Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Interactive Studies Program Proposal
Draft of November 20, 1996
Professors from Cal Poly's English, Art, Graphic Communication, Computer Science, and other Departments have formed an ad hoc committee to create an academic program in Interactive Studies, centering on the rhetoric and design of computer-based or Internet-published multimedia documents, the management of electronic sites, and the theory of computer-mediated reading, writing, and learning. Professor Doug Smith from English is chairing the committee.
We are seeking input from students, faculty, potential corporate sponsors, and the public. Write to suggest other possible courses to include, or to make suggestions about the program in general.
In informal discussions so far, it's clear that we are all thinking of an interdisciplinary program at the upper-division or graduate level, drawing largely from Liberal Arts departments, and whenever possible using existing upper-division or graduate courses as part of the program.
Students have expressed a lot of demand for the sort of program we're thinking about. Some universities, including a few CSUs, have already begun such programs (for example, the Multimedia Master's at CSU Hayward, or the multimedia track in the Masters of Education program at Cal Poly Pomona), and we are losing our students to them. We believe that Cal Poly has the resources, faculty, and courses to offer a uniquely effective program in this area--and we should.
At present there are some 80,000 jobs in the interactive writing and design field in California, with the field growing by 20% each year.
To proceed with the idea of setting up an academic program in Interactive Studies, the first thing we need is a list of appropriate courses, either existing or to-be-proposed. We also need responses from prospective students.Once we have a list of courses, and a stronger concept of what our students need and want in such a program, we can decide whether we want to offer the program as a Master's or as an undergraduate minor/Certificate. We can then refine our proposal, and begin to seek funding.
Send comments or suggestions about the Interactive Studies proposal to:
Doug Smith
Professor, English
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo 93407