Created for working professionals, courses in this program weave three essential, interactive strands together: design, development, and marketing.
As an Interactive Design and Marketing student, you’ll gain the experience you need to design and build for interactive environments:
create elegant and powerful designs for web and mobile apps
plan rich, multidimensional experiences to reach your target market
collaborate, code, and launch your interactive experience for web and mobile
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
The Interactive Design and Marketing Online program is offered in our 30-credit post-baccalaureate certificate program. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree before applying.
Online Curriculum
According to a comprehensive study by the U.S. Department of Education, students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through face-to-face instruction. And at MCAD, we keep online class sizes small so that you will also get to know your instructors and other professionals in the program, as you build a network of professional colleagues, collaborators, and friends.
This 30-credit online program requires students to take a total of ten courses, forming a solid foundation in development, design, and marketing. The coursework can be completed within two or three years, and students can enter the program in the fall or spring.
At the end of each course, students produce portfolio-quality work for review. When the required courses (except Internship/Practicum) are completed, students exhibit their portfolios as part of a mid-program review with faculty and working professionals. As part of the review, students will gain valuable feedback and then work with their advisors to formulate their plans for further professional development.
Possible Program Pathways
Two-Year Pathway
Fall
Spring
Summer
Web Development 1 3cr 3cr
Web Development 2 3cr 3cr
Digital Marketing 1 3cr Mid-program Review
Web Design 2 3cr 3cr
Responsive Design3cr 3cr
Internship/Practicum 3cr Program Complete
Three-Year Pathway
Fall
Spring
Summer
Web Development 13cr
Collaborative Workflows3cr
Digital Marketing 13cr
Web Design 13cr Mid-program Review
Web Development 23cr 3cr
Mobile Marketing 3cr
Web Design 2 3cr
User Experience Design3cr
Internship/Practicum 3cr Program Complete
Course Descriptions
Required Courses
15
IDM 6510 Collaborative Workflows 3
This course introduces students to an overview of the interactive world by immersing them in current technology and trends, as aspects of design, development, and marketing converge to illustrate the workflow processes of interactive projects. The project-management skills covered in this course will guide students from the ideation process to project launch, and students will practice using industry-standard web-communication tools and project-management strategies to present their research. The processes established in this course will be used throughout the program, and a review of the career paths possible in the field of interactive will prepare students for later courses.
IDM 6610 Web Development 1: HTML and CSS 3 In this course, students learn how to create visually appealing, well-organized web pages using HTML and CSS, the fundamental languages for creating content and style on the web. The course begins with HTML, and students will be introduced to tags, links, lists, tables, forms, web standards (old, new, and evolving), and the foundation of web-page construction. Then, using CSS, students will apply style sheets to HTML, using fonts, colors, divs, spans, layout, and positioning to create a well-crafted web page. The course is geared toward the beginning to intermediate web developer or designer.
IDM 6710 Web Design 1 3 In this course, students will be introduced to designing for web and screen. This includes web-specific design fundamentals, best practices, and a review of current web design trends. From ideation to client review, students will be guided through each step of the design process, including wireframing, use of design tools, and the preparation of a design for client review. Students will complete a final web-design project and continue building and refining their web portfolios.
Prerequisites: Web Development 1: HTML and CSS (may be concurrently enrolled)
IDM 6810 Digital Marketing 1: Principles 3 In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of marketing and how it relates to the design and development process. Students will connect the marketing concepts learned in previous courses to the larger concepts of marketing and advertising as a whole. Interactive channels will open a new world of connecting with a target market. Marketing concepts of ROI, the marketing mix and business objectives will be blended with new ways of connecting with engaging target markets. A final project will have students applying skills learned throughout the course by building an interactive marketing plan.
IDM IN99 Internship/Practicum 3 In today's competitive interactive market, real experience in the field provides students with a significant advantage in starting a career. In this final course, students will intern at a company in a related field. Students will work with the college and industry companies to acquire a position. Students must have complete resumes and portfolios available for internship interviews. Students also have the option to build interactive projects for nonprofit organizations or complete practicum projects within their current workplaces.
Prerequisites: Completion of at least 21 credits
Electives
15
Choose at least 3 credits from the following development electives 6 IDM 6620 Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries 3 In this course, students will expand on HTML and CSS skills by bringing projects to life with Javascript and Javascript libraries. These languages will be used as the vehicle to add interactive and rich experiences to websites. Additionally, students will explore a variety of content management systems (CMS), learning to customize and manage these platforms. Topics include: fundamental programming concepts, best practices for interactive development, coding for interactive design, Javascript, jQuery, AJAX, Wordpress, Drupal, and related technologies.
