BA Major Degree in Digital Media Studies

January 2009 Update: The BA Major in Digital Media Studies has been officially approved by the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and will be offered in Fall 2009. The name of the degree has been approved by the Vancouver Island University senate. For more information regarding this degree option, please contact the Media Studies Chair or the BA advisors.

The Vision: Media Studies + Digital Media = Digital Media Studies

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Digital Media Studies builds on the existing Minor in Media Studies with the addition of a stream of new courses in Digital Media Production. This unique program is designed to strengthen the relationship between cultural theory and technical skills using digital technologies. Labour market analysis has clearly shown that the balance of theory with applied skills will be important for success in the emerging economy. The close association of critical theory and applied skills in the program will be mutually supportive: applied projects will reflect greater engagement with issues and have more substance when informed by the thoughtful application of theory; and theoretical reflection will be tempered, balanced, and deepened by the demands of technical production involving its own types of problem solving.

The curriculum is carefully structured to take students from introductory technical skills to increasingly complex and challenging digital media projects. Students will examine the underlying structures of both traditional and emerging media and the theories that define this dynamic field, while also acquiring the knowledge and skills to produce cutting-edge media projects that apply this knowledge. Whether for future managers or creators, this program is based on the understanding that higher-level critical thinking, communication, and analysis skills are required for competitive media production.

The Program: Challenge, Stimulation, Opportunity, Balance

For the Major in Digital Media Studies, students must complete 120 credits over 4 years. Students are required to take at least 33 credits of Digital Media (DIGI) courses (11 courses x 3 credits); at least 33 credits of Media Studies (MEDI) courses (11 x 3); 6 credits of English (2 x 3) as an institutional requirement; and 48 credits as electives.

It will be strongly recommended that students in the Major will have a laptop with industry-standard applications installed. This laptop will be your instrument. A technician associated with the Media Studies program and work-op students provide various levels of support for this competitive advantage. At this time, most of the faculty are using MACs, and our portable computer lab is MAC-based.

The program features a variety of instructional formats including lecture, discussion, seminar, tutorials, labs, and supervised independent research. The Media Studies Department has also made a strong commitment to alternate and hybrid forms of delivery. Many courses have online components involving discussion forums, blogs, wikis, podcasts, and web-based resources. We regularly offer fully online courses. All DIGI courses have online components.

Labour market studies have demonstrated a strong need for graduates with the qualifications developed in this program. Graduates will find work in all media-related and production fields, communications, public relations, advertising, tourism, culture production, information management, and business services to management - a rapidly growing sector. A 2005 survey of over 200 000 university graduates in the U.K. determined that those with a degree in Media Studies were "most employable" of all graduates.

This is a challenging and rewarding program with a balance of thinking and making, where you will be encouraged to express your unique ideas to professional standards.

Curriculum for Bachelor of Arts, Major in Digital Media Studies

Requirements for a Major in Digital Media Studies:

• 30 credits 1st year
• 30 credits 2nd year
• 60 credits 3rd and 4th year
• 120 credits total

First Year (30 credits):

• DIGI 110 (Introduction to Digital Media - 3 credits)
• Plus two courses from the following:
  • MEDI 111 (History of Communication - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 112 (Popular Culture and Mass Media - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 113 (Emerging Digital Communications - 3 credits)
• B.A. English Requirements (6 credits)
• 15 Elective Credits 15

Second Year (30 credits):

• DIGI 220 Web Production I - 3 credits)
• DIGI 230 Interactive Communications - 3 credits)
• DIGI 260 (Interactive Motion Media - 3 credits)
• Plus one course from the following:
  • DIGI 270 (Digital Audio I - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 280 (Digital Video I - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 281 (Digital Video II - 3 credits)
• Plus two courses from the following:
  • MEDI 200 (Media, Audience and Society - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 205 (Promotion, Persuasion and Propaganda - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 211 (Understanding Television - 3 credits)
• 12 Elective Credits

Third and Fourth Years (60 credits):

• DIGI 301 (Digital Media Literacy - 3 credits)
• DIGI 320 (Web Production II: Presentation and Accessibility - 3 credits)
• DIGI 496 (Senior Digital Media Project - 3 credits)
• MEDI 301 (Studies in Global Media - 3 credits)
• MEDI 495 (Senior Media Studies Project - 3 credits)
• Plus three courses from the following:
  • DIGI 330 (Designing User Experiences - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 340 (Digital Social Narratives - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 350 (Interactive Imagery - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 405 (Advanced Topics in Digital Media Technology - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 440 (Digital Identities - 3 credits)
  • DIGI 460 (Advanced Interactive Motion Media - 3 credits)
• Plus five courses from the following:
  • MEDI 302 (Making the News - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 311 (Film About Media - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 312 (Canadian Media Theorists - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 401 (Public Relations, Advocacy and the Media - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 402 (Technology and Identity - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 411 (Understanding New Media - 3 credits)
  • MEDI 490 (Independent Project - 3 credits)
• 21 Elective Credits