Bachelor of Media Arts degree

The Bachelor of Media Arts prepares students for creative production in digital media. Technical skills, both in digital media and in traditional artistic practice, are combined with media theory and communication skills to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing work environment. BMA disciplines include Art History, Communications, Computer Information Systems, Computing Science, English, Film, Graphic Design, Media Arts, Media and Communications Studies, Theatre, and Visual Arts.

Program learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the BMA, students will be able to:

• Develop work that engages interdisciplinary creative practices.
• Use digital technologies to create work that integrates existing and new forms of knowledge, practice, and production.
• Situate digital media within historical and theoretical contexts.
• Identify the drivers of change in the digital media industry.
• Evaluate their role as content creators, and analyze the social impact of their work.
• Employ the basic skills required to run a small or self-employed business in this sector, including skills in project management, labour management, client relations, marketing, and financial planning.
• Pitch ideas to funders using oral or written presentations.
• Apply knowledge of media law to discern legal issues, protect their own intellectual property, and respect the intellectual property of others.
• Make ethical choices within the framework of digital media collaboration and information sharing.
• Contribute constructively as part of a creative team.
• Develop networks with other content creators to initiate and develop future projects.
• Communicate with a high level of proficiency using digital media.
• Demonstrate adaptability in learning and using digital media technology.

Entrance requirements

Entrance to this program is competitive, and based on a combination of grades, prior academic experience, prior workplace experience, and a portfolio.

Students entering this program must meet one of the entrance options outlined below and must also submit a portfolio and letter of interest. The content and nature of the portfolio and letter will be outlined in guidelines provided after application and may be discussed with the BMA Advisor.

Applicants must meet the Degree/diploma level English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see the English language proficiency requirement section of the calendar.

Option 1: Secondary school (for students with secondary school graduation only)

B.C. applicants

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent.
2. A minimum grade of C+ in English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 (see Note) and a minimum of a B average in two additional Approved Grade 12 courses.

   Note: Students may also present English 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, AP English, IB English A (standard level or higher level), or out-of-province equivalent, and UFV ENGL 091.

3. Portfolio.
4. Letter of interest.

Out-of-province applicants

Students will be considered on the basis of courses equivalent to Approved B.C. Grade 12 courses. See the Admissions section of the calendar for more information on equivalents to B.C. secondary school graduation.

Out-of-country applicants

Students must have B.C. secondary school graduation equivalency, meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105 or CMNS 125, and have completed an equivalent average of B (equated to the UFV grading system) in two academic Grade 12 courses.

Alternatives to secondary school graduation

If students have completed the International Baccalaureate diploma program, the B.C. Graduation diploma (B.C. Adult Dogwood), or the General Educational Development (GED) certificate, they may be considered to have the equivalent of B.C. secondary school graduation for admission purposes.

Option 2: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school)

1. Prerequisites for ENGL 105 or CMNS 125.
2. Portfolio.
3. Letter of interest.
4. One of the following:
   • Completion of a minimum of 15 credits in courses numbered at the 100 level and above, with a cumulative GPA of 2.33 on all credits attempted.
   • Completion of a two-year post-secondary credential, such as a diploma or associate degree, in Arts, Liberal Arts, Graphic and Digital Design, Visual Arts, Theatre, or Computer Information Systems with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (equated to the UFV grading scheme) on all courses taken.
   • Completion of a post-secondary career or technical diploma (minimum of two years post-secondary credit) from a recognized Canadian or international post-secondary institution, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (equated to the UFV grading scheme), calculated on all courses taken.
   • Completion of a three- or four-year Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.00 (equated to the UFV grading scheme).

     Note: Students who have completed a previous degree are governed by UFV's Subsequent and Concurrent Bachelor Degree policy (98).

Option 3: Experience and literacy

Mature students (25 years and older) may be admitted to the degree program if they can demonstrate that they have related experience in the field, can read and write at an appropriate level, and can meet the entrance requirements relating to writing within one year of admission. The coordinator of the program, in conjunction with the Academic Advisor, will assess whether the entrance requirements relating to writing have been satisfied. To apply for admission under Option 3, consult with the Academic Advisor. A portfolio and letter of interest will also be required.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies and/or a meeting with an Academic Advisor.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall and Winter semesters. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/apply.

   Additional documents required for a complete application:

   • Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all secondary and post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. To retain their original application date, students should order early so transcripts arrive within two weeks of the date the application is mailed or submitted.

2. When applications have been processed, applicants will receive information on program orientation and portfolio submission dates and a copy of the portfolio guidelines. The portfolio and letter of interest are not due at the time of application, but will be submitted online and reviewed in May for the Fall intake and in October for the Winter intake. All applicants must attend a program orientation. Applicants who reside outside the Lower Mainland area should contact the BMA Advisor for alternate arrangements.
3. Applicants will be advised of an admission decision and, if accepted, will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required prior to registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section) and will be applied toward tuition fees.
4. In cases where course work is in progress, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due by the end of the first week in August for the September intake.

