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About the Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design

Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD, formerly AIMS) is an “transdisciplinary” program at Miami University that examines how digital media is disrupting traditional disciplines. Through teaching, research, and experiential opportunities, ETBD is an example of liberal education in a 21st century world. ETBD differs from traditional departments and programs in that the faculty are both part of ETBD as well as part of the different divisions of Miami University. Thus, ETBD is integrated in all of the divisions, as a horizontal program, because we recognize that “the flat university” is a model that is at the heart of the future for higher education.



The program began in 1996 and is one of the oldest new media programs in the country. Begun with $1 million seed money from Procter & Gamble, the program has grown in size from just one course in 1996 to robust program offering three minors, three majors, and a graduate certificate program.

Today, ETBD is funded through a generous gift of nearly $15 million from C. Michael Armstrong and Anne Armstrong and $1.75 million gift from John Smale. The Armstrong gift was honored with a special event in March 2008.

New Economy Academics

ETBD serves over 900 students with faculty in every division of Miami University. Beyond electives available to all Miami Students, we offer five core opportunities for undergraduate students.

Emerging Technology in Business and Design Minor

The Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD) Minor introduces the student to digital media and allows them to examine their chosen major from a new perspective. It provides students with a framework for integrating a broad understanding of interactive media balanced with a more specific focus on disciplinary tracks.
Learn more about the ETDB Minor

Games and Simulation Minor

The Games and Simulation Minor is a series of courses on digital game design, analysis, and application, presenting a collaboration between the Armstrong Institute for Interactive Media Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Fine Arts, the School of Education, Health, and Society and the University Libraries. This minor introduces students to the foundations of game design and implementation, the design of art assets for digital games, developing critical and cultural understandings of digital games, and the relationship of digital games to important trends in learning and literacy.
Learn more about the Games and Simulation Minor

Games and Simulation Major

With a focus on making and praxis, the Bachelor of Science in Games and Simulation prepares students for a career or graduate study in game design, development, 3D modeling, creative development, writing or designing, esports, and games in other industries, all while encouraging students to take creative risks, to build things, and to think critically about audiences, narratives, and aesthetics.
Learn more about the Games and Simulation Major

Emerging Technology in Business and Design Major

The Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD) Major is for students interested in exploring the ramifications of interactive media in entertainment, business, art, design, animation, visualization, and comparative media studies. Two concentrations are available: Digital and Applied.

students-at-whiteboard-at-union-hall-600x600.jpegThe networked world expects, what the innovative design firm IDEO calls “the T-Person”, with both breadth of knowledge and experience (the top bar of the “T”) married with some area of specialty (the vertical bar of the “T”). Thus, ETBD students work with students of all disciplines, are taught by faculty from all perspectives, and will have experience working with industry and non-profits on real-world projects. 

For graduate students, we offer an innovative Graduate Certificate in Interactive Media Studies (which includes a fully-online option) as well as executive education workshops. 

ETBD research includes topics such as e-commerce, computational art, digital humanities, visualization, rapid prototyping, game design, physical computing, web development, game development, game studies, design thinking, interaction design, user experience design, user interface design, usability, Internet and social media marketing, virtual and augmented reality, mobile computing, and mechatronics, just to name a few active areas of interest.

ETBD weaves hands-on experiential, team-based learning into as many courses as possible. All ETBD students participate in Armstrong Interactive, a client-based consulting capstone class, that delivers real interactive solutions to paying corporate clients. Past clients include Coca-Cola, P&G, Bank of America, Convergys, Cablevision, HP, Hulu, Cintas, Gensler, Weber-Shandwick, Cardinal Health, J Peterman, The Tibetan Government in Exile, and various startups.

The ETBD Difference

ETBD is special. The program has been nominated to be a Ohio Center of Excellence. ETBD's Game Design, Development, and Studies Center has consistently been ranked by Princeton Review to be one of the top 30 game programs in the United States. ETBD graduates are highly-sought after job candidates and have an exceptionally high job placement rate. 

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Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design
105 Tallawanda Rd
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-1637
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