¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Please note:

To view the current Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar.html

| ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar | Summer 2023

Interactive Arts and Technology Minor

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Please refer to the admission requirements section.

Continuance Requirements

SIAT Minors must maintain a 2.0 CGPA and a 2.40 GPA in IAT courses. Students who fall below this continuance requirement will be placed on academic warning in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology. Once a student is on Academic Warning, they will have two terms to bring up their GPA to 2.40 or higher. Failure to do so will result in removal from the IAT Minor. Students wishing to transfer back into the Minor program will need to meet the internal transfer requirements to obtain re-entry.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete three of

IAT 100 - Digital Image Design (3)

This is a project-based course that introduces the theory and hands-on practice of art and design in digital media. As the introductory course in IAT, this course teaches the core fundamental principles in 2D visual design, sequential and animation design. Students learn the fundamentals of digital photography and vector image creation. The theory is contextualized in contemporary new media design practice and is broadly applicable across disciplines. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Paul Brokenshire
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Surrey
D101 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D102 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 1:00–2:50 p.m.
Surrey
D103 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Surrey
D104 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D105 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 1:00–2:50 p.m.
Surrey
or IAT 110 - Visual Communication Design (3)

Visual communication for art and design in digital media. Students learn the fundamentals of digital raster and vector image creation. Design principles such as form, typography and colour theory as they apply to digital media will be taught. Students will have core projects in digital photography, magazine layout and kinetic typography. Primarily for non-SIAT majors; while SIAT majors may take the course, it does not count for credit for SIAT degree requirements. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Peter Loo
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
IAT 102 - Graphic Design (3)

Introduction to fundamental design principles for visual communication. Organized as a continual interplay of theory and practice, students will examine historical, philosophical, perceptual and semiotic approaches to understanding graphic design, and will explore principles of form, such as structure and composition, hierarchy, form, color, space, scale, typography, and legibility and readability through hands-on projects. Traditional time-based and interactive media forms will be compared and contrasted.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Peter Loo
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D101 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D102 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Surrey
D103 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D104 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Surrey
IAT 201 - Human-Computer Interaction and Cognition (3)

Introduces topics in human perception, cognition and embodied action as a foundation of design for human use. It explores the practical application of techniques for analyzing diverse interactive situations and designing effective user interfaces. Students will engage in the analysis and design of a simple user interface, gaining detailed knowledge and experience with the standard basic techniques for interface specification, prototyping and evaluation. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units, including at least one lower division "W" course.

IAT 202 - New Media Images (3)

Explores the computational nature of technology as applied to contemporary art and design. It is a studio-based, media production course that explores new forms of art and design that are mediated by or modeled after computing processes as opposed to transforming or digitizing existing forms. Prerequisite: IAT 100 with a minimum grade of C- and a minimum of 21 units. Breadth-Humanities.

IAT 222 - Interactive Arts (3)

Introduces key concepts within contemporary digital art practices. Issues surrounding digital art will be explored through readings, the study of artworks, and the creation of their own artistic projects. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units. Breadth-Humanities.

IAT 233 - Spatial Design (3)

Designing and understanding spaces used by people. The iterative process of making and criticizing, experiencing and analyzing spatial form. Compositional ideas for form-making. Critical thinking applied to design. Computers are the principal medium used in this course for form-making and visualization. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units, IAT 102, and IAT 106, both with a minimum grade of C-.

IAT 235 - Information Design (3)

Introduces theory and practice of designing visual representations of information. Students will learn to visually translate textual, numerical and evidentiary information so that it can be communicated to diverse user communities and contexts. An emphasis will be on understanding how the meaning of images can change over time and across contexts and cultures. Beginning with photographic images, interactive charts, graphs, and maps, projects progress to more complex information in media forms ranging from advanced aspects of the web to interactive 3D visualizations. The relationship between visual display is explored in relation to its technology of creation, including code and information architecture. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units and IAT 102 with a minimum grade of C-.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Paul Brokenshire
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D101 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Surrey
D102 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Thu, 5:00–6:50 p.m.
Surrey
D103 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Surrey
D104 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Thu, 5:00–6:50 p.m.
Surrey
IAT 265 - Multimedia Programming for Art and Design (3)

Using cases from topics such as animation, cinema, music and design, this course introduces a variety of programming tools and techniques. Practical use of multimedia scripting languages and authoring environments is covered in the context of a series of composition and design projects. Code libraries and programming techniques for specific media will be introduced. Assessment will be based on both programming and the expressive use of programs in their case context. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units and IAT 167 with a minimum grade of C- and one of MATH 130, MACM 101, MATH 150, MATH 151, MATH 154, or MATH 157, with a minimum grade of C-. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Rafael Arias Gonzalez
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D101 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D102 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Tue, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Surrey
IAT 267 - Introduction to Technological Systems (3)

Introduction to the core technologies and systems used in media-rich interactive environments, including computer hardware, operating systems, input and output technologies, networking and media. The concepts will be examined by working in a high-level media programming environment. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 units and IAT 167 with a minimum grade of C- and one of MATH 130, MACM 101, MATH 150, MATH 151, MATH 154, or MATH 157, with a minimum grade of C-. Recommended: IAT 265.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
Mehdi Nazemi
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D101 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey
D102 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Fri, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Surrey
D103 May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Fri, 5:00–6:50 p.m.
Surrey

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete 15 upper division IAT units. Note that some upper division courses have lower division prerequisites.

To enroll in 400 level courses, students must complete the lower division requirements as specified above and a required upper division writing course.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV study.