The Multimedia Communication track of the Professional Writing Minor is centered around producing effective multimedia content for professional audiences. Projects, readings, and class activities give students opportunities to exercise their creativity by bringing together effective writing and design to produce media in print and online documents. Advanced computer skills are not required, but a willingness to learn new software is essential.
The projects in the Multimedia Communication track are flexibly designed to accommodate students from a variety of majors with diverse career plans. Typical projects include:
- Revising and redesigning an ineffective flier, brochure, or other professional document
- Designing a set of professional documents, including business cards, letterhead, resume, and logo
- Creating effective text/image combinations for advertisements or other visual forms
- Designing slides for a professional-quality oral presentation
- Researching, writing, and designing an online PDF book
- Writing, designing, and coding a professional online portfolio
Through tutorials, individualized help, and lots of practice, students develop familiarity with a range of software programs, including Microsoft Word and Publisher, as well as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. They work with programs for editing sound and video, and they learn about resources on the Web for designing and producing print and online work. Students also learn the processes involved in creating a website using XHTML and CSS.
RECOMMENDED PREPARATION COURSES FOR THE MULTIMEDIA TRACK:
These are the recommended courses for the multimedia track to fulfill the three required prerequisites from the Writing 105AA-ZZ, Writing 107AA-ZZ, or Writing 109AA-ZZ series:
- WRIT 105M: Multimedia Writing
- WRIT 105PS: Writing for Public Speaking
- WRIT 107P: Writing for Public Relations
About the Capstones for this Track
WRIT 155A: DOCUMENT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (Winter)
This capstone is a project-based course with a focus on understanding the intersection of writing and visual design. The assignments in the course ask you to refine your writing style, compose in multiple media, design documents effectively, and use a variety of software programs. Students will learn about brand elements such as typography, logos, icons, and more that culminate in the major Brand Style Guide project. See student examples of brand style guides from this capstone:
WRIT 155B: DIGITAL PORTFOLIO (Spring)
The class will introduce you to principles of design thinking that can be applied to various contexts and careers. Thinking like a designer, students will feel empowered to solve real-world problems through design. Students will also create their own digital portfolio to showcase their work.
About the Internship for this Track
WRIT 150: INTERNSHIP (Spring) and/or WRIT 162: ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING or WRIT 161: DIGITAL STORY (Spring - depending on which course is offered that year)
Writing, design, and software skills are important in a wide range of professional fields. Students do internships with a variety of local publications, businesses, non-profits, and campus organizations; some students also pursue online internships.
Here are a few of the places where Multimedia Communication students have had internships: American Lung Association, The Independent, Isla Vista Arts, Lynda.com, MediaTrust, QAD, Santa Barbara Magazine, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, UCSB Alumni Association.
Interest in this Track? Email the Track Director
We recommend expressing your interest to the director(s) of the track or tracks you are interested in. They will know more in depth details regarding their specific track.
Director
- Madeleine Sorapure, sorapure@writing.ucsb.edu