UofC

Location: Science A Building, Room 229
Email address: sci.grad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: ucalgary.ca/cmd

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

Specializations:

• Wearable Technology (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
  

These degrees are offered jointly through the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science; School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape; and Department of Art, Department of English, and School of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts. For simplifying the explanations in this document and for the purposes of CMD requirements, Art, Dance, Drama, English and Music, as well as Architecture, Planning and Landscape are jointly referred to as Arts and Design.

Students may register in the MSc and PhD programs as part-time students only with permission from the CMD Advisory Committee.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies admission requirements, the CMD program requires:

Master of Science

a) While applicants from any discipline will be considered, undergraduate degrees in Art, Computer Science, Dance, Design, Drama, English or Music are preferred. An academic or professional background in one area is possible, but ideally applicants would have a background in two areas.

b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 105 (internet-based test), a minimum IELTS score of 7.5 (minimum of 7.0 in each section), a minimum CAEL score of 70  (minimum of 70 in each component), a PTE score of 59 or higher, or a Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 200 is required. This requirement can also be met by completing the Academic Communication Certificate (ucalgary.ca/esl/acc) with a minimum grade of "A-" in each course.

c) A single page statement of interest. This is not a proposal, but a declaration of interest in interdisciplinary research in Art, Dance, Design, Drama, English or Music, and Computer Science.

d) Applicants must submit a portfolio that provides up to ten examples of their research and creative work. This may include any combination of academic publications and reports, images, video, audio recordings, musical scores, documentation of installations, and written works. Applicants may provide a URL to portfolio items that cannot be uploaded through the application system.

e) A curriculum vitae.

f) Two reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) All admission requirements for a Master of Science (above).

b) A master’s degree from an accredited/recognized institution.

For exceptional students applying directly to the PhD program with only a bachelor's degree, all the requirements for a Master of Science (above) apply, plus a demonstrated exceptional research and/or creative ability. These direct entry students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deadlines for the submission of complete applications are available on the Future Students website:

Master of Science: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/computational-media-design-master-science-thesis-based

Doctor of Philosophy: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/computational-media-design-doctor-philosophy-thesis-based

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma, or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

Graduate courses must be chosen in consultation with the supervisor(s) and approved by the CMD Director. In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the CMD program requires the following coursework:

Master of Science

a) 15 units of coursework:

• 3-unit research methodology course chosen from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Art, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, English, or Music;
• 3-unit Computer Science graduate-level course;
• 3-unit graduate-level course chosen from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Art, Dance, Drama, English, or Music; and
• Two 3-unit graduate-level courses.
• Additional courses may be required on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Supervisor and CMD Director.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students must complete at least three graduate-level courses (9 units) while enrolled as a PhD student in Computational Media Design at the University of Calgary.

As agreed upon between the student and supervisory committee, breadth* courses may be required as follows:

• 3-unit research methodology course chosen from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Art, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, English, or Music;
• 6 units of Computer Science graduate-level courses;
• 6 units of graduate-level courses chosen from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Art, Dance, Drama, English, or Music.
  

*Alternative breadth courses that satisfy the student, the supervisor(s), the supervisory committee, and the CMD Director may be proposed in special cases.

Additional Requirements

Three units at the 500 level may be included as part of the coursework requirement but must be recommended by the supervisor(s) and approved by the CMD Director.

All students are required to have a supervisor and a co-supervisor, with one from Computer Science and one from Arts and design. Generally, students are admitted to a specific supervisor and co-supervisor. Sometimes students are admitted to a specific lab or research area only and are assigned an interim advisor.

Appointment of the Supervisor(s): CMD students will have a supervisor and a co-supervisor appointed on their acceptance letter. Students may seek a change in research area or supervisor after admission. The student must find a permanent supervisor and a permanent co-supervisor within six months of the start of the program. Such a change must be satisfactory to the student, supported by the supervisors and approved by the CMD Director.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee: The Doctoral Supervisory Committee should be constituted by the supervisor and co-supervisor in consultation with the student and must be approved by the CMD Director and sent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for confirmation. It will consist of the supervisor and co-supervisor, and two additional members. The two additional committee members may be external to the student's program. At least one of the members of the Supervisory Committee should have had supervisory experience at the doctoral level.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies thesis requirements, the program requires:

Scheduling the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before the supervisor schedules an examination.

Composition of the Examination Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the CMD program. The CMD program membership includes the set of faculty members actively engaged in the program and the supervisor/co-supervisor's academic units (i.e., the Department of Computer Science within the Faculty of Science, Department of Art and School of Creative and Performing Arts within the Faculty of Arts, or School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape).

The CMD PhD student's External Examiner will be an international expert in the research/creative practice area of the student's research. Faculty of Graduate Studies Conflict of Interest Policy applies (see grad.ucalgary.ca/current-students/thesis-based-students/supervision/conflict-interest).

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of the calendar. Successful applicants may be offered departmental teaching assistantships and/or research assistantships in their offer letter.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications as appropriate according to the requirements of the scholarships. For the most up-to-date information, please see the CMD website, ucalgary.ca/cmd.