Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

The Department of Modern Languages & Linguistics offers instruction in three languages: French, Japanese and Spanish (beginner to advanced). Small class sizes, cutting-edge language-learning technology and the diverse expertise of our instructors ensure you’ll find studying languages to be a lively and satisfying experience.

In today's globalized context, students of modern languages are being prepared for membership in a global community that extends far beyond the boundaries of the English-speaking world. The study of modern languages is about far more than just learning how to communicate in another language. It’s about exploring other identities and values through language, literature, history and culture in a global community.

Students who study French will gain awareness of other cultures through courses in language, literature, and culture and civilization, and through academic and living experiences in francophone Canada or abroad.

Command a wide range of technologies and techniques in graphic design, web design and development, interaction design, 3D modelling, animation, video game design and development, screenwriting, cinema production and studies, and new media theory. You will learn from and work with dedicated professors who are professional artists and scholars.

As a senior student, you can choose a new media generalist path, or follow one of three streams:

• Web and graphic design
• Animation and gaming
• Cinema production

As part of uLethbridge's liberal education philosophy, you'll also take electives that complement your new media course work and diversify your portfolio.

In your final year of the BFA-New Media, you can choose either an industry internship or our advanced studio course. Each option provides particular benefits as you transition into a career or graduate studies.

The internship is a structured learning experience - locally, nationally or abroad - where you'll refine your skills working in a professional setting and gain a better sense of career possibilities.

The advanced studio course focuses on creative applications and you'll complete a self-directed project. If you are interested in research, graduate studies, or simply want an academic challenge, you can add an Honours Thesis to your course. The designation will appears on your official transcript and degree parchment.

You have full access to co-operative education, international exchanges, independent and applied studies, as well as volunteer opportunities. uLethbridge is the only university in Alberta to offer co-operative education to all majors in the university, at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Whether as activists, scholars or labourers, women have generated significant changes in society. Women & Gender Studies offer you the opportunity to learn how these changes were initiated and gives you the tools to actively participate in the creation of an inclusive society.

Using feminist theory and research methodologies, Women & Gender Studies examine the historical and contemporary conditions of women and men in society. Our department draws on a vibrant community of scholars and activists both inside and outside the university to explore a wide range of issues.

As a student in this program, you will increase your knowledge of women’s lives, bodies, experiences, labour and scholarship. You’ll also explore feminism as an influential political and social global movement that has generated significant change in all aspects of daily life for men and women.

The department encourages all students to enroll in women and gender studies classes to discover enlightening perspectives applicable to your chosen field of study. By participating in these classes, you will develop an in-depth understanding of how current and historical events, ideas and institutions have been structured by gender, ethnicity, race, age, ability, class and sexuality.

Economics is a behavioural science that studies the conditions under which individuals provide the best possible satisfaction of their needs. It is not specifically about money, things or material objects - it’s about the consequences of individual decisions made under conditions of scarcity.

Everybody thinks of and deals with economics whether they are aware of it or not. It concerns everybody and everything, transcending time and space, and is at the core of our civilization and human existence. It is a means of looking at all human interaction, regardless of culture, race or gender.

As an economics student, you will gain a deep understanding of the decision making process at the individual, firm or government level. You will learn how unhampered market processes lead to efficient production of goods and services, and the effects of interfering with these processes.

You will deal with a variety of topics, such as the comparison of economic systems, the economics of marriage and family, as well as banking and private property rights. You’ll also delve into current concerns like employment, inflation, government bailouts, the national debt, nonrenewable resources, agriculture and the environment.

Physics is the study of matter and energy at all scales, from the sub-nuclear to the dimensions of the universe. It is the fundamental science — all other sciences and technologies rely on the principles of physics.

Physics involves observing and understanding natural phenomena. It is evident in the world around us in everything from the seasons, the motion of objects, the flight of birds, the night sky and the weather, to lasers, electronics and the technology we rely on today.

Physics is very much a “hands-on” science, so the most effective way for you to learn the subject is to actually do physics. Astronomy teaches you how to study objects at a distance and interpret the information gathered. This helps us begin to understand the universe we live in. The skills you will learn in astronomy are also applicable to remote sensing and its application to environmental problems.

The department offers a comprehensive physics major. The foundation of this program is built in the first two years, as you study mechanics, waves, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermal physics and modern physics.

