Digital Media Studies, Minor
Equip yourself with digital computing, design, and communication skills.
"The DMS minor set me apart in digital marketing and storytelling. While my major taught me how to tell a story and develop a brand, the minor gave me the ability to not only tell the story, but visually create it all as well."
Katie Krouse (B.S. Integrated Marketing Communications, minor in DMS '17)
Director of Online Sales and Marketing, Lulu's Oxford
About the Minor in Digital Media Studies
The College of Liberal Arts offers the interdisciplinary minor in Digital Media Studies. This minor is housed in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric and draws upon faculty expertise from computer science, digital arts, professional writing, digital marketing, digital humanities, and more.
Students select one of the emphasis areas:
- Computing Emphasis
- Digital Arts Emphasis
- Digital Communications Emphasis
- Generalist Emphasis
It empowers students to develop basic web-authoring and programming skills, to critically evaluate digital information, and to apply digital skills and knowledge in multiple fields. It fits with many existing majors by addressing the emerging demand for digital skills in many different careers such as web development, business data analytics, computational art, digital graphic design, data visualization, Internet and social-media marketing, and mobile application development.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
Emphases
Computing Emphasis ;
Digital Arts ;
Digital Communications ;
Generalist
Required Credit Hours
18
Program Type
Minor
Program Location
School
Academic Requirements
Students in the Minor of Digital Media Studies complete 18 credit hours of courses. They complete the two required core courses then select four courses from the chosen emphasis area.
Required Core
- DMS 101: Intro to Digital Media Studies
- Csci 203: Intro to Computational Media OR Csci 256: Programming in Python
Computing Emphasis (choose 4)
Students in computing emphasis complete the core courses of DMS 101 and Csci 256.
- Csci 333: Digital Design and 3-D Printing
- Csci 343: Fundamentals of Data Science
- Csci 354: Web Programming
- Csci 356: Data Structures in Python
- Csci 443: Advanced Data Science
- Csci 444: Information Visualization
- Csci 447: Immersive Media
- Csci 458: Mobile Application Development
- Csci 475: Introduction to Database Systems
- DMS 401: Digital Media Studies Practicum
Digital Arts Emphasis (choose 4)
- Art 110: Digital Media Foundations
- Art 201: Digital Imaging
- Art 361: Graphic Design I (Typography)
- Art 364: Web Design I
- Art 461: Advanced Graphic Design & Illustration
- Art 465: Web Design II
- Art 381: Beginning Imaging Arts
- Art 382: Intermediate Photography
- Art 383: Intermediate Imaging Arts
- Art 384: Digital Video I
- Art 481: Advanced Photography
- Art 483: Advanced Imaging Arts
- Art 484: Advanced Digital Video
- Art 581: Black-And-White Photography
- Art 583: Digital Photography
- Art 584: Digital Video
- DMS 401: Digital Media Studies Practicum
Digital Communications Emphasis (choose 4)
- IMC 305: Visual Communication
- IMC 349: 3-D Modeling
- IMC 473: Motion Graphics
- IMC 524: Designing Interactivity
- Jour 102: Introduction to Multimedia Writing
- Jour 273: Creative Visual Thinking
- Jour 345: Digital Media Diversity
- Writ 350: Writing for Digital Media
- Writ 415: Digital Rhetoric
- DMS 401: Digital Media Studies Practicum
Generalist Emphasis (choose 4)
Choose from at least two of the above emphases.
Students majoring in computer science may not select the computing emphasis; students majoring in art may not select the digital arts emphasis; students majoring in journalism or integrated marketing communications may not select the digital communications emphasis. The same course(s) may not satisfy requirements for both a major and the DMS minor. Students who complete relevant internships, study abroad courses, or special topics courses will consult with the digital media minor director prior to enrollment in the course for approval and to determine the appropriate category for the course.
Welcome from the Director
The DMS faculty are here to support your exploration of our digital lives through computation, art, writing, and video. Our program was formed in 2017 to address the needs of students who wished to explore and improve their digital media skills for web-based environments, including social media. Our program is a collaboration between Department of Art & Art , the Department of Computer and Information Science, the School of Journalism and New Media, and the Department of Writing and Rhetoric. Our students select an emphasis in computing, digital arts, digital communications, or a combination of these pursuits. I am available to talk with students about their interests in digital media, and to help plot a course for learning more.
Robert E Cummings
Executive Director of Academic Innovation, Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Digital Media Studies
Affiliated Faculty
Robert Cummings
- Executive Director of Academic Innovation, Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Digital Media Studies
Colleen Thorndike
- Lecturer in Composition & Rhetoric
Marc Watkins
- Lecturer in Composition and Rhetoric and Assistant Director of Academic Innovation
Brian Young
- Interim Assistant Dean of Public Services and Head and Associate Professor of Scholar Support and Data Services
Enhance your Academic Experience with an Internship
According to national surveys, employers are more likely to hire college graduates who have:
- had professional internships,
- worked with people from diverse backgrounds on community service,
- collaborated with peers on projects,
- taken multiple courses with significant writing,
- produced a senior project or thesis, and
- studied abroad.
These experiences are about core liberal arts skills of thinking, communicating, interpersonal skills, and understanding the world around us. Showcase and enhance these skills in an internship opportunity for that first step into the professional world.
We encourage students in the Digital Media Studies minor to combine coursework with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
Alumni Examples
- Creative Designer, JCW creative agency
- Production Assistant, Dallas Cowboys
- Staff, Grammy Museum
- Director of Online Sales and Marketing, Lulu's
- Media Relations Specialist, Walker Sands
- Digital Applications, Georgetown University
- Marketing Coordinator, Firstsource Healthcare
- Self-Employed Graphic Designer
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?