Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Upon degree completion, graduates of our programs will be able to...

Understand weight, balance and movement as they relate to animation
Develop and demonstrate a comprehension of color, composition and balance within a frame.
Demonstrate a working knowledge of the entire animation production.
Develop and demonstrate strong communication skills for working effectively within a collaborative environment

Integrate professional architectural knowledge, ethical reasoning, and technical skills to demonstrate the ability to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of the public and the environment.
Demonstrate knowledge of the design, history and theory of world architecture and the ecological, cultural, physical and social contexts that have shaped the built environment
Demonstrate an understanding of the design, history and theory of world architecture and urbanism in their broad physical and social contexts
Foster convergent and divergent critical thinking through information literacy and the skills to rigorously access and evaluate information to identify critical design issues and appropriate design solutions.
"Demonstrate effective visual representation, written, and verbal communication skills to communicate
research, analysis and design
in collaborative endeavors
in professional and public settings."
"Embrace experiential education to learn through
direct observation and engagement with the city
work opportunities in the building professions
learning from and collaborating with practicing adjunct professors in the classroom.

Identify and classify works of art, architecture and design as expressions of the values, concerns, assumptions, and ideas of the historical cultures that produced them.
Demonstrate a broad visual familiarity with a wide variety of art objects
Demonstrate a command of grammar, syntax and spelling sufficient to write a 30-page paper on an art historical topic.
Find and utilize authoritative sources in the scholarly literature
Read art historical literature at a level sufficient to qualify for graduate study
Perform library research (including on-line/electronic) efficiently and effectively
Distinguish the difference between primary and secondary sources (artifactual and documentary) and use them effectively
Apply critical thinking to the investigation of art historical questions and problems
Apply the above-mentioned skills to the study of other disciplines and to the problems of life and work

Develop and demonstrate skills for critical thinking and the application of these skills in therapy, pedagogy, and performance
Demonstrate visual literacy and kinesthetic proficiency, including developing advanced skills in multiple dance techniques and practices
Appreciate each dance form for its aesthetic properties and interactions with time periods and culture
Understand the interdisciplinary nature of dance and dance-related fields
Understand the value of diversity through a developing awareness of the world and their place in it
Demonstrate an understanding of physical and emotional self-care practices
Demonstrate a professional work ethic
Develop choreographic and improvisational skills
Understand and demonstrate a knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, kinesiology and musicality
Describe movement using a range of personal and cultural lenses

Demonstrate strong verbal communication, writing and visual presentation skills.
Develop, execute, and communicate creative ideas and merchandise strategies for application in the consumer lifestyle industries.
Demonstrate the ability to synthesize visual research, quantitative and qualitative market data, and retail trade information for industry decision making and strategic planning.
Demonstrate a comprehension of diverse marketplaces and consumers around the world.Demonstrate the ability to pursue leadership roles, delegate tasks and manage team outcomes.
Demonstrate competence in retail mathematics, analysis of data and merchandise planning supported by software applications Demonstrate the ability to conduct comprehensive research and apply findings to chosen concentration in design and merchandising .

Write clearly and effectively
Demonstrate effective oral communication skills
Critically analyze works of media, visual or performing arts
Understand how to create works of media, visual of performing arts
Demonstrate mathematical and computer literacy
Work effectively in teams
Apply basic business and management concepts, skills and tools to entertainment companies and/or arts organizations
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data
Demonstrate an understanding of the roles of all personnel and correct terminology in the students’ chosen concentration in media, visual or performing arts
Effectively use human relations knowledge and skills

Analyze and synthesize research to reflect personal philosophies, integrate technology and generate insightful design solutions
Articulate and communicate innovative design concepts to lead in an evolving global industry
Embrace virtual design as it pertains to the global fashion industry
Demonstrate a balance for strong visual skills and technical acumen
Demonstrate knowledge of pertinent digital design tools for use in the fashion industry and cross-disciplinary application
Demonstrate problem solving skills for application in national and global fashion enterprise and entrepreneurship
Develop, express, and communicate creative ideas to create product that is sustainable, ethical and inclusive
Synthesize and edit visual information to create cohesive and inventive presentations
Explore collaborative opportunities in a comprehensive university setting
Develop a functional understanding of textiles

Develop and demonstrate the skills of an effective storyteller
Obtain and demonstrate advanced skills in the craft of film and video production
Develop a specialized expertise in an area of film and video production such as editing, cinematography, producing, sound, directing, etc.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of film history
Display a firm grasp on industry protocols and standards
Understand the distribution and potential of one’s own work
Demonstrate a multi-skilled approach to the industry

Create playable digital games, available on current platforms and technology
Understand the key concepts of the rules of play, and their implications in a game environment
Gain a working knowledge of the entire game design pipeline
Interact successfully on multidisciplinary teams

