Interactive Design and Marketing Online Certificate

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.

This program has been accredited through the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD). The MCAD application for Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation for new programs is pending.

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 Web Design 1 3cr	Web Development 2 3cr Collaborative Workflows 3cr	Digital Marketing 1 3cr Mid-program Review
Web Design 2 3cr Digital Marketing 2 3cr	Mobile Design3cr Mobile Development 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 Mobile Design3cr	Mobile Marketing 3cr
Web Design 2 3cr	Mobile Development 3cr	Internship/Practicum 3cr Program Complete

Student Aid

MCAD has applied to the Department of Education to be eligible for federal student aid for the Online Post Baccalaureate in Interactive Design and Marketing and expects to receive this approval for the Spring semester of 2012.

Course Descriptions

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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 electives6

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 Mobile Development 3

This course will introduce students to a variety of development platforms for mobile. iPhone and Android platforms will be the main focus, augmented by website development for mobile devices. Technologies include Apple's X-Code tool set, including an introduction to objective C, and Android development options, including Java, the Flash platform with AIR, and HTML/CSS /Javascript for mobile web development. The course will include projects that have students developing basic mobile applications for either iOS or Android as well as developing mobile websites.

Prerequisites: Collaborative Workflows, Web Design 1, Web Development 2: Javascript and Libraries

Choose at least 3 credits from the following design electives6Choose 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 Mobile Design 3

This course will introduce students to design for mobile platforms. A review of the impact of business objectives on design and user-experience design will prepare students for real-world scenarios. Students will then focus on concepts specific to mobile, such as accelerometers and multi-touch by creating a user experience in wireframes.

Prerequisites: Web Design 2, Mobile Development

Choose at least 3 credits from the following marketing electives3

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