Creative Media

The Bachelor of Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is an innovative and comprehensive program that prepares students for dynamic careers in the digital and creative industries. This interdisciplinary degree combines elements of design, digital media, interactive technology, and storytelling to equip students with a diverse skill set essential for success in contemporary media landscapes. Throughout the program, students engage in hands-on projects, collaborative research, and practical applications that foster creativity, technical proficiency, and critical thinking. The curriculum emphasizes the development of expertise in digital imaging, video production, animation, game design, user experience, and multimedia storytelling, enabling graduates to excel in fields such as entertainment, advertising, digital arts, and new media industries. Located in Hawaii, the university provides a unique cultural and environmental perspective that influences media creation and promotes innovative approaches to communication and storytelling. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, specialized labs, and industry internships that enhance learning and professional growth. The program encourages exploration of local, national, and global issues through media, fostering socially conscious and culturally aware creators. Graduates of the Creative Media program are well-equipped to pursue careers as digital artists, media producers, content creators, designers, and media entrepreneurs, making meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving digital economy. With a strong foundation in both theory and practice, the Bachelor of Creative Media prepares students to adapt to rapid technological changes and to lead in the development of new media formats and platforms.

ACM offers a core curriculum and electives in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies. To insure that students in the Bachelor of Arts program satisfy ACM learning objectives in Critical Thinking, Writing, History & Aesthetics, Technical Skills of Digital Story Telling, Creativity, and Responsibility, all majors must take a core of 18 credit hours:

• The introductory course
• One Basic Production Skills Course
• One Writing Course 
• Three Courses in Critical Studies

Required Core Courses for All Student Majors (18 credits)

3 Credits: ACM 255 – Cinematic and Digital Media

3 Credits: One of:

• For Digital Cinema and/or Critical Studies Track ACM 310 -Cinematic Narrative Production 
• For Animation and/or Critical Studies Track -ACM 316 -3D Character Animation

Note: A minimum grade of B in ACM 255 is a pre-requisite for both courses

3 Credits: One of:

• ACM 350 – Screenwriting
• ACM 355 – Oral Tradition to Screenplay

9 Credits: Three of:

• ACM 352/AMST 352 – Screening Asian Americans
• ACM 360 – Indigenous Aesthetics
• ACM 380 – Genre & Narrative Theory
• ACM 382 – Authors in Creative Media
• ACM 385 – Topics in Creative Media
• ACM 460 – Ethics and Film
• ACM 480 – Oceanic Media Culture
• ACM 485 – Seminar in Creative Media
• ACM 490 – Global Media

Major Track or Sequence Courses (at least 12 additional credits)

Digital Cinema

• 312 – Cinematography
• 325 – Visual Effects
• 350 – Screenwriting
• 355 – Oral Tradition to Screenplay
• 370 – Directing the Actor on Screen
• 372 – Editing for the Screen
• 374 – Post Production Sound
• 375 – Directing the Camera
• 386 – Techniques in Creative Media
• 390 – Workshop in Creative Media
• 399 – Independent Group Project
• 405 – Documentary Production
• 410 – Advanced Cinematic Production
• 450 – Advanced Screenwriting
• 455 – Indigenous Filmmaking
• 495 –  Creative Media Internship
• 499 – Directed Reading and Research

Computer Animation & Game Design

For Portfolio Requirements for entry into ACM 215/216:  www.hawaii.edu/acm/acmanimation

• 215 – 3D Scene Design*
• 216 – 3D Character Animation*
• 315 – Narrative Game Design
• 316 – 3D Character Animation
• 317 – 3D Cinematography & Dynamics
• 318 – Drawing for Animation
• 320 – 3D Computer Animation Prod I
• 325 – Visual Effects
• 386 – Techniques in Creative Media
• 390 – Workshop in Creative Media
• 399 – Independent Group Project
• 415 – Computer Game Production
• 420 – Computer Animation Production II
• 495 – Creative Media Internship
• 499 – Directed Reading and Research

Critical Studies

• 352 – Screening Asian Americans
• 360 – Indigenous Aesthetics
• 380 – Genre & Narrative Theory 
• 382 – Authors in Creative Media
• 384 – Study Abroad
• 385 – Topics in Creative Media
• 460 – Ethics and Film 
• 480 – Oceanic Media and Culture
• 485 – Seminar in Creative Media
• 490 – Global Media
• 499 – Directed Reading and Research

Requirements

• University of Hawaiʻi System Admission Application
  You may apply online. Please read the instructions carefully. 
   
• Application Fee: $70 U.S.
  The application fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable and valid only for the semester indicated on the application. Please send a money order or check payable to the University of Hawaiʻi or download the credit card authorization form (PDF).
   
• Official Secondary and Post-secondary School Transcripts
  All official transcripts, examination certifications (e.g., General Certificate of Education) and other documents showing all high school and any completed post-secondary work must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. All official transcripts must be mailed directly by the institution or Ministry of Education to the Office of Admissions. Documents mailed or hand carried by you or anyone else will not be accepted as official or used for admission consideration.
  
