NMC Portfolio
New Media Certificate
There have been many times when I would come across an app or website that I would be impressed with but can never fully appreciate due to its design. It is frustrating that these products can't live up to their full potential due to their lack of or too complex interface. Hoping that I could be someone who fixes these issues, I chose computer science as my major. However, shortly after I declared my major, I was disappointed to find that UGA lacked courses related to front-end development. For months, I debated my career path based on the courses offered by the department. Even when I narrowed it down to two choices I wasn't satisfied with my decision until I heard about the New Media Certificate. This certificate was everything that I was looking for and gave me the chance to explore my more creative side as a programmer.
The New Media Certificate development track provides an array of opportunities for students to expand their knowledge in fields such as web development, iOS app development, graphic design, project management, and more. The program is designed to enhance students' skills and provide practical experience. It includes two courses, an internship and a capstone, that foster collaboration and allow students to apply their newly acquired skills in professional settings.
Although I deeply regret not discovering this certificate earlier, I have already completed courses in Advance Web Development and User Experience Strategy. Advance Web Development taught me how to create webpages, and User Experience Strategy taught me the importance of designing for the user's needs. However, there are still many other courses I would like to take before I graduate, with Native App Development being the most prominent among them. As someone who admires Apple products and their sleek user interface, I have always been keen to learn Swift programming. However, in the end, I opted for Advance Web Programming to study JavaScript, as I believed it would be more advantageous for my future studies and career. Overall, I have had a great experience with this certificate and I strongly urge students to consider pursuing this certificate because the program is constantly evolving, and the faculty are supportive and genuinely invested in their students' success.
CSCI 1302: Software Development
This computer science course was one of the most challenging one I have ever taken. Almost every week, we had to complete a quiz, multiple programming assignments, in-class exercises, and readings. The next project would be released before the previous one was due. The course was incredibly rigorous and stressful, and I felt apprehensive every time a new project was assigned.
Despite the difficulties, this course helped me become more proficient in Java programming. I learned how to implement, compile, and execute object-oriented programs in a Unix environment. Furthermore, I acquired knowledge on critical concepts such as generics, exception handling, threading, recursion, polymorphism, inheritance, data structures, documentation, interfaces, Git control, and unit testing. This class also taught me the importance of planning, starting early, and breaking down significant issues into smaller problems to identify solutions.
To see my projects for this course please navigate to the Computer Science section and CSCI 1302: Software Development tab.
NMIX 4020: Advance Web Development
This course was the first course I took in the New Media Certificate program. Through this class, I gained knowledge on developing responsive web products. While I had some basic knowledge of HTML and CSS from high school, my professor showed me advanced applications. Additionally, I was introduced to coding in JavaScript for the first time, which was relatively easy for me to understand given my prior experience with coding in other languages. However, coding with Vue.js proved to be challenging because of its unfamiliar syntax. Despite the learning curve, I was able to create webpages with APIs, components, objects, flexboxes, and other features. The best part about the course was the opportunity to apply what we learned practically. We were encouraged to experiment and explore, and our professor was always willing to assist us with any questions or clarifications. Occasionally, we had the liberty to choose a project based on the themes provided.
Advanced Web Development served as an excellent introduction to JavaScript, and it also helped me identify my interest in front-end development. This experience has encouraged me to pursue it as a professional career, which is why I have decided to take Web Programming as a computer science elective next semester.
NMIX 4012E (Elective): User Experience Strategy
In this course, I gained knowledge on user interface and user experience design. The course emphasized designing for the target audience instead of personal interests and desires. I was taught the significance of conducting research on the audience to create features that improve the usability of the website or app. Moreover, the course covered creating low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes, followed by conducting usability tests, collecting feedback, and evaluating qualitative and quantitative results to enhance the interface.
My favorite aspect of the class was learning about Figma and how to use it. Figma is an excellent tool for exploring creativity and planning designs efficiently. It offers a better perspective on what is aesthetically pleasing while ensuring optimal functionality. Additionally, Figma is a great source of inspiration as it allows you to view community works.
CSCI 4300 (Elective): Web Programming
In this class I learned how to design and develop web applications with html, css, JavaScript, and ReactJS and connect it to a database. With ReactJS I was able to make the web application interactive and change structures in response to user evenets and asynchronous events. I also learned how to perform error handling conditions, DOM manipulation, and dynamically generate paged. All these lessons will help me develop the front-end and back-end of a website.
To see my projects for this course please navigate to the Computer Science section and CSCI 4300: Web Programming tab.
NMIX 4210: New Media Industries
Through my attendance in this course, I gained invaluable knowledge on how to prepare for the post-graduation phase. Additionally, the course provided networking opportunities with guest speakers who were accomplished professionals in New Media. They kindly shared their practical knowledge and offered valuable guidance on both the industry and career development. For instance, some of these speakers shared their personal stories of successfully negotiating salaries and promotions.