Media Studies

Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS)

Explore new media and internet technology, blending artistic, technical and critical-thinking skills.

Digital Media

A certificate icon
Degree

Bachelor

Length

4 years

Faculty/School

Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies

Why study Media Studies at UBC Okanagan?

The BMS is a four-year, direct-entry computational arts program that prepares students for careers in digital media creation.

The foundation of the program is the opportunity for students to experiment with ideas and the newest technologies in a team-based environment, with a focus on innovation in digital-media design. The program is designed for students looking towards a future in creative and cultural industries, and to continue their education in design, art and academics as postgraduates.

BMS includes exclusive courses that offer a streamlined set of computer science and critical thinking skills aimed at code-based art and design-making in creative arts and digital humanities.

 

Degree Options

The program has designated “core” courses that provide a strong foundation in the following subject areas:

  • Creative Writing
  • Cultural Studies
  • Digital Humanities
  • Media Studies
  • Visual Arts

In addition to these courses, students have a wide variety of electives that enable them to customize their degree to pursue their desired career path or future studies. These electives range in creative and computational arts like visual and augmented reality, coding, visualization and sonification, machine learning, animation and more.

View course descriptions for the current academic year. Browse Media Studies courses and descriptions in the Academic Calendar.

Have a look at our Capstone Courses on our Media Studies Blog.

Sample Courses

These are examples of courses you can enrol in during your studies.

MDST 110: Introduction to Computational Art & Design I
DIHU 155 or ENGL 155: Writing & Making with Technology in the Humanities
VISA 106: Introduction to Digital Media I
CULT 100: Media and Popular Cultures in Global Context
FILM 100: Introduction to Film Studies

MDST 210: Creative Coding
CRWR 250: Screenwriting
DIHU 220: Research with Media in the Humanities
VISA 256: Photography
ARTH 202: The Critical Viewer

MDST 311: Computational Poetics
DIHU 301: The Self-Conscious Text
MDST 330: Immersive Environments

MDST 490: Seminar Series
MDST 499: Capstone Media Project

Meet FCCS’ Media Studies faculty and instructors.

Plan your academic journey by exploring the undergraduate academic planning guide designed for media studies students. Students can also complete a dual degree program with a BMS and Masters of Management.

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.

Explore customized Program Plans designed to support your journey to graduation and beyond.

Careers and Outcomes

UBC degrees are respected by employers around the globe. Program graduates will have the skills to pursue a career in a variety of fields like,

  • Animator
  • Animation and sound editor
  • App developer
  • Art director
  • Art illustrator
  • Digital animator
  • Digital marketing strategist
  • Entrepreneur
  • Game designer
  • Graphic designer
  • Magazine designer
  • Market research analyst
  • Media planner
  • Mobile application developer
  • Multimedia producer
  • Production artist
  • Product package designer
  • Researcher
  • Simulated environment designer
  • Software designer
  • Sound producer
  • Technical illustrator
  • Technology startup lead
  • User experience director
  • Video editor
  • Vlogger
  • Web designer

Your skills will be applicable to careers in gaming, web design, interactive media, sound design, film production, public relations or future graduate studies.

Admission, Fees, Applying

You could soon be studying at one of the world’s top universities. Be sure to review the content below to prepare for attending UBC Okanagan.

Students applying to the BMS program are required to supply a portfolio of written, visual and/or digital materials.

Experiential Learning

Expand your horizons while studying abroad, conducting meaningful research, or working in the community with your UBC colleagues.

Learn more about Co-op, Go Global, Undergraduate Research Awards and other opportunities at Experiential Education.

The Capstone@BMS is a unique opportunity for the BMS program to foster meaningful collaboration with industry partners and community members.

Global and Close-Knit

At UBC Okanagan, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally ranked, top 5% university while studying in a close-knit learning community. 50% of graduates, from all across the globe, choose to stay in the region.

Discover the Okanagan

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards, orchards and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan is an inspirational landscape perfect for those seeking leisure or outdoor adventure.

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.