Basis for admission decision

Students entering this program must meet one of the entrance options outlined above and must also submit a portfolio and a letter of interest. The content and nature of the portfolio and letter will be outlined in guidelines provided after application, and may be discussed with the educational advisor.

Students with complete credentials at the diploma level or better (associate degrees, diplomas, major or minors) from UFV in Graphic and Digital Design, Communications, MACS, Visual Arts, English, Computing Information Systems, or Theatre will have priority entry to this program from 2018 to 2021. Students with credentials requiring 60 credits or more from other institutions will be admitted next. Students meeting the minimum entrance requirements above will be admitted next, in an order determined by an assessment of their portfolios and their grades.

Effective Fall 2022, students will be admitted based on prior academic success, workplace experience, and portfolio assessment only.

Fees and additional costs

For general information on tuition and ancillary fees, see the Fees and Other Costs section. Please note that all MEDA-designated courses have an alternate tuition rate. For more information on the tuition rates for MEDA courses, please check the Bachelor of Media Arts webpage.

In addition to general costs, students in the Bachelor of Media Arts degree should also consider the following:

• Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course.
• Students will require access to a computer, preferably an industry standard laptop.

For information on financial assistance, students are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid and Awards office.

Program duration

The BMA program can be completed in four years of full-time study, with students taking 10 courses per calendar year.

Location

While the majority of BMA courses will be offered in Abbotsford, students should be prepared to take some courses in Mission or Chilliwack.

Co-operative Education option

The Co-operative Education option provides students with the opportunity to acquire paid, career-related work experience in conjunction with their studies in the Bachelor of Media Arts degree program. Students may apply up to six credits of Co-operative Education to the Bachelor of Media Arts degree. See the Co-operative Education section for more details.

Program outline

There are three sets of requirements to note:

1. Program requirements
2. Core requirements
3. Concentration requirements

Program requirements

1. 120 university-level credits (100-level and above), of which:
   • At least 30 must be completed at UFV
   • At least 45 must be at the upper level, with at least 24 of these completed at UFV
2. Completion of core requirements.
3. Completion of one concentration, with at least 50% of the upper-level requirements completed at UFV.
4. Completion of elective credits to achieve 120 credits for the degree.
5. Completion of all degree requirements within seven years of admission.

Core requirements: 51 credits

Lower-level requirements: 27 credits

Upper-level requirements: 24 credits

Note 1: Some of the listed courses above have prerequisites. Please take this into account when planning electives.

Note 2: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Concentration requirements

Students must complete one of the following concentrations as part of their degree:

• Applied Interactive Media
• Digital Art
• Interactive Media Leadership
• Media and Performance
• Screen Studies

A formal declaration of the concentration choice must be made and approved by the educational advisor prior to the completion of 60 credits towards the degree. Students who have completed 60 credits but have not yet declared a concentration will not be permitted to register. Exceptions may be made in special circumstances by the educational advisor and/or the BMA Program Coordinator. Students admitted to the degree should seek advice from the educational advisor. Students must complete at least 50% of the upper-level requirements of the concentration at UFV.

Applied Interactive Media concentration

The Applied Interactive Media concentration emphasizes literacy in related creative disciplines, digital project management, visual storytelling, and digital experiences with the ability to adapt to new technologies as they appear. It will appeal to students looking to blend Graphic and Digital Design, Computer Information Systems, and Visual Arts to create compelling digital media.

Graduates of the Applied Interactive Media concentration will be able to:

1. Produce image-based motion graphics, video, and kinetic typography.
2. Create interactive, dynamic, immersive spatial and online experiences across various digital media platforms.
3. Design media projects which draw on the tools and knowledge of a variety of creative industries.
4. Apply principles of visual organization, visual language, and theory to visual communication problems.
5. Manage digital projects.

Program outline: 44 credits

Note: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Digital Art concentration

The Digital Art concentration will appeal to students interested in becoming independent or freelance creative artists. Following in the tradition of Fine Arts studies, artists specializing in digital media are equipped to produce work within the context of established galleries and arts venues, but are further capable of combining and exploring alternative circuits of dissemination at the abundant intersections of culture and technology. Video screens, sound systems, the Internet, stage performances, interactive physical locations, and mobile social spaces are all activated by the imaginations of new media artists. Artists in this field work at the forefront of digital media technology, but also drive the development of new technologies and cultural interfaces. The creative, imaginative, critical, and technical capabilities of digital media artists make them valuable members of any team-based effort working across a spectrum of cultural productions in the new digital media environment.

Graduates of the Digital Art concentration will be able to:

1. Articulate the function of digital art media in its historical and contemporary contexts.
2. Apply the terms, concepts, and techniques used in the production of digitally based artwork.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in photo or video imaging software skills used in the production of digital art.
4. Produce a body of digital artwork reflecting critical and creative thought processes.
5. Apply analytical skills to critically examine digital art imagery for critiques.
6. Conduct independent material production and theoretical research in digital art media.

Program outline: 40 credits

Note: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Interactive Media Leadership concentration

Managing creative teams, coordinating work flow, and overseeing a large project in new media requires both knowledge of new media production processes and management skills, particularly listening and writing. These skills, however, must be tailored to this particular field, where most projects are done in teams, self-employment is the norm, and projects must be funded through innovative business models. The Interactive Media Leadership concentration addresses such needs, focusing on problem-solving, facilitation, and persuasive communication, as well as basic creative production processes.

