Oswego’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts is offering a new interdisciplinary graduate certificate in integrated media and social networks.

Courses such as “Video Game Theory and Analysis,” taught by Ulises Mejias — shown here competing with broadcasting major Kelly Fitzsimmons ’11 — are among the options in a new graduate certificate program in integrated media and social networks.

Designed to help professionals gain greater experience and understanding of a burgeoning field and to help Oswego
students make themselves more marketable, the program brings together work in broadcasting, graphic design, human-computer interaction and new CMA courses on integrated media.

The goal was to develop a program where people could gain skills, through theory and practice, in such areas as social network communication, interactive Web interfaces and other emerging areas spanning disciplines, CMA Dean Fritz Messere ’71, M ’76 said.

“We have two tracks available,” Messere said. “One is more rooted in the technical landscape, design and social networks. The other focuses more on best practices and practical applications in areas like multimedia design, digital illustration and video game theory.”

“I’m hoping this certificate will give our graduates a competitive edge,” said Ulises Mejias of the communication studies faculty. “The point is to prepare them to be more than just web designers, content writers, video producers . . . to help them think about applying integrated media purposefully. In this kind of job market, technical skills are not enough. You also need to demonstrate you can think critically.”

Mejias noted that, whether students are hoping to get a job in the new media field or build the next big social network or application, the program’s focus on ethics and privacy makes it stand out.

— Tim Nekritz M ’05

SUNY Oswego’s new interdisciplinary minor in audio design and production aims to meet student and industry demand while broadening opportunities for students.

The minor will create a production-centered learning environment to provide hands-on experience that accompanies audio theory.

Music majors Ken Bardin ’11, left, and Brad Gorham ’11 work with a recording by a local performer in the Tyler Hall recording studio.

The program, based in SUNY Oswego’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts, includes courses in broadcasting, music and theatre in its core, plus a large sampling of electives — such as multimedia courses through the art department.

The minor connects radio production courses, theatre sound classes and recording courses in music.

Audio moving into digital and software- driven formats, with greater dissemination via the web, has increased demand for graduates and even current students with the requisite skills, noted Daniel Wood, a former professional recording engineer who now teaches students the tricks of the trade in the music department.

The formation of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts last year — bringing together art, communication studies, music and theatre — provided the final impetus in creating the minor.

“When we formed the new school, we really created avenues for people to work with each other across disciplines,” said Fritz Messere ’71, M ’76, dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts. “The minor strengthens all of the existing programs while creating new opportunities for our students.” l

— Tim Nekritz M ’05