Build the creative and technical skills to be adaptable to any media industry career.

Interactive Media Design is a two-year Ontario College Diploma program designed to prepare you for a variety of careers in the digital media industry. Web-design, programming, as well as video and motion graphic skills, are in demand in all employment sectors. You explore the primary elements of media project planning and development with equal importance given to the creative and the technical aspects. This balanced learning experience prepares graduates to be generalists in the media industry meaning you can jump into a wide variety of roles as you begin your careers.

Strong emphasis is placed on hands-on media production through courses in computer-based web design and programming, as well as video and motion graphics. Through several program-specific elective courses, you can focus your path towards specializing as motion graphic designer or a web developer, or you can choose to remain as a generalist, depending on your interests. You plan and execute individual and team-based projects under the guidance of a faculty, industry experts in the media field. You gain practical experience working with live clients through applied projects. You navigate these learning opportunities with the operating system of your choice, such as Mac OS X or Windows.

Students also have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note admission to the co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.

This industry-driven program provides you with the diverse skillset that makes you adaptable in today`s dynamic job market across all sectors. Graduates may find employment in a wide variety of fields utilizing their skills in dynamic media development, web design and programming, photography, videography, motion graphics, project management, UX design, graphic design, and content management. Other opportunities involve start-up businesses or work as a freelancer or contractor.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are highly adaptable to today`s technology.
• Are imaginative and enjoy solving problems.
• Enjoy a hands-on approach to learning.
• Aspire to balance skills in creative video design with web-development programming.
• Enjoy working on team projects.

Careers

Graduates may find employment in a wide variety of positions such as: media director; video and audio technician; production coordinator; production assistant; production director; technical project lead; graphic layout designer; interactive developer; UX designer; web developer; project manager; videographer; motion graphics editor; CMS specialist; front-end developer; back-end developer; video producer; user interface designer; freelancer; interactive media entrepreneur.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Complete both individual and collaborative interactive media projects effectively.
2. Use best practices and tools to design and develop dynamic, rich-media content.
3. Contribute to the assessment of the requirements of an interactive media project.
4. Contribute to the development, budgeting, planning and professional presentation of an interactive media project.
5. Design a media project (interface, navigation, graphics, text treatment) using current best practice design and development principles, and applying conceptual and theoretical frameworks.
6. Build effective and dynamic Web sites and/or mobile applications.
7. Identify and analyze ethical and professional issues arising in an online environment.
8. Apply research and conceptual skills to propose possible solutions for mobile/multimedia/Web development problems.
9. Use creative and critical thinking techniques in the effective design, development and implementation of an interactive media project.
10. Contribute to the assessment of the financial, technical and artistic success of an interactive media project.
11. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN (CO-OP AND NON CO-OP VERSION)
Program Code 6149X03FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources

CO-OP INFORMATION:
All applicants apply directly to the co-op version of this program through OntarioColleges.ca or our International Application Portal. Applicants not wishing to pursue the co-op version will have the opportunity to opt-out after being admitted to the program but prior to the first co-op work term.

Co-operative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience through paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op course, readiness activities and workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and guides the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to relocate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses. For more information on your program`s co-op level(s), visit the courses tab on your program`s webpage.

International students enrolled in a co-op program are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to have a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit prior to commencing their work term. Without this document International students are not legally eligible to engage in work in Canada that is part of an academic program. The Co-op/Internship Work Permit does not authorize international students to work outside the requirements of their academic program.

For more information on co-op programs, the co-op work/study schedule, as well as general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/coop.

Program curriculum is reviewed annually to reflect evolving industry standards in the information technology field.