Interactive Digital Media (M.Sc.)

Overview

Course Overview

Platforms for digital media applications are constantly evolving - moving from desktops to mobile devices. The skills required for designing digital media applications have expanded and now include both technical and creative skills.

This one-year Interactive Digital Media programme aims to provide a foundation which will allow graduates to build on knowledge gained at undergraduate level to allow them to work in the digital media sector. The course will help students combine their existing skills with the technological knowledge needed to design and develop digital media applications.

Students receive a foundation in the theory and practice of creating and developing applications using all digital media types. While we welcome applicants with technical qualifications, the course is also appropriate for graduates without a computer science background, because of the important skills they can bring to digital media. The course concentrates on teaching the theory associated with developing and implementing digital media applications rather than teaching how to use off-the-shelf applications. Students are exposed to programming languages and platforms as well as methodologies for the creation, capture and presentation of text, graphics, audio and moving images.  The range of backgrounds and skills of the students each year facilitates exchange between different disciplines.

Is This Course For Me?

Interactive Digital Media is an interdisciplinary field that combines elements from media studies, communication, computer science, and design. This field is ideal for those who are passionate about technology and communications, as well as those with a creative mindset looking to create and design digital media. It could be particularly beneficial for anyone interested in media production, digital marketing, web design, game design, or app development.

Career Opportunities

This course has been running since 1996 and now has more 400 graduates working in the digital media and related sectors, both nationally and internationally. The M.Sc. in Interactive Digital Media enables graduates to work and stay current in the digital media sector. Graduates work in many roles across the digital sector, including design, development, content, analysis, research, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Course Structure

The full programme, comprising 90 ECTS credits, takes one full calendar year to complete and leads to the qualification of M.Sc. in Interactive Digital Media, a Level 9 award under the Irish National Framework for Qualifications (NFQ).

Formal teaching is divided into two 12-week semesters, running from September to December and then January to April. Research proposals are submitted in November and agreed by mid-December with students then commencing their research project. After the research paper and coursework is assessed at the Exam Board in May, students then go on to complete a final project.

Course Content

This programme is different in that it focuses on teaching theory rather than on applications. Students are exposed to programming languages and platforms as well as methodologies for the creation, capture and presentation of text, graphics, audio and moving images.

Basic computer science courses are offered for students with no formal background in programming and students with experience in programming are taught specialised programming for interactive digital platforms.
 
Core taught modules include: Programming for Digital Media; Authoring for Digital Media; Contextual Media; Audio, Video and Sensor Technologies; and Visual Computing and Design, Research Paper: Final Project.

Each student must also submit a minor research dissertation paper of 12,000 words, followed by a final project as a collaboration between groups of students.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.