PROPOSAL



Joint Major in Communication and Interactive Arts and Technology


SIAT Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Communication Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

Simon Fraser University

Revision B – July 27, 2007



1 Introduction

A BA/BSc. Joint Major in Communication and Interactive Arts and Technology is proposed by the School of Communication and School of Interactive Arts and Technology to be administered under the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Simon Fraser University has committed to expand its programming in new and prospective areas. The Interactive Arts and Technology program is one of such areas providing an interdisciplinary view on design at the intersection of new media, technology and arts. On the other side, a well established program in Communication sees enormous opportunities in the study of both new media and old media transformed by new political, social, technological and economic forces. The meeting point of these two programs covers the area where the challenges of new media and technology are the most profound. The intent of this proposal is to bring together the expertise from these two areas and to allow for a broad and comprehensive undergraduate education at the intersection in the new media, informatics, and design with communication.

This joint program is responding directly to the growing demand of the current students, recent graduates, and new industries for the specialised design and technical skills in the covered areas while positioned in the broader context of the social and media awareness skills. In addition to the opportunities in the new media industry, graduates will be well prepared for advanced degrees in areas covering both social and technical aspects of the new media.

The majority of graduates will obtain BA degree. To obtain the BSc degree additional requirements must be met as specified in the Interactive Arts and Technology major program.

The Notice of Intent for this Joint Major has been approved by SCUP on May 30, 2007.

2. Proposed Calendar Description – School of Interactive Arts and Technology

The following text is proposed to be placed in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology section under Faculty of Applied Science.


Joint Major in Communication and Interactive Arts & Technology


This program offers in-depth training in the area of new media, design, and informatics and combines them with the thorough understanding how the information is created, coded, communicated and controlled. The graduates from this program will benefit from a unique mix of technical skill needed for creative design workers and communication theory and practice across the traditional and new media.


Communication Requirements


Lower Division

  • CMNS 110-3 and 130-3

6 CMNS 200-level courses (18 total credits), including:

  • CMNS 253-3

  • 1 of CMNS 220-3, 221-3, 223-3, or 235-3

  • 1 of CMNS 230-3 or 240-3

  • 1 of CMNS 226-3, 258-3 or 259-3

  • 2 of CMNS 260-3, 261-3 or 262-3

Upper Division

5 CMNS Upper Division courses (22 credits minimum total), including

  • 1 of CMNS 362-6 or 363-6

  • 2 courses in any one area below:

  • Media & Culture: CMNS 326-4, 358-4, 426-4, 428-4, 437-4

  • Technology & Society: CMNS 353-4, 354-4, 358-4, 359-4, 446-4, 453-4, 454-4, 455-4

  • Political Economy & Policy: CMNS 333-4, 353-4, 433-4, 444-4, 446-4, 455-4

  • 2 upper division CMNS courses of the student's own choice.

CMNS Directed Study and Field Placement courses do not count towards this Joint Major program.


Interactive Arts and Technology Requirements


Lower Division

  • IAT 100-3, 102-3, 201-3,

  • CMPT 120-3, IAT/CMPT 265-3

  • MACM 101-3 (for BSc degree) or MATH 130-3 (for BA degree)

  • IAT 222-3 or IAT 235-3

  • 1 of IAT 202-3 (for Concentration in Media Arts), 233-3 (for Design) or 267-3 (for Informatics)

Upper Division*

  • IAT 402-3 and 404-3 (for BSc)

or

  • IAT 403-3 and 405-3 (for BA)

Plus 5 courses (minimum of 15 credits) in any area of concentration below:

  • Design: 5 of IAT 333-3, 334-3, 336-3, 337-3, 338-3, 431-3

  • Informatics: 5 of IAT 351-3, 352-3, 355-3, 410-3, 452-3, 455-3

  • Media Arts: 5 of IAT 313-3, 320-3, 343-3, 344-3, 443-3, 445-3

*for the BSc degree, students must ensure that they satisfy complete BSc requirement of 30 Upper Division credits as specified in the SIAT BSc requirements in the calendar. This may require taking additional courses beyond those required by this Joint Major.




3. Proposed Calendar Description – School of Communication

The following text is proposed to be placed in the School of Communication section under Faculty of Applied Science.


Joint Major in Communication and Interactive Arts & Technology


See “Joint Major in Communication and Interactive Arts & Technology” on page x for requirements.