How will I be assessed at CDM?
A faculty project supervisor will be assigned to each team. The supervisor will refer to the following rubric in order to evaluate the team and the individual student: Projects III evaluation Rubric.
In addition, there are certain deliverables to be submitted at the end of the term: Projects II & III Final Documentation & Deliverables Guidelines 2025 Final
There will be a minimum of 3 check-ins to provide students with feedback. Your grade at CDM will be forwarded to your institution’s faculty supervisor. You may be asked to submit additional assignments to your home institution. Please confirm these assignments with your institution’s faculty supervisor.
How is this different from co-op?
This is not paid. You will receive credit toward graduation.
This is a self-contained project on a small team; so, you'll generally have more input into how the project proceeds but less pre-existing structure to support you.
Your work will focus on specific skills or learning objectives, while co-ops can provide broader work experience.
Previous participants feel this course complements co-op.
What is the Master of Digital Media?
The Master of Digital Media is a four-way accredited degree between the partner institutions, UBC, SFU, BCIT and Emily Carr. Students from a range of backgrounds gain invaluable experience collaborating on cutting-edge, innovative, real-world projects in close collaboration with industry partners, mentors, top-notch educators as well as one another.
Although students' bachelors-level background varies substantially, all have thorough background from the MDM program in interactive media and story design, modern software development techniques, prototyping, and project management.
Why are we doing this?
Our primary motivation is fulfilling complementary needs: Computer Science students looking to expand their interactive digital media-oriented opportunities; the Centre for Digital Media is looking for more computer scientist students with an interest and skill in digital media.
SFU Computer Science Undergraduate Students:
How does this fit into your degree?
You will receive a total of six credits in CMPT 493. You may use these credits to fulfill six of the twelve units of 400 level CMPT depth and they will be considered to fall within the Table 1 Visual and Interactive Computing concentration (Computer Graphics and Multimedia in older calendars).
Do I have additional assignments?
To fulfill your requirements, you will participate in all assessments of the MDM teams, and you will also write a project report detailing your contributions, how they fit into the final designed artifact, and key lessons you learned. The report should reference your team's prototype and other artifacts you created during the term as evidence of your contributions and learning. The faculty member of your university will review these reports and the team assessments to assign a final course grade.
Who is my home institution’s faculty supervisor?
Senior Lecturer, John Edgar, is your home institution’s faculty supervisor.
UBC Computer Science Undergraduate Students:
How does this fit into your degree?
You will receive six credits in CPSC 491. Your Faculty or department may restrict the total credits available from research/independent study credits from courses like CPSC 448 (directed study), CPSC 490 (student-directed seminar), or CPSC 491 (practicum). Here are some notes that you should confirm with your program's advisors:
First-degree CPSC students can generally use up to six credits of research coursework toward their 4th year CPSC requirements. The CPSC department has indicated that CPSC 491 counts for this restriction. So, you likely cannot use more than six credits combined of CPSC 448 and CPSC 491 toward your fourth year CPSC requirements
BCS students can generally use up to three credits of research coursework toward their fourth year CPSC elective requirements. The CPSC department has indicated that CPSC 491 counts for this restriction. So, you likely cannot use more than three credits combined of CPSC 448 and CPSC 491 toward your fourth year CPSC requirements. BCSers can use the remaining three credits as third year CPSC elective requirements, exemption replacements, or (if it fits your module) as CPSC bridging credits. BCSers with prior degrees relevant to digital media may be able to use three credits toward the non-CPSC bridging credits; contact bcs-director@cs.ubc.ca for more information. Pick one use for each three credit piece; no double-counting
BA students can use CPSC 491 to fulfill their research-intensive course requirement
Other programs may have additional restrictions
Do I have additional assignments?
To fulfill your requirements, you will participate in all assessments assigned by the CDM faculty project supervisor, and you will also submit a 3-minute video talking through your own personal most exciting lesson learned or technical challenge faced in the project. You will provide an overview of your project and present your individual contribution. The faculty member for your university will review these reports and the team assessments to assign a final course grade.
How is this different from UBC's CPSC 319?
This course is similar in that you'll complete a project on a team for an external client. However, your team will be a highly interdisciplinary group of Master's-level students with project management/design experience that typically comes from outside CS. Your project will be an interactive media design project (which could be true in CPSC 319 as well). Your external client will typically be from industry, rather than 319's usually local, non-commercial organizations (but both are usually authentic, external clients).
Also, as intense as CPSC 319 is, this course is more intense. After all, it's worth more credits!
Who is my home institution’s faculty supervisor?
Professor of Teaching, Steve Wolfman, is your home institution’s faculty supervisor.
LaSalle Bachelor of Science in Game Programming Students
How does this fit into your degree?
Please refer to LaSalle’s information sheet.
A minimum of 3 credits per term, and a maximum of 9 credits per term, may be dedicated to the practicum through the production stream of courses (CC310, CC449, CC451, CC452) or an elective block.
Do I have additional assignments?
To fulfill your requirements, you will participate in all assessments assigned by the CDM faculty project supervisor, and you will also be required to submit:
Weekly check in and report with your LCV instructor
3–5 page report and presentation on the project and experience.
SFU SIAT
How does this fit into your degree?
You will be enrolled in 2 consecutive SIAT Directed Studies to equal 6 credits