COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) in Media Arts with a concentration in Collaborative Design at Wichita State University is a 120-credit-hour program that combines creative media production, design thinking, and applied learning to prepare students for careers in the modern creative and digital industries. In addition to completing university general education requirements of approximately 34–35 credit hours, students take a Media Arts core of foundational and professional courses that build essential technical, creative, and professional skills. These include Introduction to Media Arts (MART 101), Media Aesthetics and Analysis (MART 102), Introduction to Media Arts Software (MART 200), and Introduction to Sound for Digital Media (MART 311), which establish a strong base in media production and analysis. Students also complete a sequence of professional practice and practicum courses such as MART 391 (Portfolio Development), MART 392 (Business Development), MART 393 (Legal Issues), MART 299 (Practicum I), MART 399E (Collaborative Design Practicum II), and MART 499E (Collaborative Design Practicum III), all of which emphasize real-world experience, portfolio building, and industry readiness. A key milestone in the program is the mid-program review (MART 298), which evaluates student progress after completing 59 credit hours and ensures readiness for advanced study and professional-level work. The central component of the degree is the 54-credit Collaborative Design Core, which is developed in consultation with a faculty advisor and allows students to tailor their studies toward interdisciplinary design, visual communication, and team-based media production. Courses in this core may include foundation drawing and design, graphic design concepts, art history, sound for picture, video storytelling, and human-centric design thinking, along with UX-focused and innovation-based courses such as Lean UX Challenges. This flexible structure allows students to integrate visual design, storytelling, and interactive media into a cohesive skill set aligned with industry demands. Additional electives provide further specialization or interdisciplinary exploration. Overall, the program emphasizes applied learning, collaboration, and professional practice, preparing graduates for careers in UX/UI design, digital media production, creative direction, and other fields within the evolving media and design industries.