Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS)
Media Studies
Now accepting:
Vision, Ambition and Talent.
Explore new media and internet technology, blending artistic, technical and critical-thinking skills.
What You Need to Know
Why take Media Studies at UBC’s Okanagan campus?
Career opportunities
Through interdisciplinary coursework, you can build the skills needed to pursue a career in gaming, web design, interactive media, creative writing, film production, or to pursue graduate studies.
Gain in-demand skills
Graduates will be accomplished in a range of digital skills, including still image, sound, moving images, digital animations, virtual and data worlds, simulations, games, interface and interactive design, application of encoded media practice and the construction of networked environments and communities.
Variety and scope
Students will have the opportunity to take a minor or enrol in a range of media-related courses across disciplines, including the arts, data science, cultural studies, creative writing, psychology and sociology.
Co-op experience
Put your classroom learning to the test with Co-op job placements throughout the region and beyond. Co-op helps you to gain beneficial skills such as how to build your resumé, apply for jobs, expand your professional network and earn money to pay for tuition.
Program Overview
Get your UBC degree in Media Studies, which combines digital media arts, visual arts, computer science, social science and humanities.
A diverse education in media studies helps our students to become creative, articulate, culturally informed, critically reflective and socially engaged citizens.
The Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS) degree at UBC’s Okanagan campus is a four-year, direct-entry program. It blends practice, theory and research methods from various disciplines.
You will take designated “core” courses from seven subject areas:
- Computer Science
- Creative Writing
- Digital Humanities
- English
- History
- Media Studies
- Visual Arts
As part of collaborative teams working on innovative, socially and economically relevant projects, you will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of skills and experiences to meet today’s employment and entrepreneurial needs.
The core curriculum consists of 84 mandatory credits; the remaining 36 credits are chosen from any Arts and Sciences elective courses that enable some specialization for the workplace or for further study.
The Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS) is jointly offered by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.
Portfolio Requirement
Students applying to the BMS are required to supply a portfolio of written, visual, and/or digital materials.
Courses
UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS) is a multidisciplinary degree that trains students to be leaders in innovation and social entrepreneurship. Courses prepare students for careers in industry, non-profit and governmental sectors, as graphic designers, mobile application developers, game designers and multi-media producers.
Sample courses:
- MDST 310 – Mobile Application Design
- VISA 268 – Strategies in Digital Art: Visual Communications
- COSC 341 – Human Computer Interaction
Browse Media Studies for a full list of courses and requirements in the Academic Calendar.
Degree Options
The following link takes you to the Bachelor of Media Studies program details in the Okanagan Academic Calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academics policies at the University of British Columbia:
Graduate Studies
UBC offers MA, MSc, and PhD degrees in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) program as well as an MFA program in which students may build an individualized program and have a Media Studies department faculty member as their primary supervisor.
Prerequisites
British Columbia High School Requirements
- English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
- Pre-Calculus 12 or Calculus 12
Did you know that UBC outlines admission requirements according to where you attended high school or university?
Visit you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc for general and program-specific admission requirements for high school students from other Canadian provinces or those transferring from other post-secondary institutions.
Deadlines and Fees
Application Deadlines
Plan ahead to ensure you meet important deadlines and other target dates listed at you.ubc.ca.
Tuition Fees
UBC Okanagan’s fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre. Media Studies tuition is pending consultation and final approval by the Board of Governors.
Once confirmed, see Financial Planning for helpful resources, and add up your costs with our Cost Calculator.
Portfolio Deadline
Portfolio submissions will be accepted until January 31, 2017.
How to Apply
Apply to UBC at you.ubc.ca—there are just five steps in the application process. Soon you could be studying at one of the world’s top universities.
Check out the steps to apply to UBC, and be sure to choose “Okanagan campus.”
Media Studies will begin accepting applications in August 2016. Inquire today: Bachelor of Media Studies.
Portfolio Requirement
The Bachelor of Media Studies is a four-year, direct entry program. Students applying to the program are required to supply a portfolio of written, visual, and/or digital materials.
