Metadata
Title
Media Arts, BFA (Boston)
Category
undergraduate
UUID
0438f453b8ea4451b35f4d077ad1e5e8
Source URL
https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/arts-media-design/art-design/medi...
Parent URL
https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/arts-media-design/art-design/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T19:24:08+00:00
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Media Arts, BFA (Boston)

Source: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/arts-media-design/art-design/media-arts-bfa/ Parent: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/arts-media-design/art-design/

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Creative Expression and Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), and Societies and Institutions (SI) are met through the major course requirements. \ NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), Differences and Diversity (DD), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) must be met through general electives.

Art and Design Core

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Introduction to College | | | | ARTF 1000 | Art and Design at Northeastern | 1 | | Art and Design Fundamentals Required | | | | ARTF 1240 and ARTF 1241 | Making with Video, Sound, and Animation and Making with Video, Sound, and Animation Tools | 2 | | Art and Design Fundamentals Elective | | | | Complete 6 semester hours from the following: | | 6 | | ARTF 1200 | Representational Drawing | | | ARTF 1210 | Abstract Drawing | | | ARTF 1220 | Elements of Visual Composition (with optional ARTF 1221) | | | ARTF 1230 and ARTF 1231 | Making with Form and Materials and Making with Form and Materials Tools | | | ARTF 1250 and ARTF 1251 | Designing Interactive Experiences and Designing Interactive Experiences Tools | | | Art and Design History | | | | ARTH 1001 and ARTH 1002 | Visual Intelligence and Seminar in Visual Intelligence | 4 | | ARTH 3000 | Topics in Visual Studies | 4 | | ARTH 4000 | Topics in Visual Studies | 4 |

Media Arts Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | ARTD 1001 and ARTD 1002 | Media Art, Culture, and Social Justice and Seminar for ARTD 1001 | 4 | | Media Arts Basics Electives | | | | Note: If you are pursuing a concentration, select courses not used for your concentration. | | | | Complete 10 semester hours from the following: | | 10 | | ARTD 2360 and ARTD 2361 | Introduction to Photography and Photo Tools | | | ARTD 2370 and ARTD 2371 | Animation Basics and Animation Tools | | | ARTD 2380 and ARTD 2381 | Video Basics and Video Tools | | | Media Arts History Elective | | | | If a topics in course is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Complete 4 semester hours from the following: | | 4 | | ARTH 2210 | Modern Art and Design History | | | ARTH 2211 | Contemporary Art and Design History | | | ARTH 2212 | Survey of the Still and Moving Image | | | ARTH 3000 | Topics in Visual Studies | | | ARTH 4000 | Topics in Visual Studies | | | Design Requirement | | | | ARTG 1290 and ARTG 1291 | Typographic Systems and Studio for Typographic Systems | 4 | | Degree Project | | | | ARTD 4530 | Media Arts Degree Project | 4 |

Concentration or Electives Option

A concentration is not required. Students may complete electives in lieu of a concentration.

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required


Concentration in Animation

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Animation Requirements | | | | ARTD 2100 | Narrative Basics | 4 | | ARTD 2370 and ARTD 2371 | Animation Basics and Animation Tools | 5 | | ARTD 3000 | Topics in Media Arts | 4 | | ARTD 3470 | Animation 1 | 4 | | ARTD 4570 | Animation 2 | 4 | | Animation Electives | | | | If ARTD 3000 is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Complete 16 semester hours from the following (at least 4 semester hours must be at the 4000 level): | | 16 | | ARTD 3471 | Virtual Environment Design | | | ARTD 3472 | Character Design for Animation | | | ARTD 3473 | Animation for Games | | | ARTD 4575 | Animation 3 | | | Art and Design Electives | | | | Complete 8 semester hours from ARTD, ARTE, ARTG, ARTH, ARTS, or GAME courses as long as prerequisites have been met. | | 8 | | If ARTD 3000 (or any other topics course in the subjects listed above) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Courses in this requirement may not be used for the drawing fundamentals elective, media arts basics elective, media arts history elective, or animation electives. | | |

