Degrees

SIAT Undergraduate Programs

The School of Interactive Arts & Technology offers a number of undergraduate degree programs—major, joint major, and minor—that you can explore below.

SIAT Major

All SIAT students complete a common set of first- and second-year courses. In third and fourth year, students begin to take elective courses across the program. Alternatively, students completing a SIAT Major or Joint Major may also choose to focus their coursework on one (or more) concentration(s) in interactive systems, design, or media arts. Information about SIAT concentrations can be found in the Checklist for BA and BSc Majors.

Honours BA/BSc in Interactive Arts + Technology

An honours degree combines a standard major with an honours project. This degree option provides students with an interest in research an opportunity to work closely with a SIAT faculty member. Students will participate in a year-long research project in an area of mutual interest. This degree option is especially helpful for those preparing for graduate school in the future.

Second Degree

A student who already holds a BA or BSc from an approved institution may complete a second or subsequent Bachelor’s degree (BA or BSc) in Interactive Arts and Technology. Second degree students are required to complete the SIAT upper level course requirements. Completion of lower level prerequisites may be required or waived at the discretion of the department.

Given the complexity of waiving credits, we recommend contacting advising for assistance in planning a second degree.

SIAT Minor

A Minor program complements an SFU degree in another field of study. Student taking a Minor in Interactive Arts and Technology must take 8 or more SIAT courses—at least 3 lower level courses and at least 5 upper level courses.

SIAT Joint Major Programs

Joint Major programs allow you to complete a degree in SIAT concurrently with a Communications or Business degree.

Communication

The SIAT-Communication Joint Major allows students to enhance their knowledge of art, design and technology with complementary courses in communication. Students in a Joint Major are required to select a concentration and are recommended to contact advising for assistance.

Business

The SIAT-Business Joint Major allows students to enhance their knowledge of art, design and technology with complementary courses in business.
Students in a Joint Major are required to select a concentration and are recommended to contact advising for assistance.

SIAT Concentrations

A concentration is an area of specialization that approved students in the SIAT Major may pursue within their Bachelor’s degree. SIAT offers three areas of concentration in media arts, design, and interactive systems. Students apply for their area of concentration after completing at least 27 units of lower-level core courses (including IAT, CPMT 120, and MATH requirements).

Students need a minimum 3.0 IAT GPA (grade point average) in order to declare a concentration. Students in a concentration will receive priority registration for that concentration's courses for 2 years. Note that priority does not guarantee a seat in a course.

Students who are not accepted into a concentration may take concentration required courses. Students who complete the concentration requirements may choose to apply for recognition of the completed concentration on their degrees at the time of graduation.

Students may complete more than one concentration. All completed concentrations will be recognized on their degrees.

Design concentration

Students in our design concentration examine the relationship between people and technology and how thoughtful design practices improve these relations. Design principles are examined in order to improve the accessibility and intuitive nature associated with using technology. It also has an aesthetic mandate to provide products of clarity and attractiveness suited to their functional purposes within society and industry.

Students who choose this concentration must complete six of:

Apply to the design concentration ↗

INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS CONCENTRATION

Students in interactive systems learn about software applications used by people in work, living, learning and play. Interactive systems students study how to design, develop and apply interactive systems with particular emphasis on how people use them. Through a combination of computing foundations, user-centred design principles, and programming practice, this concentration prepares students for creating applications in areas such as the web, handheld devices and games.

Students who choose this concentration must complete six of:

Apply to the interactive systems concentration ↗

Media Arts Concentration

The media arts concentration prepares students to be creators of computational and interactive media, ranging from mobile devices to large-scale virtual environments. Media Arts students learn how to analyze, design and innovate in building narrative, interactivity, video, animation, sound design, programming, performance and immersive technologies. These skills are a foundation for careers in digital entertainment, film, communications and software industries.

Students who choose this concentration must complete all of:

Apply to the media arts concentration ↗

Applying to a concentration

Applications to concentrations are accepted three times a year.

Deadlines:

Summer Semester – February 1^st
Fall Semester – June 1^st
Spring Semester – October 1^st

Applications are completed through an online form.

School of Interactive Arts & Technology