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Interactive Arts and Technology
This program offers a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in art, design, media and information technology with particular expertise in the computational and interactive aspects of art, design, new media learning, business, computer games, cognition, performing arts, social science and cultural studies. The program is geared toward students who wish to learn about technology and how it is made and used.
The program has the quadruple objectives of: first, research and development of new computational technology in the context of complex human organizations and situations; second, research into the acts of designing, making, and managing technology; third, inquiry into and use of research methodologies that enable interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of new technologies; and fourth, application of new technologies in society and industry, particularly in creative areas of art, design, games and media.
丁香园AV Requirements
There will be annual admission with the possibility of early or out-of-cycle admissions in special cases.
The minimum standards will be those of 丁香园AV, as described in the , augmented by the following specific requirements.
The school aims to admit students with diverse backgrounds, across the broad areas in which our faculty have disciplinary expertise. The following admission requirements encourage such diversity while setting minimum standards for acceptance into the program.
Minimum Standard Entrance Requirements
- a graduate degree in a field related to the proposed program of study, e.g. MSc computer science, MASc engineering (electrical, communications, computer engineering), MA or MSc in education, management, or economics, communications, MFA in art, design or performing arts, MA in art, art history, architecture, linguistics, psychology or philosophy, MArch, MLArch
- OR a graduate degree in another, related discipline. Applicants are required to establish the relationship between the discipline in which they hold their previous degree or degrees and this program and explain how they would benefit from this program.
- OR an undergraduate degree in one of the two categories above. Applicants are required to demonstrate both high academic standing (3.5 GPA or better at a Canadian university, or equivalent), for the undergraduate degree, and evidence of research aptitude and accomplishment.
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better at a Canadian university, or equivalent, for the master's degree.
- three reference letters each from a suitably qualified person.
Additional 丁香园AV Requirements
English Language Competence
English is the language of instruction and communication at the University. Accordingly, an applicant whose primary language is not English must demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies in the chosen field. Please refer to the Graduate General Regulations (1.3.12 English Language Competence) for minimum language requirements and further information:
Portfolio/Interview
Candidates who are considered for admission may be required to submit a work portfolio and/or be required to attend a personal or telephone interview during the latter stages of the admission process.
Advising and Supervision
Students entering the program will be assigned an interim advisor. The interim advisor has two main tasks: advising the student on issues related to study within the program and assisting the student in identifying and approaching potential senior supervisors. There is no requirement that the interim advisor has a role in supervision once the senior supervisor is approved. Student supervision will comply with graduate general regulations section 1.6 Supervision.
The normal size of supervisory committees is two members.
Program Requirements
The primary requirement is the thesis (see below). The course requirements support the student's thesis research.
Required Courses
Students complete
Aims at a robust understanding of models for art and design and representations of these models as symbol systems. It meets these aims through a set of case studies that demonstrate how computational thinking can affect professional and research outcomes. Its outcomes are preparedness for further relevant study and developing skill in using computers to support research and professional work in art and design.
and one of
An introduction to qualitative research practices. Covers structures of research that are prevalent across and at the intersection of the areas of art, design, media, human-computer interaction and information studies, introduces research methodologies and tools, and teaches methods for interdisciplinary work. This course will foster a critical discourse among differences in approaches to research.
Introduction to the research enterprise from a quantitative perspective. It covers structures of research that are prevalent across fields, introduces research methodologies and tools, teaches methods for interdisciplinary work and fosters a critical discourse around differences among research in different areas. Prerequisite: Graduate student status.
PhD students complete at least five additional courses from the following core courses and electives.
* may be waived for those with sufficient formal educational background in art and design computation.
Core Courses
Students complete at least two of
Theory, history and current research in the field of new media. Its methods are the interweaving of design, social/cultural, learning and aesthetic theories. Historical views of the field are provided through an analysis of the histories of technology, moments of media emergence, social and cultural movements, design and aesthetics. Outcomes are exploration, analysis and development of applied methods in order to better understand, design, create and assess new media and future "newer media" developments.
