Digital Arts and Culture, BA BA
The Digital Arts and Culture (DAC) BA is an interdisciplinary degree program, combining courses in the areas of arts, humanities, social sciences, and information studies. The major aims to empower learning communities by leading students to a variety of opportunities: to develop skills and understanding of new knowledge production and research methods; to operate with confidence as media practitioners and global communicators with a diverse range of media literacies; and to collaborate and contribute as creative problem solvers using digital media in a networked culture.
Students who complete the Digital Arts & Culture major will be able to:
- Analyze digital and electronic media systems, explaining what these platforms do and how they do it.
- Engage with complex digital issues: online, offline, via ubiquitous computing hardware and software.
- Organize information, both architecturally and visually, structuring software, websites, advertisements, social media, and more.
- Demonstrate hands-on, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary, media production with artists and designers.
Coursework is drawn from three schools/colleges at UWM: Peck School of the Arts, College of Letters and Science, and School of Information Studies, with an overarching interest in the study and practice of Arts, Information, and Media.
Five categories of courses define the themes of the major:
- Core Culture, introducing students to essential cultural and historical dimensions of Digital Art and network practices.
- Media Systems, providing an overview of media industries.
- Digital Composition, building on the foundations of the 100-level core culture courses, encompassing courses that set out competencies in composing with concepts and tools of digital media for students to achieve.
- Understanding Digital Culture, engaging at the upper levels to analyze more complex systems and issues.
- Practicing the Digital Arts, also engaging at the upper levels, as a means of gaining practical experience organizing and collaborating in media production processes.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Considering a Double Major?
Many students find that a double-major in DAC and another area of study makes them even more appealing to employers after graduation.
The DAC program is flexible making it relatively easy to double-major. Popular second majors for students with more technical interests include: information science and technology, data analytics, or data science.
Students more interested in graphic production lean towards art and design or JAMS with a concentration in advertising and public relations. English, communication, marketing, business, and history are also popular choices.
Listed below are the requirements for the Digital Arts and Culture major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Digital Arts and Culture Degree Requirements
You are strongly advised to consult both the DAC advisor and your L&S advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree. A total of 36 credits is required for the major, of which at least 15 upper-level L&S credits must be completed in residence at UWM. No more than 21 credits from a single curricular area may count toward the submajor. Students must earn a 2.0 GPA on all UWM credits that count toward the major. In addition, the College requires that students earn a minimum 2.0 GPA on all transfer work, counting towards the major.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Culture Courses | ||
ART 118 | Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice | 3 |
JAMS/DAC 113 | Internet Culture | 3 |
Media Systems Courses | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet 1 | ||
Introduction to Information Science and Technology | ||
Introduction to Mass Media | ||
Digital Composition Courses | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
Creative Technologies | ||
Moving Images and Sound in Art & Design | ||
Introduction to Design | ||
Technical Writing | ||
Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture: | ||
Web Design I | ||
Media Writing | ||
Publication Design | ||
Introduction to Digital Arts | ||
Understanding Digital Culture Courses | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Issues in Contemporary Art: | ||
Human Communication and Technology | ||
Media and Society: | ||
Human Factors in Information Seeking and Use | ||
Media Ethics | ||
Practicing the Digital Arts Courses | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Web Design | ||
Writing, Speaking, and Technoscience in the 21st Century | ||
Introduction to Application Development | ||
Nonprofit Information Technology (application required before open enrollment) | ||
Media Graphics | ||
Capstone Seminar | ||
DAC 661 | Digital Engagement Seminar (only offered in Spring semesters) | 3 |
Electives | ||
Select at least 6 credits from the Understanding Digital Culture Expanded Electives and 3 credits from the Practicing Digital Arts Expanded Electives. The remaining 3 credits can come from either group. At least one course from each group should be numbered 300 or above. | 12 | |
Understanding Digital Culture Expanded Electives | ||
Games and Society | ||
Anthropology and Popular Culture | ||
Cultures of Online Games and Virtual Worlds | ||
Multicultural America | ||
Issues in Contemporary Art: | ||
Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet (if not selected above) | ||
History and Theory of New Media Art | ||
Communication in Organizations | ||
Human Communication and Technology (if not selected above) | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Entertainment and Politics | ||
Quantitative Research in Communication | ||
Organizational Communication Technology | ||
Rhetoric and the Internet | ||
Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech | ||
Contemporary Imagination in Literature and the Arts | ||
Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: | ||
Literature and Film: | ||
Independent Study | ||
Advanced Independent Study | ||
Science Fiction: | ||
Introduction to Film Studies | ||
Introduction to Television Studies | ||
Game Culture | ||
Topics in Film, Television and Digital Studies: | ||
Film and Literature | ||
Media and Society: (if not selected above) | ||
Cinema, Television, and Genre: | ||
Entertainment Industries: | ||
Theories of Digital Culture: | ||
Intermediate Topics in Film and Television Studies: | ||
Introduction to Global Studies III: Globalization and Technology | ||
Language, Media, and Social Practice in Global Communications | ||
Introduction to Information Science and Technology (if not selected above) | ||
Information Technology Ethics | ||
Human Factors in Information Seeking and Use (if not selected above) | ||
Introduction to Systems Analysis | ||
Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services | ||
Advanced Topics in Information Science & Technology: | ||
The Search Engine Society | ||
Information Technology and Organizations | ||
Introduction to Mass Media (if not selected above) | ||
Gender and the Media | ||
Internet Culture (if not selected above) | ||
Principles of Media Studies | ||
News Literacy | ||
Race and Ethnicity in the Media | ||
History of Mass Media | ||
Media Ethics (if not selected above) | ||
Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age | ||
Media Studies and Culture | ||
Practicing the Digital Arts Expanded Electives | ||
2D Studio: Concept, Color and Composition | ||
Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice (if not selected above) | ||
Creative Technologies (if not selected above) | ||
Moving Images and Sound in Art & Design (if not selected above) | ||
Introduction to Design (if not selected above) | ||
Introduction to Photography | ||
Creative Coding | ||
Digital Painting | ||
Creative Interfaces | ||
3D Environments and XR | ||
Creative Electronics | ||
Web Design (if not selected above) | ||
Web Design II | ||
Digital Media Workshop: | ||
Topics in Web, Interaction and Screen Design: | ||
Motion Graphics | ||
Internship in Digital Arts and Culture, Lower Division | ||
Internship in Digital Arts and Culture, Upper Division | ||
Technical Writing (if not selected above) | ||
Writing in the Professions: (if not selected above) | ||
Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture: | ||
Writing, Speaking, and Technoscience in the 21st Century (if not selected above) | ||
Forms of Experimental Literature: | ||
Topics in Advanced Communications: | ||
Rhetoric and Professional Writing | ||
Technical Documentation | ||
Project Management for Professional Writers | ||
Information Design | ||
Grant Writing | ||
Digital Filmmaking for Non-Majors | ||
Foundation Production: Fiction | ||
Foundation Production: Nonfiction | ||
Introduction to Digital Arts (if not selected above) | ||
Film Art for Non-Majors | ||
Experimental Documentary | ||
Appropriated Media | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information Science | ||
Geographic Information Science | ||
Web Design I (if not selected above) | ||
Web Design II | ||
Introduction to Application Development (if not selected above) | ||
Data Analysis and Visualization for the Information Professional | ||
Multimedia Web Design | ||
Nonprofit Information Technology (if not selected above) | ||
Electronic Publishing and Web Design | ||
Media Writing (if not selected above) | ||
Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations | ||
Publication Design (if not selected above) | ||
Photojournalism | ||
Introduction To Video Storytelling | ||
Audio Storytelling | ||
Introduction to Digital Documentary | ||
Media Graphics (if not selected above) | ||
Introduction to Social Media and Search Engine Optimization | ||
On-Campus Internship ( DAC placement) | ||
Topics in Social Media: | ||
Studio Techniques | ||
Interactive Electronic Music | ||
Special Studies in Music: (Interactivity and Improvisation) | ||
Computer Modeling and Graphics for Live Performance | ||
Sound Production and Digital Editing for Stage and Studio | ||
Sound Design and Digital Editing | ||
Total Credits | 36 |
- 1
ARTHIST 111/ENGLISH 111/FILMSTD 111 can be used either to fulfill the Media Systems requirement, or as an elective, but cannot be used to satisfy both.
Advising
You are strongly advised to consult both the DAC advisor and your L&S advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors, and success coaches. Letters and Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional College Advisors and Faculty Advisors. L&S College Advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental Faculty Advisors focus on the major.
College Advisors are located in Holton Hall and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College Advisors will:
- assist you in defining your academic and life goals;
- help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals;
- assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures;
- provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate; and
- monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty Advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a Faculty Advisor when you declare your major. Faculty Advisors are an important partner and will:
- help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department;
- explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences; and
- serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their College Advisor and Faculty Advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Check out some of the recent jobs our alumni have held: