 |
|
The Computer-Mediated Communication Program of the University of
Alabama in Huntsville, aka "The Web Cognate," is a cross-departmental
minor for students with an interest in web theory, development, and
management.
|
 |
The web cognate is a multi-dimensional curriculum,
and as such its classes are taught in several
locations across the UAH campus. With classes held in
a variety of facilities and on an array of topics, the
web cognate affords you the opportunity to
become adept with web theory and applications in any number
of environments. From the e-commerce applications of
the MIS world, to the communications and hypertext
theory of the communications lab, to the iMacs of the
graphic design department... throughout it all,
computer mediated communication is a constant and
unifying theme of the web cognate curriculum.
|
From the Director
In 1998, we gathered together faculty from four colleges at UAH-from information
technology, graphic design, communication, computer science, computer engineering,
human factors, and technical writing-to develop a program in Web development
that would give graduates a "big picture" understanding of Web development.
We identified three critical areas for this program: the technical concern with
information technology, coding, database integration, server technologies, and
functionality; the artistic concern with graphic design, the development of
the visual look of the site, the creation and importation of graphic elements,
and the integration of text and visuals; and, thirdly, the communication concern
with recognizing and adapting to audiences, understanding how to make messages
clear and persuasive, and adjusting to various channels of communication supported
by the Web. Our focus was on teaching principles, not applications; specific
applications and technologies are simply a means to understanding those principles
and the possibilities for Web development. The result of our efforts is this
interdisciplinary minor, the first program of its kind in the United States.
Today, fifty students from majors as diverse as Art Studio, Communication Arts,
MIS, Computer Science, Psychology, Music, Engineering, and English are enrolled
in the Web cognate, along with a number of students already holding bachelor's
degrees. They seek positions planning, designing, and developing Web sites for
business, government, non-profit organizations, and "Net" life.
As a minor, the Web cognate complements or enhances a major, allowing graphic
designers to focus their work in the lucrative Internet market; communication
majors to move readily into online publishing or public relations work on the
Web; Psychology majors to bring their understanding of human factors and human
psychology to bear on Web-based information dissemination; and all majors to
enhance their prospects in the new high-tech job market.
I encourage interested students to contact me to find out more about this innovative
new program.
Dr. Clark Rountree
rounjc@uah.edu
|
|
|
