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Multimedia

Multimedia majors are full of ideas. We teach the skills to make them reality.

As a student, you will evolve creative concepts into practically applied works, preparing you for the career of your choice. Whether your future lies in web design, film, animation, digital music, graphic design, or video games, you’ll be prepared to master the medium.

Overview
Develop skills that blend art and technology

We create a supportive and engaging environment where you’ll have the opportunity to discover, shape and express your creative voice through dynamic media. You’ll learn the theory and practice of how a single premise is developed into a creative concept and practically applied across: web design, print design, digital cinema, immersive experiences, animation, gaming platforms and emerging technologies.

Learn the business of multimedia

Moving beyond media literacy, you’ll gain an understanding of industry theories and processes, best practices and the tools and techniques to create and develop entire media franchises. No matter which medium your future holds, you’ll be prepared for its real world application.

Create original works in our state-of-the-art facilities

Our two-story, 20,000-square-foot William Rolland Art Center houses drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture and watercolor/design studios along with lecture classrooms, a screening room, and computer, multimedia and editing labs. Filled with beautiful natural light, the building features high ceilings with exposed beams and ducts and many environmentally friendly features.

You’ll have the opportunity to be creative in these facilities throughout your coursework — and during your senior capstone project that gets installed at our annual CLUFest exhibition in the William Roland Art Center gallery.

Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Scholarship

If you have superior talent in music, theatre, or art, then you should apply for the Visual and Performing Arts scholarship. This scholarship awards up to full tuition.


At a Glance

Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Visual Arts

School/College

College of Arts and Sciences

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here's what you can do next:

The Curriculum

With challenging and relevant courses, outstanding faculty, small class sizes, and an emphasis on hands-on learning, the multimedia program will position you to succeed in your chosen career.

Degree requirements

Find out what it takes to earn a degree in multimedia and explore the courses.


Emphasis Areas

Customize this major to your interests by taking courses in an area of focus:

Digital Gaming

Discover the art and science of game development, level design, interactive media, virtual reality and themed immersive entertainment. Learn the theory, tools, and technology behind today’s most innovative, engaging and popular new media experiences. From interactive storytelling, design documents and concept development to coding, testing, animation and environmental design.

Graphic Design / Print

Pursue careers in fields such as graphic design, publication and package design, advertising and brand identity design, digital illustration and image editing. Students learn to think and problem solve creatively and to express themselves artistically, while gaining hands-on technical proficiency and learning about best practices in the design industry.

High Definition Digital Cinema

Students will learn to be agile content creators, developing proficiency in all aspects of high definition production, from concept and scripting, to production and post-production. An additional focus is on documentary, reality, and other uses of the cinema toolkit for personal expression outside of scripted content.

Interactivity, Web & Mobile Devices

Prepare for a career in fields such as web design and development, user interface (UI) design, and interaction design. Students must solve creative problems while meeting the needs of the user experience and technical requirements of each medium. They will develop strategies for keeping up-to-date with these ever-changing technologies.

Visual Effects, Motion Graphics & Animation

Explore the craft of visual effects, animation, media production, titles, graphics, cinematic previz, preproduction and post-production. Learn from industry veterans as you build your professional portfolio and design, produce and collaborate on a variety of real world visual fx, graphics and animation projects. Students will engage in the effects design process from the perspective of the animator, graphic designer, VFX technician, technical director, VFX supervisor, previz artist, producer and director.


Highlighted Courses

Get familiar with some of the courses you might take in this major.

MULT 100: Introduction to Multimedia

Introduces students to the concept of multimedia and presents the latest developments in the field. Designed as the gateway to the major, the course will model in simplified form the way the major will function. Students will be introduced to basic skill competencies - both computer and non-computer - necessary for the major. General concepts relating to multimedia will be introduced including social, ethical and legal issues, among others.

See description
MULT 202: Media Theory

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History and Creative Development

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MULT 300: Advanced Multimedia I

Concentrates on developing each student's specialty in multimedia as well as assessing higher levels of skill and knowledge competency. Team projects focus on broader uses of more advanced multimedia technology. Emphasis is placed on user interface, advanced communication skills and content development.

See description
MULT 358: Visual Effects/Motion Graphics/Animation

This class concentrates on professional visual effects, motion graphics and 3D animation techniques for High Definition Television and Digital Cinema. Grounded in the creative appraisal and technical analysis of script and production requirements students will learn entertainment industry skills such as asset management, script breakdown, plate production, blue/green screen compositing, title and type animation, and basic character animation and staging.