The theory and practice of metacreation, i.e. the design of generative and pro-active computer software endowed with creative behaviour is presented. Tools and techniques from artificial intelligence, artificial life and machine learning are introduced and exemplified through their application in previous artistic works. The interweaving of related theoretical and practical issues situates metacreation within a larger perspective on art, science and technology.
Addresses what it means to know something, how people gain and use knowledge and complex skills, how to determine what an individual knows, how humans learn, how humans solve complex problems, how knowledge is created within a social and group context, and how to model human capabilities and performance. It selects and studies theoretical perspectives that inform the design of computer-based mediated environments, products and experiences.
Applications of computational intelligence to art and design are introduced through a set of motivating examples. Specific areas of application include knowledge representation, problem solving, rule based systems, ontologies and statistical reasoning.
Provides a cognitive and computational framework for understanding and designing graphical and visual representations. Investigates several psychological and computational models of diagram processing, and explores diverse interactive graphical systems.
In addition, three additional courses are required.
Electives, Special Topics and Directed Readings
Students complete two courses from electives, special topics and directed readings courses. Required or core courses that are not completed as part of the degree requirements may also be completed as electives.
Subject to supervisory committee approval and graduate program committee approval, students may fulfil part of these requirements through other appropriate graduate courses at 丁香园AV or elsewhere (the latter subject to 丁香园AV rules on external courses). Normally, all students complete at least one course toward these requirements as either an elective or special topics offered within the program.
For determining degree requirements in core, elective, special topics and directed readings categories, the number of courses with at least three units each shall be used. At least one elective must be a research methods course appropriate to the student's course of study.
Directed readings are seminar or tutorial experiences that develop special research interests in depth and with faculty supervision. Students should not expect to complete a directed readings course when a substantively comparable 丁香园AV course exists.
Directed readings should be distinct from work undertaken toward the thesis. Normally, directed readings should not be completed under the supervision of a senior supervisor. Normally at most one directed readings course is completed.
The following courses may be used to satisfy elective requirements as specified.
Analyses, designs and prototypes more effective and more appropriate products and systems to support interactivity. This course will examine these issues through an iterative modeling process.
Explores the theory and practice of performance and technology in the context of interactive-art. Investigates interactive performance as an emerging practice-based area of research. Grounds performance practice in a variety of fields including: human computer interaction, phenomenology, artificial intelligence, embodied cognition and computation, computer games, and virtual worlds.
A range of ways of knowing and inquiring in design research are explored by providing comparisons of different traditions appropriate for empirical mixed method design evaluations. This is a second research methods course. Prerequisite: One research methods course, either quantitative or qualitative. Students with credit for this course when offered as IAT 888 Special Topics in Spring 2007 may not take this course for further credit.
Sustainable interaction design (SID) examines the role of design in digital artifacts that support environmental sustainability. SID considers digital artifacts with respect to recycling, reuse, and renewal. The aim of the course is to introduce and understand SID concepts, research, and practice.
Games have become a major part of our culture, rivaling the popularity of movies. Drawing on a wide variety of examples and disciplines, this course examines theories and techniques for the analysis of existing games, and the design of new ones. It studies game design, and will provide students with the conceptual and technical tools necessary to critique and design games of all kinds.
Covers the concepts, algorithms and design principles underlying modern 3D computer animation and visualization from a user interface perspective. Research topics include 3D user interface constructs; information, data and knowledge visualization; 3D graphics and animation; spatial perception; and virtual and immersive environments.
Introduces students to the design of computational systems that themselves support the design process. Prerequisite: IAT 800.
Theory and practice of the metacreation as a contemporary approach to generative art and design that involves using tools and techniques from artificial intelligence, artificial life, and machine learning to develop software that is creative on their own. Through the project students will build software that exhibits behaviour that would be considered creative if performed by humans. Prerequisite: IAT 800. Students with credit for IAT 811 in 2008 or 2009 or IAT 888 in 2010 may not take this course for further credit.
Designated Research Methods Courses
At least one elective course must be a research methods course that is appropriate to the student's studies.
