Please note:
To view the current Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar.html.
Digital Media
間眅埶AV, University of British Columbia, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and the British Columbia Institute of Technology collaborate on the master of digital media (MDM), a full-time professional graduate program offering team-based learning in close collaboration with the digital media industry. The program is offered at the Centre for Digital Media. For further information visit .
This intensive 16-month program engages students through coursework and projects to develop essential communication, collaboration & leadership skills. The unique curriculum meets the needs of the new and expanding digital media markets across all business verticals including healthcare, education, business and the entertainment industry. Graduates gain the skills and knowledge that help them to collaborate and communicate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
The program helps develop six core competencies valued in the digital media industry:
- Self-Awareness
- Articulation
- Design process
- Time management
- Information literacy
- Teamwork
間眅埶AV Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the university admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the 間眅埶AV Calendar.
The minimum standards will be those of 間眅埶AV, as described in the Graduate General Regulations, 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 the master of digital media (MDM) degree. Applications received by the deadline are reviewed and approved by the graduate program committee.
Minimum Standard Entrance Requirements
Applicants must have completed a 4 year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) acceptable to all four Centre for Digital Media Partner Institutions in a field related to digital media, for example:
Computer science, engineering, education, management, economics, communication, art, design or performing arts, art history, architecture, linguistics, psychology or philosophy.
Note: If applying from another related discipline, applicants must make the case for the relationship between the discipline in which they hold their previous degree and this program and how they would benefit from the MDM program.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better at a Canadian university, or equivalent, for the undergraduate degree. Minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% or higher) in 3rd and 4th year courses,
or:
- Academic standing with at least 12 units of 3rd and 4th year courses in the A range (80% or higher) in the field of study,
or:
- Applicants who hold a 4 year undergraduate degree, who do not meet the requirements experience may be granted admission on the recommendation of the MDM program.
Three reference letters from suitably qualified persons.
Letter of intent
Short formal essay
Resume
Samples of work that best demonstrate skills
Introduction video
Additional 間眅埶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 (1.3.3 English Language Competence) for minimum language requirements and further information.
Interview
Candidates who are being considered for admission will be required to attend an interview during the latter stages of the admission process.
Program Requirements
This program consists of required courses, an elective course, projects, and an internship for a minimum of 51 units.
Students must complete all of
The emergence and ongoing development of the digital media landscape is discussed through a historical exploration and critical analysis of the business, technical innovations, social, ethical, and legal demands which define it. Outcomes are critical perspectives from explorations of digital media aspects, which will act as a common basis for all subsequent discussion and collaboration between students with artistic, technical or interdisciplinary backgrounds.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
Students will practice how to use imagery to tell compelling stories and narrate ideas. Using contemporary and historical frameworks, explorations of story structures and narrative storytelling techniques will lead you towards production of multiplatform digital artifacts. At the end of this course you will be able to think critically about the ethical and moral considerations of global and inclusive visual storytelling.
This course provides students with the practical skills to improve collaboration with others, for the end goal of creating successful projects together. From improving their performance in team based scenarios and developing strong presentation skills, to creating stories and characters on the fly, improvisation is an essential skill in a digital media industry that demands increasing flexibility and creativity, relies on innovative minds for its evolution and depends on rapid prototyping and iterative product creation for its survival.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
Game design is a seminar and project-based course that teaches the mechanics and processes of game design. The principles learned in this class apply equally well to card games, board games, party games, athletic games and computer games. Students analyze many types of games and design many games of their own, alone and in groups, using these principles.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
and one of*
Normally a student would take at most one directed studies course during their degree. Directed studies offered within the program will be approved by the MDM Program Committee to essentially the same criteria required for approval of a new elective. If approved, this course can be taken in place of an elective.
and three projects
Building Virtual Worlds is the first project course. Teams of students from different backgrounds and disciplines design and implement a digital artifact. These projects have an explicit role in teaching human-centered iterative design, project management, team collaboration, and project execution skills. This hands-on immersion into a team-based problem solving environment is designed to break down student inhibitions and to foster rapid project planning and prototyping.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
Projects II cohesively builds on the Project I experience with increasingly complex technical, artistic and management challenges. Projects II is an independent, term length team-based project working with an external client and/or collaborators. Students learn, experience, and execute iterative processes through team collaboration and prototype/proof of concept delivery. Prerequisite: DMED 520.
As a capstone course, Projects III cohesively builds on the Project II experience with increasingly complex technical, artistic and management challenges. Projects III is an independent, term length team-based project working with an external client and/or collaborators. Projects may include student-led pitches. Students learn, experience, and execute iterative processes through team collaboration and prototype/proof of concept delivery at a high level of professionalism. Prerequisite: DMED 521.
and an internship
Students will practice what they have learned in the MDM program through the pursuit and/or completion of full-time work experience in the field of digital media. Students learn firsthand the importance of effective job search, interview, networking, communication, collaboration, time management and teamwork skills. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
This course is a continuation of DMED 530. Students will practice what they have learned in the MDM program through the pursuit and/or completion of full-time work experience in the field of digital media. Students learn firsthand the importance of effective job search, interview, networking, communication, collaboration, time management and teamwork skills. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: DMED 530.
*A course from a partner university, or other university, may be substituted for the elective course with approval of the MDM director.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements in four terms. If the internship is extended to eight months then students are expected to complete the program requirements in five terms.
Other Information
There is an option to extend the internship to eight months. Students who choose to do an eight month internship will enroll in DMED 531 and receive their final grade at the end of the term.
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.