"Digital and computer art courses can lead to careers in high art, popular entertainment and all crossovers and hybrids in between," says Josephine Anstey, M.A. '86, assistant professor of media study. "Analytical, programming and production classes in computer graphics; virtual reality; information theory; machine culture; robotic, gizmo and computer installations‹all serve as a strong foundation for careers in game design, interactive design for museums, location-based entertainment, augmented/virtual reality cultural heritage projects, and of course computer-based fine-art work."

In the School of Architecture and Planning, the impact of digital media is similarly perceived. "This is not just a matter of possessing a skill-set for a given application, but rather it is a new horizon for the imagination," Professor and Chair Kent Kleinman says of current approaches. "In order to give our students both the technical and imaginative tools they need, the department of architecture is teaming up with the department of media study to initiate what we hope will be a new dual degree program."

Key academic appointments can also spur career opportunities in this exciting, fast-moving field. "We have an advanced research group in the school called the Center for Virtual Architecture and have recently hired a new faculty member, Omar Khan, who has training both from Cornell and MIT Media Lab," Kleinman reports. "The center is our nexus for involving students in research related to new media and architecture."

In the College of Arts and Sciences, the arrival of Linda Reisman, producer of Affliction and Waking the Dead, offers another example of faculty know-how applied to student opportunity. "One of Professor Reisman's first contributions to UB and to our department was to develop a number of internships with leading film and media production companies in the industry," says Royal Roussel, professor and chair of the department of media study. "These are in addition to internships developed over the past two years through the efforts of University Development with UB alumni in media, including Harvey Weinstein's Miramax Films and Brad Grey's Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.