A degree in interactive media adapts digital technologies for social software, wearable devices, touch interfaces, virtual/augmented reality, the internet, and more.
Program skills
Students in New Media Interactive Development (NMID) gain a solid background in programming and computing technologies, experience with design and layout, and the development of media-rich experiences. NMID students spend their first two years learning essential new media concepts and skills with their peers from the New Media Design. They gain experience in concept development, programming, animation, interactivity, interaction design, multimedia project development, and other topics. In the junior year, students will work with their faculty and academic advisors to select a series of free and advanced electives to focus on a variety of areas, e.g., interaction design, rich-media web application development, data visualization, social and mobile applications, physical and surface computing, audio, and casual games. In the senior year, students from both New Media majors work collaboratively on a capstone, team project that tackles real-world new media challenges. This culminating hands-on learning experience provides an opportunity for students to hone their skills in teams. The project yields an impressive portfolio piece, which helps to attract potential employers. NMID gains further real-life work experience via two required co-ops that take place before graduation.
Program facilities equipment
Students can access facilities found throughout the College of Computing and the MAGIC building. These labs are equipped with a variety hardware from Alienware® to ensure a mix of several processor types, hardware configurations, the Adobe® and Autodesk® production suites, the Android Studio IDE, MacOS computer hardware, the Xcode IDE, graphics boards from competing vendors in a true development and testing environment, and other industry-standard development tools.
Program job titles reported
Web Developer; Front End Developer; Solution Developer; Software Developer; Software Engineer; Program Manager; Digital Director; Lead Usability Analyst; Quality Assurance Engineer; Programmer Analyst; UX Engineer; Technical Lead; UX Strategist; Interactive Developer; Javascript Engineer; Credentialing Specialist; Windows Phone Developer; IT Technician; Product Designer; Android Developer; Digital Technician; Application Developer
Select program hiring partners
Bottomline Technologies; City of Rochester; Confluence Global; Constant Contact; Fidelity Investments; IBM; JPMorgan Chase & Co; Kodak Alaris; LenelS2; Lexia Learning; Microsoft; RIT - School of Interactive Games and Media; Workinman
75%
Outcome Rates*
84%
Knowledge Rate
| Outcome | % of Students |
|---|---|
| Employed | 69.00% |
| Full-time Graduate Study | 0% |
| Alternative Plans | 6.00% |
Cooperative Education
Careers in Interactive Design
Interaction designers are in demand. All kinds of companies and organizations seek interaction designers for a range of positions in which an organization needs dynamic and innovative digital experiences and creative design solutions.
A sampling of companies that have hired graduates of RIT’s new media interactive development major includes American Greetings, Bottomline Technologies, Fidelity Investments, Forbes Media, GeekHive, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co, LenelS2, M&T Bank, MassMutual, Southwest Airlines, TD Bank, and Wegmans Food Markets.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education, or co-op for short, is full-time, paid work experience in your field of study. And it sets RIT graduates apart from their competitors. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries. RIT co-op is designed for your success.
Students in the new media interactive development degree are required to complete two blocks of cooperative education experience.
Creative Industry Day
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Day, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. You'll be able to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and permanent employment positions.