Prerequisites: Web Development 1: HTML and CSS IDM 6630 Web Development for Data: PHP/SQL 3 This course introduces students to server-side web development. Building on concepts learned in Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries, such as object-oriented programming and design patterns, students will continue to work with more in-depth programming. A review of best practices, development environment overview, and website and application architecture will give the user a good understanding of server-side architecture and development. Students will be introduced to the LAMP stack and receive an in-depth look at each component as they refine their development skills to extend to the server to serve dynamic content to their projects.
Prerequisites: Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries, Web Design 2 IDM 6635 Object-Oriented Development and Design Patterns 3 This course extends the development fundamentals learned in Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries by introducing students to object-oriented programming and client-side applications. Students will work through the complexities of objects, classes, variables, and design patterns within the core of object-oriented programming. Using Flash and ActionScript as an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, students will explore a variety of development environments and rich internet-application development, working with data and connecting to server applications. A final project will have students building OOP-based applications from the architecture phase to final, client-ready projects.
Prerequisites: Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries IDM 6660-10 Responsive Design 3 Build your website to work with multiple devices and screensizes: laptops,
tablets, and smartphones. In Responsive Design, students will learn the
principles of “Mobile First” design and progressive enhancement, ultimately
building their own quality multiplatform experience regardless of
screensize. Topics include: CSS3 media queries, flexible grids and
elements, touchscreen versus cursor, and jQuery Mobile.
Prerequisites: Web Dev 2, Web Design 1
Choose at least 3 credits from the following design electives 6 Choose at least 3 credits from the following design electives IDM 6720 Web Design 2 3 This course builds on the design fundamentals, tools, and content creation covered in Web Design 1 and Collaborative Workflows. Students will be introduced to information architecture, content writing, and feature-rich interactive experiences. Designing for multiple platforms will emphasize the constant state of change in the interactive field. A final design project will incorporate the elements of user experience in Web Design 1, information architecture, content, and interactive elements to design a complete interactive experience. Connecting design to development, students will also prepare final design projects for development.
Prerequisites: Web Design 1, Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries
IDM 6730 Designing Beyond Computers 3 This course introduces users to design options outside of the web space. As interactive concepts move beyond the computer and into everyday experiences, technology allows us to engage and interact with users in ways never imagined. Possibilities include data visualization, installations, generative art, and 3D. Students will learn how to weave interactive with environments through a variety of media. Using design fundamentals covered in Web Design 1 and Web Design 2, students will work through the ideation process into wireframes and design final projects using one of the technologies learned in the course.
Prerequisites: Web Design 2, Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries
IDM 6760-10 User Experience Design 3
Have you ever used a website or app that makes it hard to do what you want? This course explores the UX Design process and leverages it to bridge the gap between functionality and aesthetics, creating a better experience for your users. Guided by user-centered design processes, students will design visual and experiential systems for web and mobile apps that are shaped by such things as: stakeholder interviews, requirement gathering, usability testing, competitor benchmarking, and analytics. In the process, visuals such as task maps, customer experience maps, user journeys, personas, wireframing, quick sketches, and prototypes will be developed to communicate and generate ideas.
Prerequisites: Web Dev 2, Web Design 1
Choose at least 3 credits from the following marketing electives 3 IDM 6820 Digital Marketing 2: Research and Analytics 3 This course allows students to extend the interactive marketing principles learned in Interactive Marketing I by integrating them with an overall marketing strategy. An analysis of traditional media channels, interactive media channels, and their interaction will introduce students to the comprehensive marketing of tomorrow. Students will apply critical-thinking skills to coordinate interactive experiences into broader marketing plans by completing comprehensive marketing plans, weaving traditional and interactive marketing strategies together.
Prerequisites: Digital Marketing 1: Principles IDM 6860 Mobile Marketing Strategies 3 In this course students will be introduced to developing marketing strategies for the mobile space. The course will start by exploring how people interact with their mobile devices and the evolving uses of mobile technology. Students will learn how to harness the marketing power of mobile apps, social media, in-app advertising, viral advertising, and more to connect with their target markets.
Prerequisites: Digital Marketing 2: Research and Analytics, Mobile Design
Total Credits
30
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