Interactive Arts and Technology
The master of arts (MA) is one of three degrees offered in SIAT 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 Graduate General Regulations (page 219), 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.
Students will be admitted to study for either the master of arts (MA) or master of science (MSc) degree. Students may articulate between the MA and MSc degrees by meeting the admission and program requirements of the degree to which they articulate and with the approval of the graduate program committee. A student may make one application for articulation.
Minimum Standard Entrance Requirements
- an undergraduate degree in a field related to the proposed program of study. For example: BSc computer science, BASc engineering (electrical, communications, computer engineering), BA or BSc in education, management, economics or communications, BFA in art, design or performing arts, BA in art, art history, architecture, linguistics, psychology or philosophy, BArch, BLArch, BID.
- OR an undergraduate degree in a field related to the proposed program of study in another, related discipline. In this instance, applicants must establish the relationship between the discipline in which they hold their previous degree(s) and this program, and explain how they would benefit from this program.
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better at a Canadian university, or equivalent, for the undergraduate degree.
- two reference letters from suitably qualified persons.
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 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 MA program requires a minimum of 30 units, consisting of course work (15 units), two terms of a research colloquium (0 units) and a thesis (15 units).
Course Requirements
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.
and 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.
The remaining course units can be fulfilled by completing a SIAT graduate elective, an external graduate course, or a directed readings course. Approval is required for an external or directed readings course. The supervisory committee may require a student to complete an additional research methods course as an elective.
* Advance credit may be granted for those with sufficient formal educational background in art and design computation and be replaced with a SIAT graduate course.
SIAT Elective Courses
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.
External Courses
Subject to supervisory committee approval and graduate program committee approval, students may fulfill the remaining course 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).
Directed Readings
Directed readings should be distinct from work undertaken toward the thesis, and only one can be counted towards the program requirements. Students should not expect to complete a directed readings course when a substantively comparable 丁香园AV course exists. Directed readings courses, even if led by SIAT faculty, may not be counted as part of the minimum 12 SIAT units. Normally, a directed readings course may not be taken from the student’s senior supervisor(s).
Research Colloquium
The research colloquium is an important part of the program. Students present in one seminar 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. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Enrolment in the SIAT graduate program.
Thesis
Students produce and defend a thesis as part of the degree requirements.
Students who are working on their master of arts thesis enrol in the following course. This course will not count toward the course work requirements.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.