Interactive Multimedia at TCNJ

The Interactive Multimedia program was created in 2003 at The College of New Jersey. It is a major that contains three different disciplines: Digital Media, Interactive Computing, and Professional Writing. In 2006 these paths were headed by Philip Sanders, Ursula Wolz, and Kim Pearson respectively.
Definition of Interactive multimedia
Interactive multimedia refers to the use of several media in learning where learners are able to process information through multiple sensory channels including auditory, visual and kinesthetic manipulation. The advantages of interactive multimedia in learning include visualizing abstract and concrete ideas by creating images, diagrams, or animations, reducing cognitive load in learning, facilitating mental representation of external objects, and improving cognitive learning for low spatial ability learners.
Overview
The program in Interactive Multimedia is a transdisciplinary undergraduate education, providing a national exemplar of educating students to be "successful, ethical, and visionary leaders in a multicultural, highly technological, and increasingly global world." The program is a cutting-edge, collaborative work to prepare students for the next generation of innovation in technology and communication. It is specifically targeted to students who are talented across disciplines, those whose gifts are broad-based and whose potential lies in developing skills to integrate ideas from a variety of perspectives. The program is unique and explicitly designed as an undergraduate experience. It is the only program of its type in the country (undergraduate or graduate) that combines in a balanced manner with emphasis on interaction and collaboration, the three areas of Digital Media, Interactive Computing, and Professional Writing.
Students may specialize in one of the above areas, each one leading to a different option to be indicated on their transcript. Due to the inherent transdisciplinary nature of Interactive Multimedia, students in one area continue to take intermediate and advanced courses in each of the other two areas. Students also work with others from all three areas, in order to develop an approach that represents an intellectual synthesis within their discipline.
Students who complete the major are prepared to work in such diverse fields as web design and production, technical writing, instructional technology, as well as print, online, interactive, or broadcast media. The Interactive Multimedia program can be effectively coupled with an array of existing majors and minors, including English, Music, Computer Science, Art, Marketing, Information Systems, Women and Gender Studies, African American Studies, Communications, History, Psychology and Sociology. Courses in departments such as Art and Music are shared among the programs. Not only will minors and dual majors be available to students in these programs, but students will be able to take various courses taught in other programs as a part of their major.
The on-going mission of the Interactive Multimedia program is to bring students and faculty together from disparate, although converging, fields with the expectation that they work together, collaboratively and as individual creators, with respect and understanding for varying points of view, vision, and contributions; meaning...
* To be one of the earliest leading and innovative programs that support and nurture this attitude of creativity among and across disciplines;
*To have faculty and students working together in a collaborative environment, where they can effectively pursue and share their research and creative goals;
* To foster:
** depth of investigation into underlying structures, principles and processes;
** quality of communication and realization of output/projects;
** concern for the social implications and effects of the results of this work;
** a place where learning is both significant and enjoyable.

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