Co‐Program Chairs: Bill Karis and Christopher A. Lynch
Digital Arts & Sciences (DA&S) is a multidisciplinary B.S. degree spanning the boundaries between the sciences and the arts. DA&S students benefit from an education in both the artistic and scientific aspects of digital media. The program prepares students for career opportunities in a wide range of fields — such as working with film and video gaming companies, mobile and web application design and development, computational science research (scientific visualization and simulation), interactive display systems and immersive experience design.
Students take advantage of programs in digital art, math, computer science and communication & media. The program’s objective is to combine artistic and scientific skills and interests to develop creative talent with a strong technical foundation.
The curriculum for the Digital Arts & Sciences Major is designed to achieve the following outcomes:
Develop a strong interdisciplinary foundation in the digital arts, mathematics, and computer science fields
Specialize in one or more areas of advanced study in the program
Acquire artistic and scientific skills through project‐based assignments that include the opportunity for directed study and thesis projects guided by a professor
Experience working in a collaborative, team‐based atmosphere for large‐scale projects that are designed to emulate real‐world situations and problems
Learn how to utilize technological, traditional and experimental methods of creative and analytical problem‐solving
Master oral, visual, and written communication skills essential for work in all fields of the arts and sciences
Learn about career opportunities in the arts and sciences in preparation for seeking professional employment or advanced academic study after graduation
Create a portfolio of artistic and scientific research which demonstrates the knowledge gained as a student in the program
DA&S students benefit from small classes and personal attention. The DA&S major is strengthened by Clarkson's technology‐rich environment. Students have access to state‐of‐the‐art facilities and
experiences such as:
Eastman Kodak Center for Excellence in Communication Usability Testing Laboratory
Virtual Reality Discovery Laboratory Clarkson Open Source Institute Digital Art Software and Programs Digital Arts Visualization Lab Digital Arts Experimental Studio
Industry Standard Art & Design Software Digital Video and Audio Equipment 2D and 3D Printing Technology Audio Production Studio
Motion Capture Equipment
Field Trips to International Digital Arts Festivals, Conferences and Companies
Digital Art Portfolio Development
process spanning multiple semesters. The culminating project, a digital art portfolio, requires each DA&S student to demonstrate his or her creative ability and technical prowess in a variety of media choices, using a wide range of digital tools. The portfolio will tangibly demonstrate a student’s skills and potential, and will prove to be a key first‐step in leading to job opportunities and/or entry to graduate school.
REQUIREMENTS (see below for details)
Areas of Study Credit Hours
Digital Arts DA 27
Mathematics and Computer Science (MA, STAT, and CS) 28 Major Electives: DA, COMM, MA, CS 12
Science 7
Clarkson Common Experience 18
Free Electives 27
First‐Year Seminar 1
Total 120
Digital Arts & Sciences Sample Curriculum FIRST YEAR
First Semester Second Semester
Course Title Cr. Hrs. Course Title Cr. Hrs.
DA110 Drawing 3 DA100 Intro to Digital Art 3 MA131 Calculus I 3 MA132 Calculus II 3 DA120 Elements of Design 3 DA140 Intro to Digital Art: Form & Code 3 UNIV190 Clarkson Seminar 3 DA/COMM /MA/CS Elective 3 FY100 First‐Year Seminar 1 Elective 3
13 15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester Second Semester
Course Title Cr. Hrs. Course Title Cr. Hrs.
DA2__ 200 Level DA Course
3 DA___ 300 Level DA Course
3 DA__ DA Elective 3 MA230/231 3‐D Space & 3 CA141 Computer
Science I
4 Proj. Geo./Calc III 3
10 CS142 Computer Science II 3 DA/COMM/M A/C Electives 3 15 JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester Second Semester
Course Title Cr. Hrs. Course Title Cr. Hrs.
MA377 Numerical Methods
3 MA339 Applied Linear Algebra 3 DA/COMM/MA
/CS
Elective 3 CS452 Computer Graphics 3
DA491 Profession al Practice
3 Natural Science Elective 3 DA/COMM/MA /CS Physics I 4 9 DA/COMM /MA/CS Elective 3 16
First Semester Second Semester
Course Title Cr. Hrs. Course Title Cr. Hrs.
STAT381 Probability (or DTAT383/282)
3 DA492 Senior Studies 3
Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 15 15
120 hours that satisfy the requirements of the Clarkson Common Experience and that include the following:
Digital Arts and Communication & Media (DA and COMM) courses as follows: DA100 Introduction to Digital Art: Time & Image
DA110 Drawing
DA120 Elements of Design or COMM221 2D Digital Design DA140 Introductory to Digital Art: Form & Code
DA__ DA Elective
DA2__ DA 200 level Elective DA3__ DA 300 level Elective DA491 Professional Practice DA492 Senior Studies
Mathematics and Computer Science (MA, STAT, and CS) courses as follows: CS141 Introduction to Computer Science I
CS142 Introduction to Computer Science II CS452 or EE465 Computer Graphics
MA131 Calculus I MA132 Calculus II
MA230 3‐D Space & Projection Geometry, or MA231 Calculus III MA 339 Applied Linear Algebra
MA 377 Numerical Methods
Major Electives
COMM/DA/MA/CS Elective COMM/DA/MA/CS Elective
Science Requirements
PH131 Physics I or PH141 Physics for Life Sciences I
Three credits from physics, chemistry, biology, or Science Foundation courses
Clarkson Common Experience Requirements
UNIV 190 Clarkson Seminar
Five Knowledge Area (KA) courses; must collect four different KA’s from the six available KA’s (one course must be a UNIV course (covers two KA’s).
o Contemporary & Global Issues (CGI) o Cultures & Society (CSO)
o Imaginative Arts (IA)
o Individual & Group Behavior (IG) o Science, Technology & Society (STS)
o Communications Points: Total of 6 points, at least 2 points must be in Major courses at 300+
level.
Further Requirements
Additional credits in electives to bring your total credits to 120.
Students must also meet the Common Experience requirements for communication points and a technology course, though it is anticipated that the required courses will satisfy these. MA231 Calculus III satisfies the MA230 requirement for double majors or changes of major.