Graphic Information Technology

About this opportunity

The Graphic Information Technology (GIT) program is cross-media and includes courses in front-end web development, user experience, interaction design, commercial photography, commercial videography, motion graphics, and commercial printing. GIT offers honors students a variety of opportunities to extend their focus of interest into new areas, produce higher level academic and professional projects and products, and use their imagination to expand their learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit the GIT webpage, or visit the webpage created by Prof. Barnett for Barrett students. Any Barrett student who is considering majoring or minoring in Graphic Information Technology should contact their FHA.

Thesis

A GIT honors thesis typically focuses on a creative project, such as a complete animation, book design, video production, web site or other product with a specific purpose. It may also include quantitative and/or qualitative research, depending on the focus of the project. All GIT full time faculty have a masters degree, which is considered a terminal degree in the program, and can serve as a thesis director or as a second committee member. It is generally recommended that you choose a creative project that shows your skills and creativity in that area so that it can be something that is added to your portfolio when complete.

Determining an appropriate and relevant project is handled by the student and their Thesis Director. All students are encouraged to reach out to the FHA and/or a faculty member in their focus area to discuss ideas for possible projects at any time.

Graphic Information Technology students can utilize GIT 493 Honors Thesis as a GIT Upper Division Elective. Graphic Information Technology (Full Stack Web Development) students can utilize GIT 493 Honors Thesis as an Upper Division Full-Stack Elective. Contact your major academic advisor for further information.

Academic Preparation

Students should be prepared to take four GIT and related courses in the area in which they plan to complete their thesis. They may also benefit from undertaking an internship in a related industry.

Recommended Timeline

Students start work in the second to last semester before they wish to complete the thesis. In semester one, students will confer with their committee to determine the thesis topic and goals. Before the end of the first semester, they should have a full proposal to submit to their committee with approval and start work on the project. In the second semester (the semester of graduation), students will complete their thesis by the deadline for submission and present their work to the committee.

Other Honors Opportunities

Many GIT courses allow for honors contracts on a case-by-case basis. Students propose contracts to the GIT professors for their acceptance. GIT honors contracts typically extend the classroom learning. For example, in the print design course, one student designed a set of candy packages, while another designed a set of magazine covers.

Learn more about past creative GIT honors projects and honors enrichment contracts on the Honors in GIT website.