Any other major, minor, certificate, and/or honors that will be on your graduation records
Degree Mentors
Why did you choose to major in INDS?
I chose to major in INDS because I found myself becoming increasingly interested in music and sound design as a component of game development without any other viable academic pathway to explore it within. Through INDS, I have had the unique and wonderful opportunity to combine my game development coursework from my Computer Science major with my burgeoning love for music, designing and completing a separate degree in Game Soundtrack Design all within my graduation timeline. I am very grateful to the INDS program for opening the doors to music theory, composition, and production courses at UMBC that I never thought I would have had the time or chance to take, and for giving me the space and support to pursue my integrated passions.
What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?
After graduation, I plan to find work at a local game studio (such as Firaxis Games, Oxide Games, or Bit Reactor) as a gameplay engineer and/or technical sound designer. Having been advised by several current industry members, I recognize that the programming skills I have honed through my Computer Science degree will most likely help me more for hiring sake all told. However, I believe that my soundtrack design experience (as developed entirely through my INDS degree) will make me a stronger and more versatile candidate with a wider array of job opportunities in the game industry.
Were you involved in any clubs or organizations? Did you hold any leadership positions? URCAD? URA? Off-campus internships? On-campus research experiences?
I have been an active member of the UMBC Game Developers Club since Fall of 2021 and served as the Vice President of the club since Spring of 2023. I have also participated in the past three URCADs, showcasing games I have developed with other members of the UMBC Game Developers Club. I have held a Software Engineering Internship position at the Imaging Research Center on campus since Fall of 2023, where I have been fortunate to work with an interdisciplinary team developing immersive experiences using game industry-standard software.
Evan was INDS 2024 Award Recipient and attended the Game Music and Sound Design Conference. Congrats Evan!
For more information on Evan's INDS journey please click here:
Any other major, minor, certificate, and/or honors that will be on your graduation records
Degree Mentors
Why did you choose to major in INDS?
When pursuing a second area of concentration for my social work major, I found there was so much I was interested in that did not fit cleanly into one other major. Classes from education, sociology, psychology, American studies, and public affairs all interested me. INDS provided me an opportunity to explore my passions of social justice, child development, and education from a variety of perspectives through building my own degree plan and pulling from many different disciplines.
What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?
After graduation, I plan to pursue a Masters of Social Work (MSW) with a child and family or early childhood mental health concentration with the goal of becoming licensed clinical social work. I would love to work within a school or early learning center to make a difference for both the children I am working with and their families, as well as the larger community. The wide scope of knowledge I have gained from my INDS degree will help me approach large social issues from multiple perspectives and be able to contribute to change from both micro and macro levels.
Were you involved in any clubs or organizations? Did you hold any leadership positions? URCAD? URA? Off-campus internships? On-campus research experiences?
Getting involved at UMBC has expanded my experiences so much, allowing me to try new things and meet all sorts of amazing people!
Ada was the 2024 recipient of the Zainab Damji Memorial Scholarship. Congrats Ada!
For More information on Ada's INDS journey please click here:
Indicate any other major, minor, certificate, and/or honors that will be on your graduation records
Degree Mentors
Why did you choose to major in INDS?
When I entered UMBC I was initially a biology major, but after looking over the required courses for the degree, I realized that it was not the right path for me. In choosing a major that encompassed only one field of study, I would not have been able to adequately represent the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience that makes it so interesting and unique. By choosing to major in INDS however, I was able to seamlessly incorporate all of these diverse, yet equally important perspectives. In doing so, I feel that I've created a degree that prepares me to both continue my neuroscience education, as well as for any future career endeavors in the field.
What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?
After I graduate, I plan to attend graduate school in the hopes of obtaining a PhD in Neuroscience. This will be necessary if I hope to achieve my ultimate goal of going into neuroscience research, focusing specifically on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. My INDS degree will be supremely useful for these endeavors, as it has not only helped me to gain specialized knowledge of my field, but also skills and experience that will make me a more well-rounded candidate when applying.
EXTRACURRICULAR
For more information on Madison's INDS journey please click here: