First-Year Students
The University of Maryland’s Immersive Media Design (IMD) program offers two unique interdisciplinary majors that fuse the artistic expression of an Art degree with the technical mastery of a Computer Science degree. An IMD degree provides you with the career skills and design experience to create emerging forms of digital media that move beyond a flat screen to immerse the user in new and complex virtual environments such as augmented and virtual reality, projective domes and spaces, interactive installations and sculptures, and tangible computing. Excellent instructors in small classes guide students as they learn digital media tools like game development engines, computer modeling, motion capture, 3D scanning, 3D printing, virtual production, and 360 sound, and apply these tools to the design and creation of projects in computer games, interactive installations, historical recreation, scientific visualization, engineering design, whatever you can imagine.
The major has two different tracks of academic study:
- The Bachelor of Arts in Immersive Media Design: Emerging Creatives focuses on design and concept exploration from an aesthetic and artistic frame. Students take the same core sequence of art courses as Studio Art majors while taking computing courses in understanding and coding digital media. Students who complete track one will receive a B.A. in Immersive Media Design.
- The Bachelor of Science in Immersive Media Design: Computing focuses on the technical foundations that underpin immersive media projects and software. Students take the same core sequence of courses as Computer Science majors while taking art courses in design and digital media. Students who complete track one will receive a B.S. in Immersive Media Design. For students admitted to the University of Maryland in Fall 2024 or later, the gateway requirements for the Bachelor of Science have changed.
Immersive Media Design is part of a computing community at the University of Maryland; if you are interested in other computing disciplines, you can find more information here.
Why Study in the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU)
Learn More
Why Study in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS)
Learn MoreWhat to Expect from the Application Process
Students applying to the University as first-year students (freshmen) can apply by submitting either the Common App or StandOut Admissions Network. We strongly encourage all first-year students to apply by the early action deadline of November 1. You will indicate on your application Immersive Media Design (B.A.) or Immersive Media Design (B.S.)
Immersive Media Design is a limited enrollment program (LEP) and students will be reviewed for admission directly into the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree program.
To help make your application more competitive, consider highlighting:
- Involvement in computer science and/or art related clubs and activities;
- AP/IB courses relevant to your intended degree program;
- Relevant artistic or computing experience;
- Participation in any leadership opportunities, extracurricular activities, research, and/or internships.
On your application, you may indicate your intended major as Immersive Media Design (B.A.) or Immersive Media Design (B.S.). After the application deadline, your application will go through a two-stage review process. The first review is consideration for admission to the University of Maryland; the second review is consideration for admission directly into your indicated Immersive Media Design degree program. There are three primary outcomes that a student can expect intheir admission decision:
- Admission to the University of Maryland and to their chose Immersive Media Design degree program;
- Admission to the University of Maryland but not directly admitted to their chosen Immersive Media Design program;
- Not admitted to the University of Maryland.
Students admitted to the University of Maryland but not directly to their Immersive Media Design program of choice are placed in Letters & Sciences. To find more information about Letters & Sciences, please visit their website here.
For additional information or inquiries regarding the application and/or admissions process, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu.
Freshmen Connection
Freshmen Connection (FC) is a fall semester program offered to all spring admitted freshmen. Participation in Freshmen Connection is optional, and all interested students must confirm their intent to enroll at the University of Maryland (UMD) for the spring semester.
Learn more about Freshmen Connection here.