 Introduction to Wordpress (1 hour)
- FTVP 1000 Introduction to Film, Television and Video Production (3 hours)
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Media (3 hours)
- INTM 2200 Visual Design for Interactive Media (3 hours)
- MDST 3100 Social Media Strategies and Tactics (3 hours)
- PHOT 1010 Digital Basic Photography (3 hours)
User experience design is the multi-disciplinary process teams use to create functional, intuitive and enjoyable interactive experiences for the intended user. Students in this certificate program will learn the theoretical and conceptual foundations of user experience design and use them to develop designs for websites, apps, games and exhibits.
Successful recipients of the certificate program will be able to:
- Conduct user research and usability tests to inform design solution.
- Create wireframes and flowcharts to articulate plans for interactive projects.
- Demonstrate innovation using an individual, creative voice through UX/UI Design.
- Define, identify and illustrate design concepts and terminology.
Required Courses (18 credit hours)
- DESN 1210 Design Concepts (3 hours)
- DESN 1500 Digital Visualization (3 hours)
or INTM 2200 Visual Design for Interactive Media (3 hours) - DESN 2300 Type Dialogues (3 hours)
- DESN 2500 UI/UX (3 hours)
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Media (3 hours)
- INTM 4200 User Experience Design in Theory and Practice (3 hours)
Can I emphasize in design or coding?
Interactive digital media majors are required to take electives related to the major. Students can fulfill this requirement with design or coding classes to create an area of specialization. Other suggested areas of specialization include game design and entrepreneurship. Students can formalize this secondary area of emphasis by pursuing a masters or certificate in these areas.
Can I double major?
Yes! A second major can be a rich source of content for the interactive projects you create within the interactive digital media major.
Is it possible for transfer students to complete this degree in two additional years of schooling?
Yes. In fact, many of our most successful alumni are transfer students from community colleges who completed their degrees at Webster University in two years (or less!) Our advisors work directly with transfer students to ensure that your experience at Webster will enhance your existing skills and knowledge.
Webster graduates work in web design, development, content creation, and creative technology positions within multiple fields, including manufacturing, online retail, higher education, advertising and marketing. Graduates have held job titles including web master, graphic designer, interactive designer, front-end engineer, web developer, social media manager, digital developer, and I-net administrator. Some of the businesses and organizations that have hired our students include TOKY, Momentum Worldwide, Mastercard, Maritz, Ronnoco, goBRANDgo! the University of Missouri, Carboline, Purina, Singularity Interactive, and Think Tank Marketing and PR.
Can I study abroad as an interactive digital media major?
Yes. Yes. Yes! We strongly encourage our students to study at one of Webster’s international campuses. The tuition is the same, and because you will be studying at a Webster campus, you will not need to transfer any credits when you return. Also — if you are a full-time student in good standing and choose to study abroad for at least 8 weeks, the University will fund your plane ticket to and from any of Webster’s international campuses.
Can interactive digital media transfer students study abroad?
Yes. Working closely with an advisor, many interactive digital media transfer students have been able to incorporate international experience during their two-year tenure at Webster.
Sverdrup West Wing Remodeling
The west wing of Sverdrup will be rebuilt as a state-of-the-art media production and communication education facility, providing our students the most up-to-date and unique technology in the entire region.
Learn more about the Sverdrup renovations including plans, progress updates, room relocations, and more.
Career Opportunities and Job Outlook
Ample career opportunities exist for our majors. Client-driven businesses such as advertising/marketing companies employ interactive digital media graduates as members of their digital groups especially if they offer interactive design and development as one of their services. Almost any medium to large size institution has a need for in-house interactive developers to manage their web sites, intranet or develop interactive training. Finally, organizations that develop educational content need interactive media majors to build interactive screen-based experiences. These are just a few of the types of environments where our alumni have found work.
Interactive Digital Media students have also gone on to become successful entrepreneurs. The practical skills of media production, web development, user research, and visual communication that students receive while pursuing this degree is a tremendous asset for any small business owner.
Broadly, jobs for media and communications majors are expected to increase 14% between 2020 and 2030 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
- Jobs for web developers and digital designers are predicted to increase 13% through 2030. As of May 2020, the median annual wage for web developers and digital designers is $77,200 (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
- Jobs for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers are predicted to increase 10% through 2030. As of May 2020, the median annual wage for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is $141,490 (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
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