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Computational Media Design CMD

Contact Information

Location: Information and Communications Technology Building, Room 602
Faculty number: 403.220.6015
Fax: 403.284.4707
E-mail address: gradapps@cmd.ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

The University offers an interdisciplinary specialization in Computational Media Design to students registered in an existing graduate program in the Department of Computer Science, the Faculty of Environmental Design and the Departments of Art, Drama or Music. The student will receive the degree offered by the home program.

Master of Arts (MA), thesis-based
Master of Environmental Design (MEDes), thesis-based
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), thesis-based
Master of Music (MMus), thesis-based
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD),
Specialization: Computational Media Design (Interdisciplinary)

These degrees are offered jointly through the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science; Faculty of Environmental Design; and Departments of Art, Drama, and Music, Faculty of Arts.

Students may register in the above degree programs as part-time students where part-time enrolment is offered and only with permission from the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization.

2. Admission Requirements

Note the CMD application deadlines are those of the studentâ€™s intended home Department. In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the home program requirements, the CMD Specialization requires:

a) Admission to a Masterâ€™s or PhD home program that offers the CMD specialization (see list of degrees offered in article 1 above).

b) A single page statement of interest. This is not a proposal but a declaration of interest in the interdisciplinary research in arts, design and computer science.

c) Portfolios can be provided but are not required. A portfolio of up to 10 recent works presented in CD/DVD format, or made accessible on-line, is optional but strongly recommended. This is particularly true for students applying with an arts or design background.

Masterâ€™s Degree

In addition to the admission requirements above, applicants for a Masterâ€™s degree with a specialization in CMD must have:

a) An undergraduate background that includes a four-year Bachelorâ€™s degree or equivalent. While applicants from any discipline will be considered, undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Fine Arts, or Design are normal entry backgrounds. Starting the CMD interdisciplinary specialization with a background in one of these areas is possible, but a background in two areas is favoured.

b) Admission to a Masterâ€™s degree program that includes the CMD specialization.

Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to the admission requirements above, applicants for a PhD with a specialization in CMD must have:

a) A curriculum vitae.

b) A Masters degree from a recognized institution. While applicants from any discipline will be considered, Masters degrees in Computer Science, Fine Arts, or Design are normal entry backgrounds. Starting the CMD interdisciplinary specialization with a background in one of these areas is possible, but a background in two areas is favoured.

c) Exceptional students applying directly to the PhD program with a Bachelors degree, all the requirements for a Masterâ€™s degree (above) apply, plus demonstrated exceptional research and/or creative ability. These direct entry students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

3. Application Deadline

The deadlines for the submission of complete applications correspond to the home program through which applicants have applied.

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the home program requirements, the Specialization requires:

Masterâ€™s programs

Five half-course equivalents beyond the undergraduate degree level plus a thesis that describes a research contribution and/or an installation/body of work.

Masterâ€™s courses include:

a) One graduate level course in either Design or Art.

b) One graduate level course in Computer Science.

c) One graduate level research methodology course.

d) Two other graduate level courses.

e) Additional courses may be required on a case-by-case basis as determined by the CMD Supervisor in the studentâ€™s first year of the interdisciplinary specialization and approved by the CMD Director.

f) A research/creative practice seminar.

g) CMD Master's thesis and a CMD Master's thesis defence (see section 10 and 11 below).

Doctor of Philosophy

Eight half-course equivalents beyond the undergraduate degree plus a thesis that describes a research contribution and/or an installation/body of work.

PhD courses include:

a) The five courses required for Masterâ€™s programs with a specialization in CMD (advanced credit provided for these courses if a Masterâ€™s degree with a specialization in CMD has been done).

b) One graduate level course in either Environmental Design or Art.

c) One graduate level course in Computer Science.

d) One other graduate level course.

f) CMD PhD Candidacy Examination (see section 11).

g) A research/creative practice seminar.

h) CMD PhD thesis and CMD PhD thesis defence (see section 11).

6. Additional Requirements

A thesis component that describes research conducted and/or body of creative work must be completed during the CMD interdisciplinary specialization.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

At most, one half course at the 500 level may be included as part of the CMD course work requirement. This must be recommended by the supervisor(s) and approved by the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization on the appropriate form.

8. Time Limit

For the Master of Science with a specialization in CMD, the expected completion time is two years and the maximum completion time is four years. For the Doctor of Philosophy with a specialization in CMD, the expected completion time is four years and the maximum completion time is six years.

9. Supervisory Assignments

For simplifying the explanations in this document and for the purposes of CMD requirements, Fine Arts and Environmental Design are considered as one scholarly unit and referred to as Arts & Design.

