As a student in IU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Digital Media and Storytelling, you will learn how you can use digital tools to create artistic and professional messages and stories. Develop a critical understanding of the role and influence of media domestically and globally. Learn to critically evaluate and assess information and its credibility. Acquire career-ready skills in communication, as well as techniques to engage and inform audiences.

Degree Requirements

To earn the B.S. in Digital Media and Storytelling, students must complete the standard campus-and school-specific degree requirements, including general education, of their campus of enrollment, and the 40 hours B.S. in Digital Media and Storytelling major.  

The degree consists of:

1. Digital Media and Storytelling Core (22 cr)
2. Digital Media and Storytelling Specialization (15 cr.)
   1. Public Relations
   2. Digital Storytelling
3. Digital Media and Storytelling Capstone (3 cr.)

Courses

Digital Media Storytelling Core (22 cr.):

1.  Writing (2 courses-6 cr.)

Complete:

• ENG-W 203 Creative Writing (3 cr.)

Complete one of:

• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 234 Technical Report Writing (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 270 Argumentative (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 200 Reporting, Writing, Editing (3 cr.)
• NEWM-N 260 Scriptwriting (3 cr.)

2.  Visual Literacy (3 cr.)

Complete one of:

• COMM-M 215 Media Literacy (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 210 Visual Communication (3 cr.)

3.  Digital Tools (3 cr.)

Complete one of:

• COMM-M 210 Media Message Design (3 cr.)
• FINA-D 210 Digital Art: Survey and Practice (3 cr.)
• NEWM-N 202 Digital Storytelling (3 cr.)

4.  Gateway to the Digital Media Storytelling Major (3 cr) 

Complete:  

• JOUR-J 205 Sophomore Seminar Digital Media Storytelling (3 cr.)
  

5.  Career Preparation (1 cr) 

Complete one of: 

• JOUR-J 307 Media Career Planning (1 cr.)
• JOUR-J 400 Careers in Public Relations (1 cr.)  

6.  One Media Law course (3 cr.)

Complete one of:

• CMCL-C 328 Digital Responsibilities and Rights (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 300 Communications Law (3 cr.)

7.  One Media History course (3 cr.)

Complete one of:

• COMM-M 370 History of Television (3 cr.)
• COMM-M 373 Film and Video Documentary (3 cr.)
• FILM-C 393 History of European & American Film I (3 cr.)
• FILM-C 394 History of European & American Film II (3 cr.)
• FILM-C 395 History of American Film (3 cr.)
• FINA-A 477 History of Photography (3 cr.)

Digital Media and Storytelling Specializations: (15 cr.)

Complete either A or B; 5-course specializations:

A) Public Relations Core (15 cr.)

Complete the following 4 courses:

• COMM-J 321/JOUR-J 321/SPCH-S 233 Introduction to Public Relations (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 429/JOUR-J 429 Public Relations Campaigns (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 349/JOUR-J 390/SPCH-S 333/COMM-C 349 Public Relations Writing (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 403 Public Relations Research (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following:

• CMCL-C 315 Advertising and Consumer Culture (3 cr.)
• CMCL-C 324 /COMM-R 321 Persuasion (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 462 Media Theory & Criticism (3 cr.)
• COMM-M 462 Television Aesthetics/Criticism (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 303 Propaganda and Persuasion (3 cr.)

B) Digital Storytelling (15 cr.)

Complete 3 credits from each of the following categories: (9 cr.)

i.  Writing as Making

• ENG-W 301 Writing Fiction (3 cr.) 
• ENG-W 302 Introduction to Screen Writing (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 303 Writing Poetry (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 305/W311 Writing Creative Non-Fiction (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 315 Writing for the Web (3 cr.) 
• ENG-W 318 Finding Your E-Voice (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 323 Digital Writing (3 cr.)
• NEWM-N 260 Script Writing (3 cr.)

ii.  Digital, Photography, and Video - Lens Based Image Construction

• FINA-S 303 Lens-Based Narrative Construction (3 cr.)

iii.  Interactive/Emergent Media

• JOUR-J 301 Social Media Strategies (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 303 Online Journalism (3 cr.)
• NEWM-N 485 Social Media Content, Analytic (3 cr.)

Complete one (3 cr.) Media Critique and Analysis course:

• CMCL-C 315 Advertising and Consumer Culture (3 cr.) 
• CMCL-C 324 Persuasion (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 462 Media Theory & Criticism (3 cr.)
• COMM-M 462 Television Aesthetics/Criticism (3 cr.)
• COMM-R 321 Rhetoric, Culture & Society (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 303 Propaganda and Persuasion (3 cr.)

Complete one (3 cr.) Media Audiences and Platforms course:

• COMM-C 316 Human Communication in the Digital Age (3 cr.) 
• ENG-W 315 Writing for the Web (3 cr.) 
• ENG-W 318 Finding Your E-Voice (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 323 Digital Writing (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 333/JOUR-J 390/JOUR-J 349 Public Relations Writing (3 cr.) 

C.  Digital Media Storytelling Capstone (3 cr.)

• JOUR-J 495 Digital Media and Storytelling Capstone (3 cr.)