See description
MULT 465: Maxon Cinema 4D 3D Animation

This class focuses on the principles of 3D animation and how they are applied across multiple media: Print, Internet, HD Television, Digital Cinema and Digital Gaming. Topics include construction of models, 3D space, composition, color, keyframe animation, visual effects and motion capture, as well as the specific aesthetic and technical requirements of the industry.

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MULT 471: High Definition Digital Cinema II

Modeled after major studio and production company project workflows this two semester, hand-on, time intensive class concentrates on the post production process for dramatic, experimental, reality documentary work from dailies, visual effects, color correction, audio design to edited short. Major use of the Internet for project management, research and development, post-production and distribution is emphasized.

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View all required courses



Recommended Minors

Want to add even more value to your degree? Consider one of these minors to gain a unique combination of skills and perspectives.


Learning Spaces

Check out the spaces and tools you'll have access to in this major. Explore the entire Cal Lutheran campus with our virtual tour

The Experience

We offer hands-on opportunities that give you the freedom to explore your passion through real-world work and prepare for a fulfilling career.

  • Portfolio Building Opportunities

    Over the course of your studies, you will produce a solid body of work that will enable you to create a professional portfolio or demo reel, depending on your concentration, which you will assemble in your final year. Your portfolio or demo reel will showcase both your creative problem solving skills, as well as your technical expertise.

  • Creative Facilities

    Our two-story, 20,000-square-foot William Rolland Art Center houses drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture and watercolor/design studios along with lecture classrooms, a screening room, and computer, multimedia and editing labs. Filled with beautiful natural light, the building features high ceilings with exposed beams and ducts and many environmentally friendly features.

  • Annual Multimedia Exhibition

    As part of your capstone course, you’ll collaborate with classmates to plan, design, implement and install an exhibition, entitled CLUFest, in the William Roland Art Center gallery. This themed showcase highlights the multidisciplinary skills acquired via the curriculum and internships.

Student photo

Developing visual educational materials for the medical community emphasizes the demand for continuing education in both subject matter and technical skills. This serves as a real world model for students as they pursue careers in service and entertainment industries.

Timothy Hengst
Professor

Career Paths

Our program prepares graduates for careers in a broad range of media fields including animation, computer games, digital cinema, directing, e-commerce, high definition (HD) and interactive television production, project management, web development and visual effects.


Potential Careers

Desktop Publishers

Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

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Media Programming Directors

Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

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Media Technical Directors/Managers

Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

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Film and Video Editors

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

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Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

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Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

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Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

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Web and Digital Interface Designers

Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web metrics. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

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Looking for more career paths? Search these related areas to discover more options.

Employers

Some of the organizations our graduate work for include:

  • CBS Paramount
  • Creative Artists Agency
  • Dark Burn Creative
  • Fandango
  • Fox Network Group
  • Magaurn Video Productions
  • Mechnology Visual Effects
  • Nickelodeon Animation
  • Paradox Development
  • Walt Disney
  • Warner Media
  • Wondros

Graduate Schools

Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees at:

  • Gnomon 3D Modeling & Animation School
  • Musician’s Institute
  • San Francisco Academy of Arts
  • Simmons College
  • University of Connecticut
  • Video Symphony
Ashley Chastine
Multimedia was such an expansive and versatile major in the creative field. All the required courses for a multimedia major will train you in graphic design, motion graphics, storyboarding, web design, 2-D and 3-D animation, and video editing. Because my emphasis is in graphic design/print, I also learned the skills of typography, layout, and the technical skills of Adobe products. I developed a lot of my style by taking Professor Barbara Miyuki Obermeier’s brand identity design and typography class.

Ashley Chastine '23
Freelance Illustrator

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Some occupations listed above may require a related graduate degree.

How We Prepare You for Success

We have 20,000+ employer contacts for jobs and internships, with over 200 listings posted each week.

Our excellent career counselors in the Career Services center will get in touch with you during your very first term on campus. They offer over 50 workshops each year on resume writing, interviewing, salary negotiations, applying to graduate schools, and other critical skills to help you begin your career successfully.

After you graduate from Cal Lutheran, you receive free access to Career Services for life, as a valued member of our alumni family.

Learn more about career outcomes

of Cal Lutheran graduates find a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months

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Tuition & Fees

You and your family might have questions about how you’ll cover the costs of college. We can tell you this — it costs less than you think.

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Scholarships & Grants

We offer a range of awards based on academic merit and financial need. This is money that does not need to be repaid.

View scholarships and grants

Financial Aid

If you're new to the financial aid process, you probably have a lot of questions. But don't worry — we're here to help guide you all the way.

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