COURSE SEQUENCE

• SEMESTER 1

  Virtual Orientation (0 credits) 
  Foundations of Data Analytics & Visual Literacy (3 credits) 
  Understanding Data (4 credits) 

• SEMESTER 2

  Data Exploration (4 credits) 
  Designing Visual Information (3 Credits) 

• SEMESTER 3

  Interactive Data Storytelling (4 credits) 
  Industry Immersive (1 credit) 
  Visualization in Practice (3 credits) 

• SEMESTER 4

  Capstone I (4 credits) 
  Capstone II (4 credits) 
  

  Total Credits: 30

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

• Virtual Orientation

  To ensure your success in the program, students will meet virtually for a 1-day orientation where they will meet administrative staff, learn more about student services and success initiatives, and engage in community building with their cohort. In addition, students will complete an asynchronous orientation course in Canvas as a means to introduce them to the navigation of MICA’s administrative tools as well as inform them of academic services available through MICA. The content and assignments in the orientation course are designed to be an introduction to the program as well as a resource throughout the students’ time at MICA.

• Foundations of Data Analytics & Visualization Literacy 

  We live in a world surrounded by ever-increasing amounts of information in the form of data. Converting this raw data into a visual form that communicates effectively involves data analytics and advanced information visualization literacy. You will study the way visualization has been used historically and is being used today in various industries to tell compelling narratives. You will explore perspectives and research from the fields of art/design history, theory, and visual culture.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Exploring types of visualizations, contextualizing data visualization in the past and present

• Understanding Data

  This course will teach you the methods for gathering, organizing, preparing, and analyzing information and data central to visualization and telling your story. Giving you the means to communicate your big ideas, you will explore tools and software applications that establish descriptive statistical relationships. You will also develop foundational skills needed to transform research into compelling visualizations.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Excel, Tableau, R, Descriptive statistics, Data cleaning, Data visualization in R

• Data Exploration

  The course provides an overview of probability and statistics concepts commonly used in the visualization process. You will learn to apply concepts such as statistical measures, correlation, and regression to data sets. You will continue to use and gain proficiency in tools and softwares introduced in Statistics and Analysis and explore additional methods for data analysis that apply to real-world challenges.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: R and RMarkdown, Perform more complex data manipulations required to generate visualizations, Create ans style ggplot visualizations

• Designing Visual Information

  This course teaches you how to create impactful information visualizations that will produce results. You will be introduced to the best practices in organizing space, using type and color based on wellestablished guidance. Using universal principles of design, perception, and cognition, you will also learn the importance of ethical issues in data visualization, accessibility, and how to practice inclusive design
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Adobe Illustrator, Gestalt laws & Universal principles of design

• Interactive Data Storytelling

  Building upon Visual Storytelling I, students learn about different forms of storytelling and how techniques such as sequence, relationship, context, and audience can be combined through analysis and design strategies to tell a powerful story. Students continue to engage in the design process and apply principles of human-centered design.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Storytelling techniques, Human-centered design, Storyboarding/ wireframing, Interactive visualizations (Intro to D3), Tableau

• Industry Immersive

  The virtual industry immersive occurs at the midpoint of the program and enables you to collaborate with your cohort and network with each other as well as industry professionals. It consists of a mix of workshops, keynotes, and hands-on activities. This two-day experience surveys concepts, tools, and techniques that promote innovation. Students engage in exercises designed to apply and test creative techniques. At the conclusion of the virtual industry immersive, students will have knowledge of and practice with a number of approaches that can be applied through the second half of the program and into their careers.

• Visualization in Practice 

  This course integrates all the various concepts explored throughout the program and engages MICA’s industry partners to present students with challenges faced by professionals in the Data Analytics and Visualization industry. The goal of this course is to serve as a cornerstone of your portfolio, showcasing end-to-end design thinking. You will engage with the project decision-making process, ethical uses of data and visualizations, project management, budget and risk management, user interface design, and testing. Additionally, you will use visualization applications to help execute business strategy and support communication with a wide variety of stakeholders.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Project Management, User testing, Prototyping, Critique, Iteration and applying feedback

• Capstone I

  During Capstone I, you will collaborate with your faculty advisor and peers for critique and guidance as you tie together the theories, methodologies, and skills acquired throughout the program. You will work from a real-world concept to a fully realized prototype.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: How Data Visualizations are presented through the synthesis of Skills, Softwares, and Methods. Research, Data Collection and Cleaning, Critique, Applying feedback, Iteration.

• Capstone II

  You will continue to develop the project started in Capstone I as you work toward the final prototype of your capstone project. You will create a written narrative to accompany your visualizations and consider the most effective ways to present your work during the final virtual capstone presentation.
  
  Core Skills / Software Applications: Continued critique, Applying feedback, and Iteration. Project management, Narration creation and Storytelling (prototyping to target audience), Presentation skills.