Concentration in Photography

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Photography Requirements | | | | ARTD 2360 and ARTD 2361 | Introduction to Photography and Photo Tools | 5 | | ARTD 3460 | Photography: Concept + Process | 4 | | ARTD 4565 | Photography: Visual Strategies + Context | 4 | | Photography Electives | | | | Complete 8 semester hours of the following (ARTD 3000 may be completed twice to satisfy this requirement): | | 8 | | ARTD 3000 | Topics in Media Arts | | | ARTD 4660 | Studio Photography | | | ARTD 4661 | Photography: Experimental Processes | | | Art and Design Electives | | | | Complete 16 semester hours of ARTD, ARTE, ARTG, ARTH, ARTS, or GAME courses as long as prerequisites have been met. At least 4 semester hours must be at the 4000 level. | | 16 | | If ARTD 3000 (or any other topics course in the subjects listed above) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Courses in this requirement may not be used for the drawing fundamentals elective, media arts basics elective, media arts history elective, or photography elective. | | |

Concentration in Video Arts

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Video Arts Requirements | | | | ARTD 2380 and ARTD 2381 | Video Basics and Video Tools | 5 | | ARTD 3480 | Video: Sound and Image | 4 |

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Video Arts Electives | | | | If ARTD 3000 (or any other topics course in the subjects listed above) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Complete 20 semester hours from the following: | | 20 | | ARTD 3000 | Topics in Media Arts | | | ARTD 3485 | Experimental Video | | | ARTH 2212 | Survey of the Still and Moving Image | | | MSCR 2160 | Narrative Filmmaking | | | MSCR 3389 | Screenwriting | | | MSCR 3446 | Documentary Production | | | THTR 2345 | Acting for the Camera | | | Art and Design Electives | | | | Complete 16 semester hours of ARTD, ARTE, ARTG, ARTH, ARTS, or GAME courses as long as prerequisites have been met. At least 4 semester hours must be at the 4000 level. | | 16 | | If ARTD 3000 (or any other topics course in the subjects listed above) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Courses in this requirement may not be used for the drawing fundamentals elective, media arts basics elective, and media arts history elective. | | |

Electives Option

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | If a topics in course is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. | | | | Courses in this requirement may not be used for the drawing fundamentals elective or media arts history elective. | | | | Complete 28 semester hours from the following: | | 28 | | ARTD 2000 | Introduction to Immersive Media | | | ARTD 2100 | Narrative Basics | | | ARTD 2340 | Introduction to Computational Creative Practice | | | ARTD 3000 | Topics in Media Arts | | | ARTD 3460 | Photography: Concept + Process | | | ARTD 3470 | Animation 1 | | | ARTD 3471 | Virtual Environment Design | | | ARTD 3472 | Character Design for Animation | | | ARTD 3473 | Animation for Games | | | ARTD 3480 | Video: Sound and Image | | | ARTD 3485 | Experimental Video | | | ARTD 3490 | Data Art and Hacktivism | | | ARTD 4565 | Photography: Visual Strategies + Context | | | ARTD 4570 | Animation 2 | | | ARTD 4575 | Animation 3 | | | ARTD 4660 | Studio Photography | | | ARTD 4661 | Photography: Experimental Processes | | | ARTE 2500 | Art and Design Abroad: Studio | | | ARTE 2501 | Art and Design Abroad: History | | | ARTE 3901 | Art and Design Special Topics | | | ARTE 4901 | Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | | | ARTH 1100 | Interactive Media and Society | | | ARTH 2210 | Modern Art and Design History | | | ARTH 2211 | Contemporary Art and Design History | | | ARTH 2311 | The Science of Art, the Art of Science | | | ARTH 2312 | Revolutionary Design and Propaganda in Eastern Europe | | | ARTH 2313 | Global Networks in Early Modern Art and Visual Culture | | | ARTH 3000 | Topics in Visual Studies | | | ARTH 3211 | Performance Art | | | ARTH 4000 | Topics in Visual Studies | | | ARTH 5600 | Landscape and Ecology in Visual Culture | | | ARTS 2340 | Painting Basics | | | ARTS 2341 | Figure Drawing | | | ARTS 3449 | Drawing in Mixed Media | |

