Interactive Media

Develop depth in interactive and digital design with technical skills in web, graphics, video production, and digital writing.

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Interactive Media, B.S.

Communicating with emerging technologies is what the Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media is all about. This program will prepare you to work in an ever-changing environment.

Skilled and knowledgeable professionals are needed to translate the latest digital technology into effective communication whether on the Internet, on a phone or tablet, or in a virtual world. Every business or organization needs experts like Interactive Media graduates to achieve their objectives. You'll learn the latest trends, technology, and techniques to target audiences for your employer or customer. The Interactive Media program will prepare you to harness today's digital technologies with important foundational skills and knowledge. Our interdisciplinary program combines the use of text, images, video, sound, graphics, and interactivity to communicate through a variety of ever-changing digital platforms such as social media, apps, virtual and augmented reality, and games. The curriculum includes audience analysis, content creation, strategy, measurement, and management in a blend of theoretical and hands-on approaches. The curriculum culminates with a senior capstone course and an internship in a professional setting. But what about tomorrow? You'll be ready.

Careers
Requirements
Faculty
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Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information

News Briefs

MTSU freshman says Interactive Media program gave him tools to launch business

East Tennessee native, Jackson Greene, was drawn to MTSU for several reasons, including its top Media Arts program. "MTSU had all the benefits and amenities of a large school but still had the small school feel. The Media Arts program was one of the best in the nation… I Ioved the campus upon my first tour," he said. In late 2020, while still a freshman, Greene started a web design and digital marketing agency, Pursuit Digital LLC. "The Interactive Media program has given me so many tools and learning experiences in miscellaneous media fields," Greene said. "The professors have cared about my learning and do have the experience to back up what they teach. I've taken the skills I have learned from my coursework and directly applied it to Pursuit Digital LLC. Whether it is writing headlines, SEO tools, or social media strategy, the Interactive Media program heavily influences what I do in regards to clients. The program adequately prepared me to start a successful business, and I am certain it can do the same for others."

Murfreesboro native says Interactive Media program sets students up for success

As a Murfreesboro native interested in mass communications, the decision to attend MTSU was an easy one for Patrick Sams. Majoring in Interactive Media, Sams said he the variety of classes he took as an Interactive Media major really helped him have a much broader understanding of digital media as a whole. "While I learned countless things in the Interactive Media program, such as social media management, web design, video production skills, and graphic design, I think the biggest skill was setting myself up for success post-graduation." Sams said he continues to stay in touch with some of his professors, who are happy to continue to offer expertise and advice. "The professors are truly there to help you and help market yourself effectively to have a job post-graduation. I still find myself emailing professors asking for advice, and I still get a speedy and authentic response," he said. Sams now works at Cornell University as a New Media Specialist and is responsible for developing content and maintaining the university's brand on its social media accounts.

News Briefs

MTSU freshman says Interactive Media program gave him tools to launch business

East Tennessee native, Jackson Greene, was drawn to MTSU for several reasons, including its top Media Arts program. "MTSU had all the benefits and amenities of a large school but still had the small school feel. The Media Arts program was one of the best in the nation… I Ioved the campus upon my first tour," he said. In late 2020, while still a freshman, Greene started a web design and digital marketing agency, Pursuit Digital LLC. "The Interactive Media program has given me so many tools and learning experiences in miscellaneous media fields," Greene said. "The professors have cared about my learning and do have the experience to back up what they teach. I've taken the skills I have learned from my coursework and directly applied it to Pursuit Digital LLC. Whether it is writing headlines, SEO tools, or social media strategy, the Interactive Media program heavily influences what I do in regards to clients. The program adequately prepared me to start a successful business, and I am certain it can do the same for others."

Murfreesboro native says Interactive Media program sets students up for success

As a Murfreesboro native interested in mass communications, the decision to attend MTSU was an easy one for Patrick Sams. Majoring in Interactive Media, Sams said he the variety of classes he took as an Interactive Media major really helped him have a much broader understanding of digital media as a whole. "While I learned countless things in the Interactive Media program, such as social media management, web design, video production skills, and graphic design, I think the biggest skill was setting myself up for success post-graduation." Sams said he continues to stay in touch with some of his professors, who are happy to continue to offer expertise and advice. "The professors are truly there to help you and help market yourself effectively to have a job post-graduation. I still find myself emailing professors asking for advice, and I still get a speedy and authentic response," he said. Sams now works at Cornell University as a New Media Specialist and is responsible for developing content and maintaining the university's brand on its social media accounts.

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CAREERS

MTSU's Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media offers opportunities to prepare you for an exciting new world of possibilities. Every organization relies on interactive media to connect with, do business with, and nurture relationships with clients and customers. This ability to interact with audiences through media is a critical driver of innovation, influence, information, entertainment, commerce, and education. This field offers a wide spectrum of specializations to fit individual strengths.

What does a career in Interactive Media look like?

The Interactive Media degree program is designed to give you a wide variety of skills and in conjunction with a complementing minor you'll be prepared to start an exciting career.

This is a sampling of job titles of our alumni:

  • Agile Program Manager
  • Brand Manager of Interactive Media
  • Content Specialist
  • Creative Producer
  • Digital Marketing Specialist
  • Digital Media Specialist
  • Digital Strategist
  • Director of E-commerce Marketing Strategies
  • Full Stack Developer
  • Marketing Coordinator
  • Production Artist
  • Senior Software Engineer
  • Social Media Analyst
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Software Developer
  • User Experience Designer
  • UI Specialist
  • Video Producer

What can you earn as an Interactive Media professional?

The Interactive Media degree prepares you for an exciting professional life that can support you and your goals. Our graduates are finding positions like digital marketing, web analytics, online video, etc. Entry level jobs start between $26,000 and $35,000per year. Technology companies (we have dozens in the Middle Tennessee area) and retail companies have the most job opportunities. After a few years, the average salary isabout $50,334 a year or about $24 an hour. After four or more years of experience, you can expect to make upwards of $96,000. As you get more experience you can getmore specialized and the salaries begin to increase.

Sources: Zippia.com, ZipRecruiter.com, Comparably.com

Where do our graduates work?

Interactive Media graduates work in all kinds of industries. That's because communicating with new technology affects every business or organization.

 

REQUIREMENTS

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FACULTY

INFORMATION

Degrees

Undergraduate

Undergraduates in Interactive Media earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The Interactive Media degree requires a minor in a number of recommended areas including Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Video and Film, Media Management, Information Systems, Computer Science, Recording Industry, etc.

Minor

The Interactive Media program also offers a minor in Interactive Media. The minor requires the completion of 15 credit hours.

Graduate

The College of Media and Entertainment offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Media and Communication.

Computers and Software

Interactive Media is about communicating with the latest technology. That means having the best computer you can afford and the software to go with it. A general rule of thumb is to purchase a computer with the largest screen, fastest processor (CPU), the most memory (Gb), and the largest hard drive (Tb)  that you can afford. A large screen is also good but can add significant weight to the laptop. You should expect your laptop to last for at least the four years you attend college so getting the biggest and fastest “future proofs” your purchase. These are the specifications we recommend: 

  • Minimum 13” display 
  • Processor (CPU) - Apple: MacOS M1 and M2; Windows: Intel Core i3 or i5 or the AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 
  • Minimum of 8 Gb (gigabytes) of memory (RAM) 
  • 1 Tb (terabyte) solid state drive (SSD)
  • Suggest a 1 Tb external SSD for project work and computer backups

We recommend either the Apple MacBook Pro or the equivalent Windows computer like the Dell XPS. Small computers like the Microsoft Surface or Google Chromebook do not meet these requirements. Will a Windows gaming computer work? Yes, but it will be heavy to lug around campus.

You can get a discount on Apple computers at the Apple Education Store. Apple also has good deals on factory refurbished laptops. Windows computers can be purchased at the MTSU Dell store. Dell has an outlet store.

Our lab classrooms have computers with the latest software installed but most students carry their laptop with them to work wherever they happen to be.

What about software? Interactive Media has very little required software and what we do use is supplied by MTSU. You are able to download a suite of Adobe Creative Cloud software to your laptop. And you are able to download Microsoft Office 365  to your laptop as well. There are also some specialty online software that we have negotiated free use for class or it is available online for free. 

Interactive Media Minor

Media Arts

The Interactive Media minor requires the completion of 15 credit hours.

Required (9 hours)

Elective (6 hours)

Choose two:

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