Demonstrate the ability to think critically and logically as applied to the design process
Demonstrate strong verbal communication, writing, and presentation skills
Demonstrate high levels of professionalism in the workplace
Demonstrate a mastery of conceptual thinking/problem solving
Demonstrate an understanding of environmental concerns
Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
Demonstrate a mastery of analog skills combined with digital technology to effectively develop, evaluate, refine and complete projects in a wide variety of settings where effective visual communication is required
Demonstrate a mastery of self-evaluation techniques

Design aesthetically pleasing interactive user interfaces for digitally delivered content.
Integrate server-side and consumer-side technologies into an unified experience.
Identify and apply emerging technologies for interactive digital platforms.
Analyze and define an interactive digital design problem, develop and assess multiple creative ideas, then justify and implement a technologically feasible solution.
Evaluate user centered design approaches and their outcomes as applied to the development of interactive digital products.
Construct and present effective verbal and written communications.
Propose and implement project management plans for interactive digital media development.

Demonstrate knowledge of social, cultural, economic and ecological contexts
Demonstrate ability to communicate and effectively collaborate with others
Understand the principles and processes that define the profession of interior design
Apply knowledge of human experience and behavior to designing the built environment
Employ all aspects of the design process to solve a design problem
Express ideas effectively in visual, oral and written communication
Apply knowledge of art and design history and theory when solving design problems
Effectively apply elements and principles of design
Effectively apply principles and theories of light and color in relation to environmental impact and human wellbeing.
Produce complete design solutions that integrate furnishings, products, materials and finishes
Understand and apply the principles of indoor environmental control systems
Understand interior construction and detailing
Apply laws, codes, standards, and guidelines that impact human experience of interior space

Display a command of basic musicianship skills
Develop knowledge of the history of music, the commercial music industry and music technology
Critically analyze music performance and production
Understand and be able to use music and audio technology
Demonstrate mathematical and computer literacy
Demonstrate the ability to work successfully within a major label, independent label, or entrepreneurial music industry environment via the application of basic business, marketing, data analysis and communication skills.
Demonstrate the ability to conceive, present, manage, and complete a long-term plan over the life cycle of a project.
Work effectively in teams and have a general understanding of how entertainment teams function.
Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze current business and legal issues in the global music industry and to conduct in-depth research on relevant topics
Demonstrate the ability to harness and utilize technology (including social media) in order to achieve business goals

Demonstrate a diverse working knowledge of various photographic processes from historical to digital with a strong emphasis on the most current digital practices
Apply the technical skills necessary to thrive in any chosen area of photographic practice including fashion, advertising, photojournalism and fine art
Demonstrate an understanding of the contributions of major photographic artists, commentators and movements within the history of photography
Effectively adapt techniques learned in the classroom to the professional setting
Demonstrate the ability to write and think critically about the craft of photography as well as the student’s own work
Produce a high quality, technically relevant, coherent body of work to a professional standard and presents this in a well-conceived portfolio
Communicate ideas clearly and confidently using appropriate professional terminology
Apply problem solving skills to keep pace with emerging technology and continually evolving standards and practices.

Apply, control and manipulate the product design process in the production of novel solutions
Visual problem solving methodologies: sketching and physical prototyping to create and communicate ideas
Strong presentation and written communication skills
Use of the ethnographic and ergonomic research in the production of appropriate solutions
Clearly express personal design decisions and design authorship in the production of appropriate design solutions
Use advanced computers to aid design programs to develop and communicate design solutions
Demonstrate a knowledge and respect for design history as a research tool
Express understanding of design theory and its role in design
Express understanding and application of design ethics
Shows evidence of critical thinking and deductive logic
Formulate an expressed and observable design philosophy
Investigate evidence of the use and control of manufacturing and advanced modeling technologies
Facilitate others in the production of a novel solution
Demonstrate empathy for the user and others in a design solution
Develop an eye for beauty in appropriate solutions
Familiarize with the professional product design experience

Develop the skills necessary to conceive and write works for the stage or screen
Understand the structural aspects of dramatic writing so that completed work will be accepted as professional in quality
Acquire a basic understanding of how the business of the entertainment world works, and how a writer must conduct his or her professional career
Comport oneself as a professional among professionals
Demonstrate superior written and verbal communication sills.
Critically examine current and future media streams to enhance and clarify artistic and professional goals.
Manipulate basic cinematic production techniques to foster collaborative communication within production units.

Understand the key concepts of VR/AR and immersive media production
Evaluate emerging technologies in VR/AR and immersive media
Implement VR/AR and immersive media projects based on industry standard production pipelines
Apply agile project management techniques
Interact in a team based production environment

Westphal College of Media Arts and Design Program Level Outcomes