In your third and fourth years, you will gain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and delve into more advanced and specialized areas. Specialized topics may include the research interests of department faculty members, as all faculty members are involved in rigorous research programs.

Faculty members also ensure you are provided with a wide view of physics, exposing you to all areas of the subject and describing a wide variety of applications. This enables you to make informed decisions when choosing the areas you may wish to pursue in the future.

The Department of Geography and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science offer instruction leading to the multidisciplinary major in computer science and geographical information science. The program is structured to provide a firm theoretical, technical and applied background in the geographical information sciences (GIS) that draws extensively on computer science foundations.

This major provides a strong basis for further study at the graduate level in an established field of research, while also providing training in an area of employment opportunity that neither the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science nor the Department of Geography alone can provide.

Geographical information science (GIS) | GIS involves the use and analysis of digital maps, databases, models and mobile applications, as well as navigation and spatial integration tools. Major GIS application areas include remote sensing, geographical information systems, computer graphics, image processing and mapping and spatial modelling. These rely on advanced computer science algorithms and software development, platform integration, hardware design and operating system principles. The major provides applied training coupled with a solid theoretical and developmental foundation.

Aboriginal Health is Canadian Health. The health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada is a complex social justice issue that can only be addressed by people who are creative, skilled, culturally competent, committed and passionate about righting historical wrongs and acting to create a more inclusive, equitable society.

Understand the historical and contemporary causes of current issues such as poverty, water and food security, diabetes, addictions, youth suicide, family violence.

Learn traditional Indigenous teachings and contemporary perspectives by engaging with elders, knowledge keepers, health care professionals and other Indigenous peoples. Learn how Indigenous values, knowledge and practices foster healthy children, youth, adults, elders, families and communities.

Develop transferable and portable skills and practices to assist organizations and communities to respond to critical health issues facing Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. Apply what you have learned and gain valuable workplace experience by completing a practicum with a provincial or Indigenous organization.

Political Science is the systematic study of government, politics and political behaviour. It studies how a society governs itself at all levels and various ideas about how it should be governed in the future.

As a political science student you will study how political conflict is organized and resolved in the “real world.” You will look at how rulers are chosen, governmental decisions are taken and how decision-making processes are organized. You’ll learn how governments design and implement their laws and policies in Canada and abroad.

You will also consider how political leaders understand their obligations towards one another and how decisions are shaped by different views of “what’s right,” “what works” and “what’s possible” in different circumstances.

The Department of Political Science offers four sub-fields of study and encourages you to choose a variety of courses from each area to ensure you gain a broad view of the discipline. These are: Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.

Anthropology studies the diversity of human life in every part of the world. Long-term ethnographic fieldwork is the hallmark of the anthropological approach to studying the human condition and allows you to see how your world fits into a larger context.

Contemporary anthropology examines the material, social, and cultural conditions of human behaviour and life from a “locally global” perspective.

Anthropology will expose you to a variety of different cultures. At the same time, you will learn to examine your own life from an anthropological perspective. You will learn how to explore and understand radically different contexts in both your own and other cultures.

Two elements distinguish anthropology: an intensely comparative, wide-ranging view of human society and culture, and a strong desire to know how individuals in specific cultures make sense of the world and respond to its challenges.

Anthropologists are committed to understanding common aspects of human social life, despite apparent differences. They typically spend long periods of time doing field research where they interact with people in their environment to gain cultural understanding.

Political science is the systematic study of government, politics, and political behaviour, both empirically and normatively. Empirically, it looks at how political conflict is organized and resolved, how rulers are chosen, how governmental decisions are taken, and what policies and laws are determined and implemented, in settings ranging from Canada as a whole to our provincial and local governments to other countries to the relations amongst countries. Normatively, it considers how political actors understand their obligations towards one another, and the degree to which decisions are made out of a sense of right or out of expediency.

As a political science major, you will study the principles, organizations, and administration of government. The major includes both management and political science courses. The political science major offers flexibility to choose courses that fit your personal and career interests. In addition to the required courses, political science majors can choose six political science and three management electives.

Additional Management Opportunities
Once you have chosen your major, consider the option of working toward a secondary area of focus. A four-course minor will enhance your resume and complement your major. A minor may be required or optional depending on your major and will be recognized on your transcript. Some minors are not available in all programs.

• First Nations' Governance
• Information Systems (suspended until further notice)
• International Management
• Language (available to International Management majors only)
• New Media
• Population Health
• Social Responsibility
• Supply Chain Management