The following research methods courses satisfy the research methods requirement in the elective course requirements. This course requirement must be relevant to the thesis work and be approved by the supervisor and the graduate program committee. Courses external to SIAT may also be used to satisfy this requirement and must be approved by the supervisory committee and the graduate program committee.
An introduction to qualitative research practices. Covers structures of research that are prevalent across and at the intersection of the areas of art, design, media, human-computer interaction and information studies, introduces research methodologies and tools, and teaches methods for interdisciplinary work. This course will foster a critical discourse among differences in approaches to research.
Introduction to the research enterprise from a quantitative perspective. It covers structures of research that are prevalent across fields, introduces research methodologies and tools, teaches methods for interdisciplinary work and fosters a critical discourse around differences among research in different areas. Prerequisite: Graduate student status.
A range of ways of knowing and inquiring in design research are explored by providing comparisons of different traditions appropriate for empirical mixed method design evaluations. This is a second research methods course. Prerequisite: One research methods course, either quantitative or qualitative. Students with credit for this course when offered as IAT 888 Special Topics in Spring 2007 may not take this course for further credit.
The research colloquium is an important part of the program. Students present in one seminar and are expected to attend a large majority of the seminars for at least two academic terms.
Research Colloquium
The research colloquium is an important part of the program. Students present in two seminars and are required to register in the following colloquium course for at least two academic terms.
Through an interdisciplinary speaker series, presents research topics relevant to the SIAT graduate program. Engages students in discussion and debate on the utility, results and methods of research. Prerequisite: Enrolment in the SIAT graduate program.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination tests for achievement in interdisciplinarity, breadth of knowledge, depth of knowledge, topic focus and scholarly skill.
With supervisory committee consent, students may write the comprehensive examination following completion of required course work. Upon passing, the student is admitted to full degree candidacy. The examination may be retaken once.
As part of the preparation to undertake the comprehensive examination, the student submits, to the supervisory committee, a comprehensive annotated bibliography of readings used throughout course work, and readings related to the proposed thesis topic. The senior supervisor will inform the graduate program committee of the supervisory committee鈥檚 consent to write the examination and will provide a copy of the annotated bibliography.
Upon receipt of this from the senior supervisor, the graduate program committee will form an examination committee comprising the supervisory committee, the graduate program chair or designate, and one other member of faculty in the School who is eligible to act as a senior supervisor. The graduate program chair or designate shall chair the examination committee.
The examination will have three sections: the first tests breadth of knowledge within the course of study; the second tests for knowledge of the proposed thesis topic; the third tests for knowledge of and skill with pertinent research methodology. At least two of the sections will have a required archival component. The exam will have an oral component that will test for all three sections.
The examining committee will refer to the bibliography when preparing the exam. The exam process should not exceed one term from the date of notification to the graduate program committee of the consent to write the examination. This may be longer should a student be required to retake the examination.
Specific guidelines for these examinations are available from the graduate program assistant.
PhD Proposal
The program requires a dissertation proposal aimed at collegial review of the proposed work, development of research formulation and presentation skills, and approval of the dissertation work by the supervisory committee and the graduate program chair.
The approval of the graduate program chair is largely for oversight issues, for example, required ethics clearances. The dissertation proposal has two components: a research prospectus and a public event with timely notification given to the campus community.
PhD Dissertation
PhD candidates produce and defend a dissertation as part of degree requirements. All 丁香园AV regulations concerning thesis form and examination process apply. A successful dissertation demonstrates an original contribution to a field of study. The expected standard of work is that of peer-reviewed work by accomplished scholars in their specialization. Candidates are encouraged to consider the professional and career implications of this major scholarly work.
Students who are working on their PhD dissertation will enrol in the following course.
Students who are working on their PhD dissertation enrol in this course. This course will not count towards the course work requirements. PhD candidate status is neither required for nor implied by enrolment in this course.
PhD candidate status is neither required for, nor implied by, enrolment in this course.
PhD students who have completed a master's (MA or MSc) degree within the program are required to complete four courses including at least one core course. The research method course(s) completed in a SIAT master's program count towards the PhD designated research methods requirement. Students are waived from one term of IAT 805.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.