NMDD Program Info
The New Media and Digital Design (NMDD) major and minor are transitioning to a new program, Design & Technology (DEST), beginning in Fall 2026.
If you are a current NMDD student, your degree remains fully supported and accredited. This page explains what the transition means for you.
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Core Courses: NMDD required Explorations in New Media and Digital Design, an internship seminar, a computer science core course, and a capstone. DEST requires Fundamentals of Media Design, Fundamentals of Interaction Design, and a capstone studio.
Unlike NMDD, DEST does not require an internship or computer science core course, however there are options to count internships for credit, and the "making" competency has a large amount of computer science courses to choose from.
Comparing the Majors
New Media and Digital Design (NMDD)
Total Required: 11 courses total (36 credits)Design and Technology (DEST)
Total Required: 11 courses total (36 credits)Required (5 courses)
- NMDD 1001: Explorations in New Media and Digital Design
- NMDD 3900: Internship Seminar
- NMDD 4600 Capstone Seminar
- Comp Sci Core (1 course)
- Ethics Course (1 course)
Elective distribution (6 courses)
- Concentration (4 courses)
- Art, Text and Design
- New Media and Information
- New Media and Commerce
- Free Electives (2 courses)
Required (3 courses)
- DEST 1001: Fundamentals of Media Design
- DEST 1002: Fundamentals of Interaction Design
- DEST 4600: Capstone Studio
Elective distribution (8 courses - two from each competency)
- Social responsibility (2 courses)
- Design Methods (2 courses)
- Business Strategy (2 courses)
- Computation and Making (2 courses)
Comparing the Minors
New Media and Digital Design (NMDD)
Total Required: 6 courses totalDesign and Technology (DEST)
Total Required: 6 courses totalRequired (2 courses)
- NMDD 1001: Explorations in Digital Design
- Select one of the following courses:
- NMDD 3150: Creative Coding
- CISC 2350: Information and Web Programming
- CISC 2500: Information and Data Management
- CISC 2530: Digital Video and Multimedia
- CISC 2850: Computer and Data Analysis
- CISC 3300: Internet and Web Programming
Electives (4 courses from one concentration)
- New Media and Information
- Art, Text, and Design
- New Media and Commerce
Required (2 courses)
- DEST 1001: Fundamentals of Media Design
- DEST 1002: Fundamentals of Interaction Design
Electives (4 courses - one from each competency)
- Social responsibility (1 course)
- Design Methods (1 course)
- Business strategy (1 course)
- Computation and Making (1 course)
What this means if you switch:
- Some of your NMDD courses may “map” directly into DEST competencies.
- Your adviser will work with you to evaluate your credits and see how far along you are in NMDD before deciding if switching makes sense.
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Students can declare NMDD through Summer 2026. After that, only the new Design & Technology (DEST) program will be available to new students.
NMDD will officially run until its to-be-terminated (TBT) date of August 31, 2032, giving all students time to complete their degrees.
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Most courses will continue as usual but may carry both NMDD and DEST codes.
- For example, NMDD 4600 (Capstone) will also appear under DEST codes.
- Courses are not taught separately, you will be in the same classroom with both NMDD and DEST students, as we transition.
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The update reflects how the field — and Fordham’s program — has evolved.
- Broader scope: The NMDD program was originally built around concentrations (Art & Text, Information, Commerce). The new DEST program is organized around competencies that better match today’s design and technology careers:
- Social Responsibility (design as social)
- Business Strategy (design as product)
- Design Methods (design as process)
- Making (design as material)
- Clearer identity: Design & Technology more accurately describes what students study and the skills they graduate with, making the program stronger for advising, internships, and job placement.
- More flexibility: The competency model lets you build your own pathway (UX designer, digital artist, product designer, activist designer, etc.) rather than being locked into one concentration.
- Future-facing: The name and curriculum align with industry expectations and graduate programs, ensuring Fordham students stay competitive.
- Broader scope: The NMDD program was originally built around concentrations (Art & Text, Information, Commerce). The new DEST program is organized around competencies that better match today’s design and technology careers:
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Yes. DEST courses may count toward NMDD degree requirements, and your adviser will confirm which ones apply.
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No. The department has designed the transition so NMDD and DEST students share the same classes when possible. Advisers will guide you to make sure you stay on track.
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- New Students: Students entering Fordham in Fall 2026 or later can directly join DEST.
- Current NMDD students: If you declared NMDD before Summer 2026 but want to explore DEST, you’ll need to speak with your adviser. In some cases, you may be able to change your major officially; in others, you can remain NMDD and still take DEST-coded courses as electives.