Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media — Vancouver
The Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media offers a hands-on, collaborative way to explore core creative concepts and innovative ideas in diverse areas of the digital media world. The program provides a solid preparation in the three core digital media knowledge areas: design thinking, technical competency, and creative expression.
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We’re committed to creating an education as unique as your career path. So, whether your goal is a new career or moving up in your field, our innovative programs will get you going your way.
01
Customize your plan
We work with you to map your path to your goal.
02
Learn from experience
From real-world case studies to employer-based projects, we prepare you to manage what comes next.
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Choose your focus
Whatever you’re passionate about, you’ll find the classes to sharpen your specialty.
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Study anywhere, on your time
Part-time or full-time, we move at your speed, to get you where you’re going.
Overview
Students in Northeastern University's Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media will build their skills and expertise while gaining familiarity with a variety of industry-standard and cutting-edge technologies and tools. Our curriculum is organized around three types of experiences: core courses, concentration electives, and a final, hands-on project. Our core courses in information development, usability, and narrative structure provide a baseline for developing, marketing, and managing content-rich experiences. In your final project, you’ll work with the guidance of a faculty advisor on a personal proposal or with a small, focused team to channel your passion into a project that provides tangible evidence of your abilities.
Whether you are a full-time or part-time student, you can complete your degree while building meaningful working relationships with students from around the globe. Team-based assignments strengthen your project management and leadership skills and allow you to take part in the development of more complex media projects than you could by working alone. The team efforts will also prepare you for your future as a professional in digital media’s collaboration-oriented culture.
Canadian residents beginning their studies for the inaugural fall 2024 cohort are eligible for a scholarship of 25% or up to $10,000 CAD towards their total tuition for the duration of the program.
More Details
Unique Features
- Four foundation courses focus on visual communications, programming foundations, and web creation, helping you connect your current background to a new, digital media track.
- Complete an in-depth capstone experience working under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
- Concentration areas of Game Design and 3D Animation are available.
- Cohort program format is designed to enhance collaboration and networking opportunities for students.
Program Objectives
- The cohort program format is experiential by nature and is designed to enhance collaboration and networking opportunities with students around the globe. The program offers hands-on experiences such as specialized technical workshops to help students learn the operational techniques for items like web development, game programming, and design software.
- Our signature experiential learning model combines academics with professional practice to help students gain relevant, real-world skills they can apply to their desired industry. Northeastern offers a variety of ways for students to add experience to their resumé, including:
- Our Experiential Network (XN), allows students to work virtually with a sponsoring organization on a short-term project over a six-week period.
- An in-depth capstone experience working under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
Career Outlook
Employers are actively looking for digital media professionals with diverse backgrounds in social sciences, arts, music, biology, business, education, languages, and more. Advance in your current field or pivot to a new career in digital media and technology. Vancouver offers an extremely favorable employment outlook in tech—especially for professionals specializing in digital media:
- Vancouver is the #1 VFX and animation hub in the world (2020) according to Variety, 2021. (Vancouver Economic Commission)
- Vancouver is the third largest film and TV production center in North America. (Vancouver Economic Commission, 2022)
- Vancouver leads North America for high-tech job growth (+26%) over 2021-2022. (CBRE, 2023 Tech-30 report)
- The Government of B.C.'s 10-year labor market outlook forecasts 4,600+ expected job openings for web designers and developers and 13,000+ expected job openings for computer programmers and interactive media developers from 2022-2023. (WorkBC)
Learning Outcomes
- Specialized Knowledge
Design and produce interactive websites and application prototypes, incorporating a variety of digital media based on established human-computer interaction principles, theory, and research. - Integrative Knowledge
Assess broad communication and entertainment project goals to then design a variety of interactive digital media projects, drawing on the perspectives and methods of several interrelated creative fields. - Applied and Collaborative Learning
Apply digital media narrative principles and a range of technologies and visual, design, and programming ideas to provide creative and timely solutions for practical digital media challenges. - Civic and Global Learning
Develop a formal proposal, real or hypothetical, addressing a challenge or opportunity in cross-cultural and global information and communication. - Experiential Learning
Synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within coursework or beyond the classroom.
Experiential / Co-op Opportunities
Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace.
This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.
Get Set With a Custom Course Plan
General Requirements
Required Core Courses
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 2.00 |
Complete one of the following:
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Complete one of the following options:
Thesis Option
| 2.00 | ||
| 4.00 | 6.00 |
Capstone Option
| 6.00 |
Technical course from the workshops list
Elective
Complete one of the following:
| 3.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 3.00 | 4.00 | |
| 3.00 | ||
| 2.00 |
Workshops
Optional digital media workshops are designed to provide valuable technical skills and tools for students in all graduate degree programs.
Students may complete one of the following:
| 2.00 | ||
| 2.00 | ||
| 2.00 | ||
| 2.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 2.00 | ||
| 2.00 |
Concentrations
Concentration in 3-D Animation
4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Concentration in Digital Media Management
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Concentration in Digital Video
Complete 20 quarter hours from the following:
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Concentration in Game Design
Complete 20 quarter hours from the following:
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Concentration in Interactive Design
Interactive Design
| 4.00 |
Complete four courses from one of the following tracks:
Design Track
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Usability and Development Track
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Concentration in Social Media
Complete the following:
Required:
| 4.00 |
Electives
Complete 15-17 quarter hours from the following:
| 3.00 | ||
| 3.00 | ||
| 3.00 | ||
| 3.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 | ||
| 4.00 |
Now Let's Talk Admissions
You know where you are headed and you've seen how our program will lead you there. So let's get going. Here's what you need to know before you enroll.
Application Requirements
- Online application
- Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): Identify your educational goals and expectations of the program. Please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose.
- Professional resumé
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admission
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer
- English language proficiency proof. Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:
- Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date
- TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or NU Global Exam scores
- Students need to meet the below criteria (coursework, not work experience) and receive a B or better grade:
- Visual Arts/Design degree or minor (e.g. Art, Studio Art, Graphic Design, Interactive Design, Digital Media Technology, Media Design, Animation, etc.) *Students can also submit a Portfolio if they wish at the time of admission to see if they qualify for a waiver.
- Programming experience (e.g. Degree in Comp Sci, Engineering, IT, Digital Media Technology, Multimedia Technology, etc. AND have courses in either JavaScript/Web Development, C++, Java, Python, or ActionScript with a B or better).
- Coding experience (Documented coursework in Web Development/JavaScript, HTML5, or CSS)
International Requirements
Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.
Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Professional Studies admissions process, policies, and required materials.
Financing Requirements
International Students Tuition rate for International (Non-Canadian Resident): $48,510 CAD
How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.
Cost and Tuition
Application Deadlines
Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:
Domestic Application Guidelines
International Application Guidelines*
*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.