What is New Media?

new media

This course will explore the fundamentals of new media scholarship. Together, we will review and engage with different theories and histories of emerging media in philosophical, social, cultural, and political contexts. Students will be able to research, think and write critically about some of the central debates in media studies. Classes consist of theoretical readings, seminar discussions, and writing/research workshops.

Interaction Lab

professor and student working on physical computation project

In Interaction Lab students are asked to think beyond the conventional forms of human computer interaction (i.e. the keyboard and mouse) to develop interfaces that consider the entire body, the body’s capacity for gesture, as well as the relationship between the body and its environment. Students learn the fundamentals of electronics and programming and gain a deeper appreciation of the expressive possibilities of computation.

Interaction Lab course site

Communications Lab

communications lab student work

In Communications Lab course students explore the possibilities of emerging media by successively producing projects that make use of digital images, graphics, audio, and video. The course is designed to provide students with a framework to effectively communicate and tell stories through digital means. Students learn through hands-on experimentation in a laboratory context and the principles of interpersonal communication, media theory, and human factors are introduced in readings and investigated through discussion.

Communications Lab course site

Creative Coding Lab

Creative Coding Lab

In Creative Coding Lab students learn the fundamentals of computation, software design, and web technologies through a series of creative projects. The course is intended to equip students with the skills to develop artistic and business projects that include a significant computational component. Within the framework of these creative projects students develop a greater understanding of how computer programs operate, are exposed to various concepts used to create experiences and interactions, and become more familiar with some of the technologies that constitute the internet.

Creative Coding Lab course site