Integrated Design & Media, B.S. | NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Integrated Design & Media, B.S.

Technology, Culture and Society
Bachelor of Science
On Campus
IDM Showcase Image

Integrated Design & Media (IDM)

formerly known as Integrated Digital Media

Our Bachelor of Science program centers around the IDM core, a suite of courses that focus on the four areas of Image, Sound, Narrative, and Interactivity. These courses are combined with upper-level electives ranging from user experience design to augmented reality to motion capture, as well as courses from the Tandon Engineering core, media studies courses taken in the department of Media, Culture, and Communication (MCC), and additional courses in math, science, humanities, and social sciences. 

Students will be exposed to a maker-centric, project-based education focused on their development as socially engaged, creative individuals fluent in the use and development of cutting-edge technology. IDM students are encouraged to engage in research and to develop their own work through their classes, capstone projects, the Tandon VIP Program, Tandon InnoVention, NYU Entrepreneurship, and internships within New York City’s media industry.

As a research-active program within NYU Tandon School of Engineering, IDM faculty collaborate in research that integrates digital media and society. Our projects range from using motion capture technology to reimagine theatrical performance, to developing novel uses of virtual/augmented reality for health and wellness, to the integration of STEAM learning into special needs education, to the development of citizen science tools to empower NYC residents to monitor and report on noise pollution in their communities, to helping NASA JPL develop next-generation user interfaces for space exploration, to assisting with the search and visualization of the historical record of New York City.

Questions? Email idmadvise@nyu.edu

Internships and Careers

From industry giants to fast-paced startups, the most competitive companies in the world seek Tandon IDM students. You have the option of taking part in our internship course that allows you to work at an internship and receive course credit. This course is a great way to gain experience in fields of your interest while earning credits towards graduation. See General Criteria for Internship Site Placements for more information.

Below is a small sample of some of the places our IDM students have interned or worked at:

Companies

  • American Express
  • Apple Corporate
  • Etsy
  • Instagram
  • Google
  • HTC China
  • Major League Gaming
  • New York Stock Exchange
  • Sony Music Entertainment
  • Verizon

Careers

  • Game Developer
  • Multimedia Artist
  • Creative Director
  • Web Designer/Developer
  • Digital Graphic Designer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Mobile Application Developer
  • Video Editor

Curriculum

The curriculum combines project-based learning with the study of historical, legal and philosophical aspects of emerging media. We emphasize the development of skills applicable to a broad spectrum of media through individual and collaborative work. Guest lectures and conferences supplement our curriculum and maximize students’ personal contact with leaders in various sectors of the following fields: business, advocacy, service, entertainment, and education. The program culminates in a thesis that combines theory and practice to showcase students’ creative and technical abilities.

That blend of theory and practice defines our program. It's what we mean by "integrated" — the powerful combination of emerging media and technology, creative mastery, and critical thinking. 

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Design and Media, you need to complete 120 credits distributed among required and elective coursework.

All Design and Media (DM) courses are offered as studios in which you will be expected to produce finished projects of professional quality under the guidance of active digital media practitioners who are informed by a powerful understanding of the creative and critical context of their work. 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
COURSE LIST

Special Programs

The minor in Integrated Design and Media is intended for students interested in developing their knowledge and practical skills in and around digital media production technology. As with the BS degree in Integrated Design and Media, courses provide theoretical context and also teach hands-on production expertise in various areas, such as digital filmmaking, web design, 3D graphics, game design, and digital audio. This minor is valuable for students who want to seize their own means of production in their primary fields, allowing them to design, create, and publish media content within the intellectual context of digital media in the 21st century.

The IDM minor requires a minimum of 15 credits in DM classes:

  • 3 credits in Audio or Visual Foundation Studio
  • 12 credits of DM coursework (except DM-UY 4003 Senior Project)

The Bachelor of Science program in Integrated Design and Media is designed to allow students the opportunity to complete a semester abroad, typically the spring semester of the junior year. Students may participate in NYU's Global Network. Several IDM students have studied abroad at NYU Shanghai's Interactive Media Arts (IMA) program. 

If you are interested in studying abroad, set up an appointment with your academic advisor, who will discuss what programs IDM students have studied abroad in the past and what courses they generally take while abroad. They will also advise and guide you on the study abroad process.

The Department of Technology, Culture and Society can help motivated students utilize the School of Engineering's BS/MS program to simultaneously earn a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Integrated Design and Media in an accelerated manner through the BS/MS Program.

You must complete the full requirements for each degree, but how you do so depends on factors such as what AP credits you have earned, how many summer classes you can take, and your ability to stay on track toward the goal. As the BS/MS curriculum is highly individualized, please consult with your Academic Advisor if interested in this program.

Tandon students interested in a potential major change into Integrated Design and Media must complete a probationary semester after discussing with the IDM Program (idmadvise@nyu.edu), taking at least 1 of the Integrated Design and Media foundational courses and earning a minimum grade of a B in the class for the change to be permitted (or average of a B/3.0 GPA in IDM coursework if more than 1 IDM-offered class is taken - non-IDM coursework is not factored into this). Please note, the probationary semester must be completed prior to the start of the 3rd year of study, and it is not possible change major into IDM beyond this time. Therefore, the last opportunity for a probationary semester would be a student's 2nd Summer between years 2 and 3 (dependent upon available coursework) for the major change to be effective for the start of the 3rd year.

If you are a Tandon student seeking to change your major to Integrated Design and Media, please contact idmadvise@nyu.edu and include your N number in your message. Non-Tandon students would follow the procedure for internal transfers.