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Interdisciplinary in concept, and rare in its approach, the new degree program is run jointly by three of Union's departments within its School of Arts and Sciences - Art, Communication Arts and Computer Science.

"Any reasonable-size business today has to have a web presence," said Jan Wilms, chair of Union's computer science department. "The DMS degree will allow a student to concentrate on his or her specific niche, such as computer programming, while at the same time, equipping the student with the background in communications and art."

With a current 10% shortage in IT personnel, Wilms said the web development field has much to offer potential web agents but requires a common understanding, and a need to be well rounded in several areas. He said that very few schools are providing students with knowledge from all three.

Sara Philips, a junior Digital Media Studies major, declared her major this fall when the program was offered to her and believes that it is the most useful major in the university because of its diversity in fields of study. Philips, who is enrolled in Graphic Design I, Public Relations, Organizational Communication, and Computer Science 115 this fall is formerly a public relations major and now feels better prepared for what the future has in store for her.

"Digital Media Studies will allow me to use my creativity in the work force, " said Phillips. "The hands-on learning and art aspect of it is interesting and will be beneficial in any environment I choose to work in."

All DMS majors are taking a group of core classes from each of the three disciplines, while emphasizing in one of the department tracks. The purpose of the program is to produce a student that is aesthetically, theoretically and technologically trained and capable of excellence in the relatively new area of the design, production and implementation of digital communications media. Some of the courses that will be covered include web page design, interactive media design, media programming, digital presentation techniques, and general technological advances in digital communications.

Amy Edge, a sophomore who also declared a major in the digital media program this year, said she chose this major because it integrates three areas that she is interested in.

"I think that it's advantageous to be skilled for basically any market or field," said Edge. "The great thing is that there are plenty of options for the future."

For more information on the new digital media studies program at Union, contact your area of interest. For communication arts, call (901) 661-5502, in the area of arts and graphic design, call (901) 661-5253, and in the area of computer science, call (901) 661-5267.