Master

The 4-semester, Digital Media master program, taught in English, is a joint program by the University of the Arts Bremen (Hochschule für Künste, or short HfK) and the University of Bremen (Universität Bremen or short UNI).

We offer an exciting program combining theory and technology, art and science, design and informatics. Students from both universities are encouraged to cross over to the other university respectively and take classes outside of their focus. Students do not only take classes at both institutions, they also have access to both institutions resources for a truly interdisciplinary experience.

The course of study at HfK is called Media Design and is awarded with the degree of Master of Arts (M.A), while the course of study at UNI is called Media Informatics and is awarded with the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc).

Media Design and Media Informatics

Master
Module Plan ( 2016.06 )

Semester 1

Introduction to Digital Media

M-MA-1

Students will develop a common understanding about research and design of digital media, learn about the essentials in the field of intercultural communication and cooperation. They will acquire skills in understanding current debates in digital media and develop critical judgement of the cultural, social, economic and ecologic impact of digital media.

Media Informatics

M-MI

Students can select courses from the following fields:

  • Advanced Computer Graphics
  • Entertainment Computing
  • Embodied Interaction
  • Selected Topics of Interactive Systems
  • Digital Media Design for Children
  • Foundations of Interactive Story Telling
  • Educational MIS
  • Business Intelligence
  • Informationstechnikmanagement
  • ITIL
  • Digital Experience Design

Media Design

M-MD

The objective of the course is to provide the students with an overview of the most relevant tools, materials, mechanics and strategies of media design. The students will be introduced to the universities facilities and laboratories relevant to the study of digital media. This course also aims to bridge the differences between the students different understandings of design and its manifold purposes. By discussing and developing smaller design projects, the course will help to evolve a common design vocabulary to foster communication in the following master project and master thesis.

Media Theory

M-MT

The course provides an introduction to technical and aesthetic, as well as to symbolic and communicative qualities of a wide range of media. The historical development and changes of media in correlation with scientific, economic, political and social processes, as well as media´s contribution to modes of perception and forms of knowledge will be discussed from a perspective primarily built on cultural studies. The scope of this inquiry includes an exploration of media art based on specific works.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Sick

Free Electives

M-UN

The field of »Free Electives« allows students to improve their individual skills within the studies offered by the University of the Arts Bremen and the University of Bremen. Students may select electives from the digital media lectures as well as lectures from other degree programs or on key qualifications. Language courses may only be brought in with a maximum of 6 CP.

Semester 2

Project Preparation

M-MA-31

Preparing the work on a complex problem with importance to science, arts and design, the students concern themselves with:

  • Definition of the problem
  • Research of the state of the art
  • Outline of objectives

M.Sc. students are required to focus on media informatics in their work; M.A. students on media design.

Special Topics in Digital Media

M-MA-2

Free Election between 2 courses from the following fields:

  • Media Design
  • Media Informatics
  • Media Theory
Semester 3

Master Project

M-MA-32

Working on a complex problem with importance to science, arts and design, the students concern themselves with:

  • Organization of both individual work and team work
  • Analysis of the problem
  • Definition of objectives
  • Theoretical reasoning
  • Design of a solution /task
  • Implementation
  • Examination of the results
  • Preparation of intermediate and final results for publication, exhibitions or other forms of public display.

M.Sc. students are required to focus on media informatics in their work; M.A. students on media design. The students are able to work empirically, theoretically and practically on complex problems of digital media production and use in a medium-size, self-organized team or individually. They do not only apply existing knowledge in science, arts and design, but also develop new concepts and methods.

Semester 4 M.Sc.

Master Thesis

M-MA-4

 
Semester 4 M.A.

Plenum

M-MA-42

Successful development and work on a problem in connection with the master thesis (cf. module on master thesis).

Master Thesis

M-MA-41

 

The Master program is four semesters long and open-structured. The first and second semesters offer introductory courses and project preparation course. The third semester is exclusively reserved for the Master Project, while the forth semester is reserved for the Master Thesis.

For a more detailed modul description please refer to Master Modules.