Generally, students are admitted to a specific research area and supervisor. Sometimes students are admitted to a specific lab or research area only, and are assigned an interim advisor.

Appointment of Supervisor(s): A student will have an interim supervisor and co-supervisor appointed on their acceptance letter. Between the supervisor and the co-supervisor the disciplines of Computer Science, and Arts & Design will be covered.

Students may seek a change in research area or supervisor after admission. The student must find permanent supervisors within six months of the start of the program. Such a change must be satisfactory to the student, and supported by the new supervisors and must be approved by the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization. The role of the supervisor is to take responsibility for over all guidance, instruction, and research/creative practice supervision. The role of the co-supervisor in this case is to provide supplementary guidance, instruction and research stimulation on a regular or extensive basis.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee: The Doctoral Supervisory Committee should be constituted by the supervisor in consultation with the student and must be approved by the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization and sent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It will consist of the supervisor and co-supervisor, and two additional members. The two additional committee members may be external to the student's program. Exceptions to this will be considered on an individual basis. At least one of the members of the Supervisory Committee should have had supervisory experience at the doctoral level.

10. Required Examinations

Final thesis oral examinations are open.

Masterâ€™s Thesis Oral Examination:

This exam will be conducted as specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A thesis component that describes research conducted and/or body of creative work completed is required to complete the Masterâ€™s program. Graduating students will have to demonstrate skills and expertise in Computer Science and Arts & Design. CMD wants to encourage research and creative work that incorporates aspects of both Computer Science and Arts & Design, thus there is recognition for and appreciation of a thesis that represents an interdisciplinary balance between the fields. The studentâ€™s Internal Examiner will be a member of the alternate discipline to the primary Supervisor. For example with a Computer Science primary supervisor, the Internal Examiner will be from Arts & Design. The studentâ€™s External Examiner will be from outside the CMD membership. Exceptions to this rule will be considered on an individual basis. At least one of the members of the Supervisory Committee should have had supervisory experience at the Masterâ€™s level. Normal Faculty of Graduate Studies rules about conflicts apply.

Ph.D. Candidacy Exam:

The candidacy exam is composed of:

a) A reading list: The scope of the candidacy exam is defined by a reading list. This reading list is prepared by the student and the studentâ€™s supervisors in consultation with the studentâ€™s supervisory committee. This reading list must be approved at least two months before the written and oral candidacy examinations.

b) A research proposal (see Section 11).

c) A written exam: The written examinations are taken by the candidate after course work is completed, and after approval of the doctoral proposal, and before the oral candidacy examination. The CMD written exam must be approved by the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization, and consists of a take-home examination (normally 6-10 days).

d) A candidacy oral exam: The candidateâ€™s reading list, completed written exam, together with the research proposal, must be submitted to the examination committee at least 10 working days in advance of the candidacy oral exam. These documents form the basis for the candidacy oral exam.

PhD Thesis Oral Examination:

This exam will be conducted as specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A thesis that describes the research conducted and/or the body of creative work completed is required to complete the PhD program. The thesis will set the research/work in its literary and new media context and present evidence that the work is worthy of either publication or external recognition. Graduating students must have demonstrated skills and expertise in Computer Science and Arts & Design. CMD encourages research and creative work that incorporates aspects of both Computer Science and Arts & Design; thus there is recognition for and appreciation of a thesis that represents an interdisciplinary balance between the fields. The studentâ€™s Internal Examiner will be a Faculty member from the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓÆµµ¼º½ but outside of the CMD membership. The studentâ€™s External Examiner will be an internationally recognized expert in the research/creative practice area of the studentâ€™s research. Normal Faculty of Graduate Studies rules about conflicts apply.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

Research proposal requirements are determined by the supervisor at the Masterâ€™s level.

At the Doctoral level, a research proposal, approved by the studentâ€™s supervisory committee, must be submitted to the Director of the CMD interdisciplinary specialization at least two weeks before the departmental written exam begins. The research proposal will contain an abstract, a literature survey (including an analysis of the literature), an overview of the proposed research, a plan for completing the proposed research, and references.

12. Special Registration Information

None.

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of the calendar.

Successful applicants may be offered departmental teaching assistantships and/or research assistantships in their letter of offer.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their application as appropriate, according to the requirements of the scholarship.

14. Other Information

None.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

Information on faculty research interests may be found at: .

Registration in all graduate courses requires the approval of Computational Media Design. CMD students are eligible to take any course in Computer Science, Art, Drama or Music, and Environmental Design, provided they have the necessary prerequisites.

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