Digital Media Design BSc (Hons)

About you
This programme might suit you: if you are interested in media technology from the point of view of how it is used and how it can make a difference in people’s lives; if you are interested in learning how to develop creative ideas into new interactive products; if you are interested in learning technical expertise in digital media development, but want to integrate technical knowledge with social and design understanding.

Why study Digital Media Design at UL?
Think about an average day: checking messages on your mobile phone; buying a game on line; using wireless connection to update your social networking profile. People’s lives are continuously shaped by interaction with a variety of media. More recently, interactive digital media have increasingly become a support to work, study, travel, entertainment and other daily activities. The knowledge, skills and sensitivity to design interactive media technologies are key skills in contemporary society.

The B.Sc. in Digital Media Design develops the technical, creative and analytical skills needed to be successful media practitioners in both the Irish and global digital media industries. The design of digital media for human use is a crucial skill in contemporary society: How to design the content and interaction for websites? How to improve the usability and usefulness of portable devices? How to design a new killer app for smart phones? How to create new ways to engage and connect people through the use of interactive technologies?

The aim of the programme in Digital Media Design is to equip you with degree level competence in new interactive media technologies. On graduation, you will be capable of making a significant contribution to the development of the Digital Media industry.

The specific objectives of the programme are:
• To provide you with the expertise in the use of a variety of audio, video and interactive digital media

• To provide you with an understanding of the human and social issues surrounding the use of digital media

• To introduce you to a range of design disciplines relevant for interactive digital media design

• To support you in developing the knowledge and professional skills you will need for an active role in the diverse field of digital media

What you will study
The unique feature of this course is that it focuses on training a new type of interdisciplinary graduate who combines technological competence with design expertise and an understanding of human and social activity.

This Digital Media Design course is offered full time, over four years, and investigates digital media at the intersection between technology, creative design and the human sciences.

Topics include:
• Technical, mathematical and software foundations of digital media

• The psychological and sociological context and understanding of digital media

• Creative design techniques, interaction design, collaborative concept design and visualisation

• Research methods and analysis to inform design.

Key Fact
This programme develops the technical, creative and analytical skills needed to be successful media practitioners in both the Irish and global digital media industries.

Career Opportunities
Graduates from this course will be equipped to create and develop interactive multimedia projects. They will have acquired a sophisticated understanding of the aesthetic and technical issues involved. There is an increasing need for graduates with the ability to cross social and technical boundaries, in order to exploit the opportunities offered by computer technology in a range of industries and services such as recording, general media, broadcasting and education.

Specific Careers:
• Interaction Designer
• User Interface Designer
• Usability Specialist
• Web Designer
• Radio and Television Broadcasting
• Sound and Audio Engineer
• Video Engineer
• Multimedia Project Coordinator
• Video Editing, Direction and Production Specialist
• Human Computer Interaction Specialist
• Media, Music, Audio and Video Researcher
• Multimedia Artist
• Multimedia Developer
• Design Consultant
• Interaction Design Researcher

Normal Application (online or paper):Fee €40 Closing Date: 1 Feb 2013 (5:15 pm)
Online discounted rate: Fee: €25 Closing Date: 20 Jan 2013 (5:15 pm)
Late online application: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1 May 2013 (5:15 pm)
Late paper application: Fee: €80 Closing Date: 1 May 2013 (5:15 pm)
Change of Mind: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2013 (5:15 pm)
All Fees are non-refundable

Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition:
Applicants will be required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate or an approved equivalent: Grade B3 in Ordinary Level or D3 in Higher Level Mathematics

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following Leaving Certificate results for those students who do not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

Foundation Mathematics is acceptable for satisfying minimum entry requirements with the exception of nursing programmes, Foundation Irish is not. Foundation Mathematics and Foundation Irish do not satisfy Specific Subject Requirements and are not counted for scoring purposes.

With effect from 2012 an additional score of 25 points is awarded for grades A1 to D3 in the Higher Leaving Certificate paper in Mathematics.

Special Mathematics Entrance Examination
The University holds a Special Mathematics Entrance Examination in August each year for entry to the Faculty of Science and Engineering programmes for students who do not achieve the required grade in Mathematics. Candidates who pass this special examination are deemed to have satisfied the Mathematics entry requirement for all programmes run by the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Application forms and details can be downloaded from www.ul.ie/admissions.

Access for Socio-economically Disadvantaged Students
The University actively encourages participation by socio-economically disadvantaged students in its programmes of study.

Students applying to the University through the Access Office will be assessed socioeconomically to determine their eligibility. The Access Office offers two entry routes to the University of Limerick: the Access to University Course and the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR).

Access to University Course
The Access to University Course is a 13 week full time course held at the University during the Spring Semester. The course consists of modules in study skills, personal development, transition to university, life skills, logical problem solving, and computer skills. Participants also undertake a link-in module in the undergraduate course they plan to proceed to the following September. On successful completion of the course, students progress to the degree course of their choice in the Autumn and are offered a variety of academic, personal and social supports while studying at the University.

Further information and application material available on this course from University of
Limerick Access Office.
The University of Limerick Access Office
Tel.: 061 213104. Fax.: 061 234123.
Website: www.ul.ie/access
Email: access@ul.ie

The Certificate in General Studies (FETAC Level 5) offered by the Shannon Consortium Downtown Centre allows for direct progression to a range of undergraduate programmes in the University of Limerick. Further information from: www.downtowncentre.ie & see below.

BA Politics and International Relations (LM022)
BA New Media and English (LM033)
BA English and History (LM035)
BA Economics and Sociology (LM036)
BA Journalism and New Media (LM039)
BA European Studies (condition: must take either beginners level Spanish unless have Leaving Cert level language)(LM040)
BA Public Administration (LM041)
BA Languages Literature and Film (LM045)
BA History, Politics, Sociology and Social Studies (LM046)
Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Technology (number of places available on this programme are limited) (LM076)
Bachelor of Science in Production Management (LM063)
BSc in Computer Systems (LM051)
BSc in Electronics (LM080)
BSc in Mobile Communications and Security (LM083)
BSc in Health Informatics (LM023)
BSc in Multimedia and Computer Games Development (LM110)
BSc in Digital Media Design (LM113)