Graduates of the Interactive Media Leadership concentration will be able to:

1. Use appropriate leadership tools, strategies, and techniques for the context, team, and/or project.
2. Communicate effectively and persuasively in written, oral, and visual forms.
3. Employ effective interpersonal communication skills to build, manage, and lead creative teams.
4. Utilize a recognized method of project management and adapt it as needed.
5. Facilitate effective team meetings.
6. Use design thinking to solve problems.

Program outline: 36–38 credits

Note: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Media and Performance concentration

The Media and Performance concentration will provide students with opportunities to explore performance in a range of live, digital, and interactive environments. Students will discover how the creation of compelling characters and the development of interesting stories are the foundations for content creation in all media platforms, whether it be performing live, developing a film project, or collaborating on a new video game design.

Graduates of the Media and Performance concentration will be able to:

1. Create compelling characters for performance in a range of live, digital, and interactive contexts.
2. Identify how digital technologies interact with and influence perception and mobility of the human body in performance.
3. Integrate social media and digital technologies in performance.
4. Apply conventions selected from a range of narrative structures, genres, and styles to generate original content for diverse media platforms.
5. Construct relationships between audience, performer, space, and time in a range of live, digital, and interactive environments.
6. Apply key theories and methodologies in performance studies and digital performance in analyzing and devising performances.

Program outline: 37–38 credits

Note: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Screen Studies concentration

Canadians spend a large portion of their waking lives staring at or into screens, from the tiny windows on smartphones to the gigantic projections in IMAX theatres. Screen studies focuses on enabling students to assess the impact that screens in the broadest sense are having on people's lives and on society as a whole. Students in this concentration will explore this impact in terms of how their viewing experiences affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviours for better or for worse. They will also focus on the other side of the screen to examine how producers create messages that communicate effectively and persuasively to the audiences they want to reach.

Graduates of the Screen Studies concentration will be able to:

1. Describe the dominant discourses, past and present, that frame the development and integration of information and communication technologies in society.
2. Identify the social and cultural dimensions of technology and effectively communicate both potentially positive and negative outcomes and effects.
3. Critically assess the theoretical underpinnings associated with “new media” and articulate their relationships within various spheres of human activity.
4. Employ a variety of methodological frameworks to investigate social, cultural, and economic dimensions of media and media representations.
5. Produce digital video and audio works demonstrating an understanding of, and proficiency in, digital production software.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical considerations associated with the production, consumption, and use of cultural goods.

Program outline: 34–36 credits

Note: Students may not use a BMA core requirement to meet a concentration requirement. In the case of overlap, students must make an alternative course choice to meet their core requirements.

Policies relevant to the BMA

Course Repeat policy (86): Students may not register for a course more than twice without the permission of the department head/director for the discipline or their designate. All attempts will be recorded on the transcript, but only the highest grade will be included in the GPA. Transfer courses are considered in the number of attempts. A “W” or “AU” course is not counted as a duplication. Multiple repeats of the same course count as a single duplication.

Undergraduate Continuance policy (92): Students must have a CGPA of at least 2.00 to remain in good academic standing. Failure to meet or maintain a 2.00 will result in restrictions on registration and may lead to academic suspension.

• Readmission: Students required to withdraw from the program may apply for readmission if they can raise their cumulative GPA to 2.00 in a subsequent semester, and will be admitted ahead of other applicants.

Subsequent and Concurrent Bachelor Degree policy (98): Students who have already completed a degree at the bachelor’s level may be granted an additional bachelor’s degree provided that the two degrees are different, and that the student has met the program requirements. Students will complete at least one third of the total credits required for the additional degree, including at least 30 additional upper-level credits, beyond the credits taken in the first or concurrent degree. All 30 upper-level credits must be obtained through completion of UFV courses.

Transfer Credit policy (107) and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policy (94): Students who successfully complete academic course work at another post-secondary institution can transfer this credit to UFV to satisfy BMA degree requirements. They can also earn academic credit through an assessment of prior learning.

Residency

To meet the residency requirement of the BMA, the following restrictions apply:

1. Of the 120 credits for the BMA, 30 must be completed at UFV.
2. Of the 45 upper-level credits for the BMA, 24 must be completed at UFV.
3. At least 50% of the upper-level requirements for a concentration must be completed at UFV.

Graduation requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring they are eligible to graduate, and should regularly consult with an Academic Advisor. To be eligible to graduate, students must have:

• Completed the BMA program with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.
• Completed all the requirements of their concentration with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.
• Earned a minimum CGPA of 2.00 in all upper-level courses required for graduation.
• No more than five course duplications (with the exception of THEA 199 and THEA 299 when a grade of D or better is achieved).
• Completed all requirements for the degree within seven years of admission.

Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/registrar/forms, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by the Winter semester grade deadline (see Important Registration Dates) of each year.

Maximum length of time to complete program

Students must complete the program requirements within seven years of admission.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.