Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media

      Miguel Gandert, Director, Distinguished Professor of Communication and Journalism
      2414 Central Ave SE
      MSC04 2570
      1 University of New Mexico
      Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
      Phone: (505) 277-2286
      Fax: (505) 277-2221
      Email: ifdm@unm.edu
      Web site: http://ifdm.unm.edu/

      Affiliated Faculty
      Dorothy Baca, Theatre and Dance
      David Bashwiner, Music
      Holly Barnet-Sanchez, College of Fine Arts
      Joel Castellanos, Computer Science
      Tim Castillo, Architecture, ARTS Lab
      Thomas Caudell, Electrical and Computer Engineering
      David Dunaway, English
      Charles Fleddermann, School of Engineering
      Nick Flor, Anderson School of Management
      Deborah Fort, Cinematic Arts
      Miguel Gandert, Communication and Journalism
      Peter Gilbert, Music
      William Liotta, Theatre and Dance
      Lee Montgomery, Art and Art History
      Andrea Polli, Art and Art History, School of Engineering
      Vladimir Reche, Theatre and Dance
      James Stone, Cinematic Arts
      Mary Tsiongas, Art and Art History
      Claudia Valdez, Art and Art History
      Bill Walters, Theatre and Dance


      Introduction

      The Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media Program (IFDM) is a model of interdisciplinary education that provides students the opportunity to develop the critical, creative, and technical skills to apply digital media technologies in innovative and productive ways. Students whose goal is to become an artist, writer, game developer, entrepreneur, engineer, critical thinker, scientist, film and video maker, animator, storyteller, designer, computer scientist or educator using or developing digital media, find a path in this program. Students may pursue their degree in one of four different colleges within the University - College of Fine Arts, Anderson School of Management, School of Engineering or College of Arts and Sciences.

      All students admitted to the program have to complete a University Core curriculum. Students also have a set of ten common core courses for the IFDM program listed below. A grade of "C" or better (grades of "C-" are not accepted) must be earned in all IFDM common core courses. These core classes are taken in order from the time a student is admitted as a pre-major into the program. Additional specific courses are required for selected degree majors, minors, and concentrations that are determined by each participating college: College of Fine Arts, School of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, Anderson School of Management. Students must be accepted into those Schools and Colleges. Please see IFDM requirements in each school and college section of the catalog. The final courses of the program include capstone courses, in which students work in interdisciplinary teams to complete projects relevant to their IFDM curriculum.


      Admission Information

      The IFDM Program requires a three-tier admissions process:

      1. Apply to the University of New Mexico

        Whether the student is an incoming freshman or, a student transferring from another institution, all prospective IFDM students must first be admitted to the University of New Mexico. Prospective students can learn about UNM’s academic admission requirements, tuition rates, financial aid options, and apply online by visiting the UNM Admissions Web site. This site provides links to the various colleges within the university, and contains contact information for general UNM admissions questions.

      2. Apply to IFDM as a Pre-Major

        In order to be accepted as a pre-major student in the IFDM program, students have to apply in early spring. If accepted, the student becomes part of a cohort that begins in the fall immediately following admission. Each group continues through the program together. Keep in mind that this is a separate application from the general UNM Admissions application. Separate deadlines apply. This portion of the application process is designed to allow the students to demonstrate their ability to perform to a high artistic and academic standard. Applicants are asked to submit a written essay and samples of creative work. At this point, the screening committee reviews ACT and SAT scores, and reviews transcripts. More information on the IFDM pre-major application process, including an online application, can be found on the IFDM Web site.

      3. Apply for Admission to UNM IFDM Host College/School 

        The final stage of the IFDM application process is to apply to the individual college or school that houses the IFDM degree in which you are interested. This should occur between the student’s sophomore and junior years, depending on the College/School within UNM from which the student is pursuing the IFDM program. The four colleges offering IFDM curriculum are the College or Fine Arts, the School of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and the Anderson School of Management. Each college or school has its own application requirements and process.

      Arts and Sciences Required Courses

      (including UNM General Education Core Curriculum)- 34 credit hours

      Selected from courses offered by departments of the College of Arts and Sciences. Specific requirements for those in the Critical Studies concentration include PHIL 156 and AMST 182.

      Credit
      Hours
        IFDM Core Courses 32 credit hours:
      IFDM 105L Inter and New Media Studies I 3
      CS 105L
      -or-
      CS 152L
      Introduction to Computer Programming

      Computer Programming Fundamentals
      3
      IFDM 205L Studio I: Activating Digital Spaces 3
      IFDM 210 Introduction to Modeling and PostProduction 3
      IFDM 300 Critical Intermediations 3
      IFDM 310 Studio II: Writing Digital Narrative 3
      IFDM 400 Ethics, Science and Technology 3
      IFDM 410 The Business and Law of Film and New Media 3
      IFDM 450 Capstone I 4
      IFDM 451 Capstone II 4


      Refer to the Fine Arts - Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media section of this Catalog for further information on this program.


      Courses

      NONE 105L. Inter and New Media Studies I. (3)



      NONE 205L. Studio I: Activating Digital Space. (3)



      NONE 210. Introduction to Modeling and Postproduction. (3)



      NONE 250. Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media. (1-3, no limit Δ)



      NONE 300. Critical Intermediations. (3)



      NONE 310. Studio II: Writing Digital Narrative. (3)



      NONE 311. Fundamentals of Music Technology. (2-3)



      NONE 400. Ethics, Science and Technology. (3)



      NONE 410. The Business and Law of Film and New Media. (3)



      NONE 412. Fundamentals of Audio Technology. (2-3)



      NONE 450. IFDM Capstone I Senior Projects Course. (4)



      NONE 451. IFDM Capstone II Senior Projects Course. (4)



      NONE 491. Topics in Film and Digital Media. (1-3, no limit Δ)



      NONE 492. IFDM Internship. (1-12 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



      NONE 497. Independent Study in Film and Digital Media. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



      NONE 499. Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media Honors. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



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      Office of the Registrar

      MSC11 6325
      1 University of New Mexico
      Albuquerque, NM 87131

      Phone: (505) 277-8900
      Fax: (505) 277-6809