Please see the Academic Calendar for admission details specific to the Media Studies program.
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633 Tech Businesses*
16% workforce growth (since 2013)
52% of employees under the age of 35
New media and internet technology is one of the dominant sectors in Kelowna and region, which benefits from its proximity to and same time zone as Silicon Valley and Seattle.
*Accelerate Okanagan, 2015 survey results
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503,000 TECH JOBS*
20.3% sector growth (since 2005)
80% of consumers are online (27.4M)
The Canadian tech sector reached an all-time high in 2016, employing more than half a million people across the country.
*JLL Technology Outlook, 2016 report
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UP TO $13T IN AI GROWTH*
$70B growth in wearables market
$35B growth in social network advertising
By 2025, digital communities and platforms could result in an additional 72M full-time positions globally.
*Recent projection by the Information and Communication Technology Council on the global impact of artificial intelligence (AI) by 2025
Your Career Options
Earn a UBC degree respected by employers around the globe. A broad foundation as an undergraduate in Media Studies opens up your future to career possibilities that range from multimedia producer and digital marketing strategist, to graphic designer and public-relations specialist.
Occupations
- Advertising account executive
- Animation and sound editor
- Art director
- Broadcast journalist
- Innovation officer
- Digital animator
- Digital marketing strategist
- Entrepreneur
- Game designer
- Graphic designer
- Media planner
- Mobile application developer
- Multimedia producer
- Project manager
- Public relations officer
- Simulated environment designer
- Software architect
- Software designer
- Sound producer
- Technology startup lead
- User experience director
- Web developer
Potential Employers
- Technology software and service companies employing software developers, mobile application developers and graphic designers.
- New media and Internet technology companies specializing in interactive media, gaming, web design, and development and consulting services.
- Industry, non-profit and governmental organizations looking for employees with artistic, technical and analytical skills.
Graduates of the Media Studies program will be well equipped to flourish in large corporations or government agencies as agents of communications between specialized individuals, and will make strong candidates for managerial positions.
Co-op Experience
Co-op, education puts your classroom learning to the test with job placements throughout the region and beyond.
Students earn valuable experience. Community Partners simplify their search for great talent. Co-operative education connects both.
Sign up for Co-op to: build your resume with professional experience; learn valuable tips on how to successfully apply for jobs; expand your network of industry contacts; and earn money to pay for tuition. Inquire about Co-op by phone at 250.807.9623 or by email.
Further Studies
UBC offers MA, MSc, and PhD degrees in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) program and an MFA program in which students may build an individualized program and have a Media Studies department faculty member as their primary supervisor.
Meet the Faculty
Professors and instructors who teach in the Bachelor of Media Studies program are members of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) and the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences (IKBSAS). They draw from a wide range of media-literacy skills and experiences.
Myron Campbell
2D and New Media
Myron Campbell teaches a number of media courses concerned with digital media and visual communication. He has been drawing since he was able to hold a pencil. He works mostly with online interactive animation, as well as drawing, paintings and hand-made books in his larger installations.
Aleksandra Dulic
New Media, Video, Drawing and 2D 
Aleksandra Dulic is an internationally recognized media artist and scholar working at the intersections of multimedia and live performance with research foci in computational poetics and cross-cultural media performance.
Faculty profile | Video: There Must Be Something in the Water
Bowen Hui
Computer Science
Bowen Hui believes passionately in her students and works to instil a sense of wonder and determination. Hui creates innovative applications, and researches decision making under uncertainty, probabilistic user modeling, human-computer interaction cost models, experiment design and analysis and preference elicitation.
Hussein Keshani
Art History and Visual Culture
Hussein Keshani examines the use of computing technologies to advance visual cultural research. He initially studied architecture, and then pursued art history. He is drawn to the field’s interdisciplinary nature that requires knowledge of artmaking practices, history, religion, cultural practices, language, and literature.
Abdallah Mohamed
Computer Science
Abdallah Mohamed is a software engineer who specializes in decision support systems for component-based software development.