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study by Concentration

Animation

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First-Half

Year 1
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTF 1000 1 ARTD 2370 and ARTD 2371 5 Media arts basics elective 1 5 Elective 4
ARTF 1240 and ARTF 1241 2 Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Elective 4 Elective 4
Art and design fundamentals electives 2 Art and design fundamentals elective 2
ARTD 1001 and ARTD 1002 4 Media arts history elective 4
ARTH 1001 and ARTH 1002 4 EEAM 2000 1
ENGW 1111 4 Elective 4
17 18 9 8
Year 2
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 2100 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTD 3470 4 Elective 4
Animation elective 1 4
Media arts basics elective 2 5
17 0 0 8
Year 3
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 4570 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTG 1290 and ARTG 1291 4 Elective 4
ARTH 3000 4
Animation elective 2 4
16 0 0 8
Year 4
Fall Hours Spring Hours
ARTH 4000 4 ARTD 4530 4
Animation elective 3 4 Animation elective 4 4
Art and design elective 1 4 Elective 4
Art and design elective 2 4 Elective 4
16 16
Total Hours: 133

Photography

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First-Half

Year 1
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTF 1000 1 ARTD 2360 and ARTD 2361 5 Media arts basics elective 1 5 Elective 4
ARTF 1240 and ARTF 1241 2 Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Elective 4 Elective 4
Art and design fundamentals electives 2 Art and design fundamentals elective 2
ARTD 1001 and ARTD 1002 4 Media arts history elective 4
ARTH 1001 and ARTH 1002 4 EEAM 2000 1
ENGW 1111 4 Elective 4
17 18 9 8
Year 2
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 3460 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTH 3000 4 Elective 4
Art and design elective 1 4
Elective 4
16 0 0 8
Year 3
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 4565 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTG 1290 and ARTG 1291 4 Elective 4
ARTH 4000 4
Media arts basics elective 2 5
17 0 0 8
Year 4
Fall Hours Spring Hours
Photography elective 1 4 ARTD 4530 4
Art and design elective 2 4 Photography elective 2 4
Art and design elective 3 4 Art and design elective 4 4
Elective 4 Elective 4
16 16
Total Hours: 133

Video Arts

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First-Half

Year 1
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTF 1000 1 Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Media arts basics elective 1 5 Elective 4
ARTF 1240 and ARTF 1241 2 Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Elective 4 Elective 4
Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Art and design elective 1 4
ARTD 1001 and ARTD 1002 4 Media arts history elective 4
Art and design fundamentals elective EEAM 2000 1
ARTH 1001 and ARTH 1002 4 Elective 4
ENGW 1111 4
17 17 9 8
Year 2
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 2380 and ARTD 2381 5 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
Video arts elective 1 4 Elective 4
Video arts elective 2 4
ARTH 3000 4
17 0 0 8
Year 3
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTD 3480 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTG 1290 and ARTG 1291 4 Elective 4
ARTH 4000 4
Media arts basics elective 2 5
17 0 0 8
Year 4
Fall Hours Spring Hours
Video arts elective 3 4 ARTD 4530 4
Video arts elective 4 4 Video arts elective 5 4
Art and design elective 2 4 Art and design elective 3 4
Elective 4 Art and design elective 4 4
16 16
Total Hours: 133

Electives Option (No Concentration)

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First-Half

Year 1
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTF 1000 1 Media arts basics elective 1 5 Elective 4 Elective 4
ARTF 1240 and ARTF 1241 2 Media arts history elective 4 Elective 4 Elective 4
Art and design fundamentals electives 2 EEAM 2000 1
ARTD 1001 and ARTD 1002 4 Elective 4
ARTH 1001 and ARTH 1002 4 Elective 4
ENGW 1111 4
17 18 8 8
Year 2
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
Art and design fundamentals elective 2 Elective 4
Media arts basics elective 2 5
Elective 4
Elective 4
17 0 0 8
Year 3
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 1 Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTG 1290 and ARTG 1291 4 Co-op 0 Co-op 0 Elective 4
ARTH 3000 4 Elective 4
Electives option 1 4
Electives option 2 4
16 0 0 8
Year 4
Fall Hours Spring Hours Summer 2 Hours
ARTH 4000 4 ARTD 4530 4 Vacation
Electives option 3 4 Electives option 5 4
Electives option 4 4 Electives option 6 4
Elective 4 Elective 4
16 16 0
Total Hours: 132