The University of British Columbia

Program of Study Guide

In Year One students will normally complete:


• the "Media Studies" stream of the Co-ordinated Arts Program. This CAP program comprises ASTU 100, CRWR 213, FIST 100, JRNL 100, VISA 110¹; and,
• CPSC 110^2,3 or CPSC 103³; and,
• electives⁴.

In Year Two students will normally complete:


• “Core” courses: ENGL 232, FIPR 133, FIST 240, INFO 250, VISA 241¹; and,
• “Core Plus” required electives; and,
• electives³.

In Year Three students will normally complete:


• “Core” courses: ARTH 380, CRWR 312, ENGL 332, FIST 340, VISA 210; and,
• “Core Plus” required electives; and,
• electives.

In Year Four students will normally complete:


• “Core” courses: ARTH 480 or JRNL 400, GERM 412, INFO 419, INFO 456; CPSC 344⁵; and,
• “Core Plus” required electives; and,
• electives.

¹In order to register in VISA 241, students must earn a minimum grade of 72% in VISA 110 or, if a grade lower than 72% is earned, request permission from the Department of Art History, Visual Art, and Theory.

²Students interested in taking additional courses in Computer Science or in completing a Minor in Computer Science will normally select CPSC 110.

³Students are required to attempt either CPSC 103 or 110 no later than Year 2 of the program. Those who do not complete the requirement prior to entering Year 3 of the program may have their registration restricted until the requirement is completed.

⁴Students are strongly encouraged to include at least 3 credits of 100-level Art History (ARTH) as electives in Year One or Two as preparation for advanced study in the discipline in Year Three’s ARTH 380.

⁵Students must successfully complete CPSC 103 or CPSC 110 before attempting CPSC 344. Students cannot attempt CPSC 103 or CPSC 110 concurrently with CPSC 344.

Note: No more than 60 credits of Distance Learning courses can be applied to the B.M.S. and no more than 42 such credits may be taken in the final 60 credits towards the degree program.

Note: Students in the Bachelor of Media Studies satisfy the outside requirement with the disciplinary breadth of their program and are not required to complete further credits outside their program.

Note: Students must complete at least 120 Arts-acceptable credits for the degree. Of these 120, at least 72 must be taken with courses administered within the Faculty of Arts. The following courses are acceptable for credit towards the Bachelor of Media Studies:

• All courses administered within the Faculty of Arts.
• A maximum of 48 credits administered by UBC Faculties outside the Faculty of Arts.
• All courses in music history, music theory, ethnomusicology, or music composition and a maximum of 12 credits from the ensemble courses in musical performance.

Note: In the 120 credits required and acceptable for the Bachelor of Media Studies degree, there may be:

• a maximum of 72 credits in courses at the 100- and 200-level; and
• a maximum of 9 credits at the 500-level. For further information on enrolment in graduate courses, see Enrolment in Graduate Courses.

Course Selection

Students planning their 100- and 200-level courses should be aware that many upper-level courses have lower-level prerequisites. Students are advised to select their first 60 credits with their entire program in mind.

Students in their first 30 credits of university-level study are encouraged to register primarily in 100-level Arts courses. Students granted advanced credit may register in courses for which this credit serves as a prerequisite, but are advised to register primarily in lower-level courses while completing their first year of university-level study.

Students in their second 30 credits of university-level study may begin registering in upper-level courses for which they have the appropriate prerequisites, but are encouraged to focus their study primarily at the 200-level. Students in their upper years of study may register in any course for which they have the appropriate prerequisites.

Students seeking entry into language courses beyond the introductory level and in need of placement should consult the department teaching the language.

Note: Students may not earn credit for two courses with significant overlap. Students are advised to check the Course Descriptions for course equivalencies and to review the Science Credit Exclusion Lists to avoid registering in courses which overlap. Students registering in courses dealing with probability and statistics should exercise particular caution.