  Secondary school transcripts must include a list of courses taken and grades/internal marks received each year, class rank for the last four years of secondary school, and an explanation of the school's grading system. If transcripts with annual internal marks are unavailable directly from the school, you may photocopy your mark sheets or grade reports and have them certified by a school official who verifies that a transcript is otherwise not available.
  
  Post-secondary school transcripts must include a list of courses taken, grades/marks received, number of hours spent in each class per term, explanation of the school's grading system, and your rank in class. You may also be asked to provide course descriptions and a list of text books used in each course.
  
  Photocopies of external examination certificates must be certified by a school or Ministry of Education official or issued by the examining board and be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
  
  All documents must be in English or accompanied by an English translation that has been certified by a school or Ministry of Education official. 
   
• Official Test Scores
  You must take either the SAT, the American College Test (ACT), or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and request that the results be forwarded to UH Mānoa. Our college codes are SAT/GRE 4867 and ACT 0902. Ask your school counselor for more information on testing locations and deadlines or visit the SAT website, ACT website, or GRE website. If the test is not available to you in your area, the SAT/ACT may be substituted. Please contact the Office of Admission for more information.
  
  Undergraduate applicants who have earned 24 or more transferable semester credits at the time of application are not required to submit test scores. The credits must be from courses comparable to those offered at UH Mānoa (excluding English Language Institute and Second Language Studies courses) and have been taken at a recognized, regionally accredited college/university in the United States or an institution recognized by the Office of Admissions.
  
  The GRE can be taken when SAT or ACT tests are unavailable.
   
• Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores
  All applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official TOEFL score report from a test taken within the last two years. An official TOEFL score report must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Office of Admissions. Our college codes are institution 4867, department 00. 
  
  TOEFL Exemptions
  The following types of applicants are exempt from taking the TOEFL:
  • Received a D or better grade for UH Manoa English 100 equivalent (as determined by the UH Manoa Office of Admissions).
  • Received an SAT Critical Reading score of 510 or better.
  • Received an ACT English + Reading score of 44 with no score below 20.
  • Received an English Language Performance Test (ELPT) score of 950 or better (students attending U.S. high schools only).
  • Received an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5.0 or better (must be academic section).
  • Completed at least 3 years of high school in the U.S. at the time of application with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 and SAT Critical Reading score of 460.
  • Completed the last 6 years of secondary/post-secondary education in American Samoa.
  • Meet any of the English Language Institute Placement Test Exemptions listed below .
     
  Refer to the Educational Testing Service for more information on testing locations and deadlines. Applications may be obtained by writing to Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08541.
   
• English Language Institute Placement Test 
  If you are admitted and your native language is not English, you may be required to take the UH Mānoa English Language Institute placement test. 
  
  English Language Institute Placement Test Exemptions 
  The following applicants are exempt from taking the ELI placement test:
  • Native speakers of English.
  • Received an SAT Critical Reading score of 540 or better.
  • Received an ACT English + Reading score of 48 with no score below 21.
  • Received a GRE Verbal Reasoning score of 151 or better.
  • Received a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 or more (paper-based) or a score of 100 or more (internet-based).
  • Received an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 or better (must be academic section).
  • Completed 60 transferable semester credits with a GPA of 2.0 or better from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
  • Completed all degree coursework at and earned an Associate of Arts degree from a University of Hawaiʻi Community College.
  • Completed the last 6 years of secondary/post-secondary education in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Guam, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
  • Completed all degree coursework at and earned a Bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a recognized college or university in any of the countries listed above (as determined by the UH Mānoa Office of Admissions).
• High school or any college transcripts, translated and certified by a school or U.S. consular official.

Scholarships

• New Warrior Scholarships
• Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship
• Global Education

The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers students a comprehensive education in the creation, analysis, and understanding of digital media and arts. This interdisciplinary program combines principles of visual arts, audio production, interactive media, and storytelling to prepare students for diverse careers in media industries. Emphasizing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the curriculum includes coursework in digital media production, computer programming, visual design, audio engineering, digital storytelling, and media theory. Students gain hands-on experience through projects, workshops, and collaborative work, fostering creativity and technical expertise. The program encourages experimentation with new media technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and game development, aligning with current industry trends. Students also have opportunities for internships, research projects, and participation in media festivals, enhancing their professional development. The faculty comprises experts in various fields of digital arts and media, providing mentorship and guidance. Graduates of the Creative Media program are well-equipped for careers in digital content creation, media production, animation, game design, multimedia journalism, and other related fields. The program also prepares students for graduate study in media arts or related disciplines. Access to state-of-the-art facilities, including editing studios, sound labs, and digital production suites, supports student learning and experimentation. Overall, the Creative Media program aims to cultivate innovative storytellers and media producers who can adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape, contributing creatively and ethically to the global media environment.