To support informed decision making, his research involves studying and developing novel methods that integrate concepts and techniques such as optimization and expert systems.
Miles Thorogood
Computer Science and Visual Arts
Miles Thorogood is a creative technologist who specializes in generative systems for developing computational assistive technologies in creative industries. His research includes modelling human creative processes in visual and audio work for decision support systems, and designing autonomous agents for interactive environments.
Faculty profile | Our Stories: Designing Solutions to Creative Problems
Gain Valuable Experience
Learning experiences beyond the classroom help prepare you for a career and life after university. Expand your horizons while studying abroad, conducting meaningful research, or working in the community with fellow students.
Travel and Learn
- See the world through Go Global, a UBC program for exchange and study with more than 150 international partner institutions. Experience university life abroad as a resident, or earn academic credit while participating in summer group-study courses led by UBC professors.
- Volunteer abroad, take part in international field studies, or work overseas with an IKBSAS International Education Travel Subsidy of up to $4,000 per student.
- Travel to a conference or competition with financial assistance available through the Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund, which provides financial support up to $3,500.
Undergraduate Research
Follow your ideas and get a head start on your career:
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- Pursue innovative and original research as part of the IKBSAS Undergraduate Research Awards
or the FCCS Undergraduate Research Awards
- Participate in the IKBSAS Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Check out these videos: Students and professors discuss the Undergraduate Research Conference and other undergraduate research opportunities.
Research Scholarships
Get a financial boost to start your research experience and help pay for travel and other expenses. Merit-based cash awards also look impressive on your resumé. Available awards include:
- Irving K. Barber School Undergraduate Research Awards: Up to $6,500 plus $1,500 for expenses
- NSERC Undergraduate Research Awards: More than $4,500
Work Opportunities
- Meet a community need and get practical experience by volunteering for a Community Service Learning project—a life-changing experience.
- Acquire real-world job skills and strong connections at a campus job arranged by UBC’s Work Study Program.
- Build your portfolio – write, edit, interview and perform other journalistic roles at UBC Okanagan’s newspaper, The Phoenix, the official student’s free press.
Welcome to UBC’s Okanagan Campus
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. In the Media Studies program at UBC’s Okanagan campus, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.
Tour the Campus
- Get a glimpse into life on UBC’s Okanagan campus at you.ubc.ca.
- Take a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art labs, modern facilities, campus residences.
- Visit the campus for a personal guided tour led by a student ambassador.
- Tour the campus, city and lake with this interactive 360-degree Kelowna From Above* video.
* Best viewed using Firefox or Chrome (desktop), YouTube app (mobile)
Day One: What to Expect
On the first day of university, take part in “Meet the Dean” sessions where you can get to know the Dean, professors, and the staff who provide student support. It’s all part of CREATE, UBC Okanagan’s new student orientation.
Attend an orientation that’s tailored to your needs as an aboriginal student, domestic student, international student, or a student living in residence. You can even register your parents for an orientation that includes a workshop and campus tour.
Academic Support
- Peer mentors are a great resource. Ask questions and learn from students who’ve been there, done that.
- Familiarize yourself with campus resources designed to help you succeed. Student Services offers a variety of academic supports, from study sessions to tutoring and writing workshops.
Sports
Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and stay active—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and nationally ranked varsity athletics.
Learn more at Sports and Recreation which includes links to fitness facilities, sport clubs, intramurals and recreation programs, as well as the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat varsity teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association.
Clubs and Associations
Branch out, get involved in student life, and have fun in a campus club or association.
Living in Residence
Meet new people while living in a study-oriented environment with easy access to academic and personal support.
UBC Okanagan offers modern residence living surrounded by hiking and biking trails. One of the newest residences, Purcell, features a rooftop patio that offers a panoramic view of the campus and the Okanagan Valley.
Find out more about living in residence.
The Okanagan: What to Expect
UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.
More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.
UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.
A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.
Explore the Okanagan lifestyle.
Apply Now
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