Markku Reunanen
The studies of the Media Lab are characterized by collaboration in an experimental and critical environment in which interaction and work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams occurs on a wide scale between students and staff as well as with students of other faculties and institutions. By nature studies in ’new media’ emphasize emerging fields and practices and related tools and technologies for communication, creative production and distribution. In practice graduates of the Media Lab tend to become employed in ’new’ roles and ’emerging professions’ within the broad gamut of the new media industry, as well as in related research and development activities.
During the studies students are expected to get familiar with a variety of tools, to understand the characteristics of digital media.
Academic communication and writing are a part of the studies, and more research courses can be chosen if the student is planning to become a researcher. Students and researchers are encouraged to network internationally and have an option to spend a part of their studies abroad through any of our exchange programmes.
New Media Design and Production is a major subject focusing on art and design in interactive media. The education is project-oriented, combining practice with theory, hands-on with minds-on. The project modules emphasise interdisciplinary and collaborative work, while individual skills are studied in the tools & skills modules, in workshops and through tutored studio work. Students in New Media in the Media Lab can choose to focus their studies on dynamic visualisation, interaction design, art & culture and interactive storytelling.
Running since 1994, the New Media major accepts about 15-20 new MA students every year. Our applicants' backgrounds vary wildly and we have always attempted to recruit a true interdisciplinary team of students with each intake. Sharing knowledge and working in collaborative groups within experimental production and research processes is a basic premise of our work in the Media Lab.
During the programme, students will specialise according to their personal skills and motivation. Their future professional profiles relate to the various fields of new media design and research including interface design, interaction design, information design, interactive and generative storytelling, new media production, software design and digital animation.
The students can also continue their studies to doctoral studies, e.g. by doing (part of) their research in research groups at the Department of Media.
|
code |
name |
ECTS credits |
|
Major in New Media Design and Production |
90 |
|
|
Compulsory joint studies for a master’s degree in the department of media |
11 |
|
|
Understanding Media, Art and Design |
4 |
|
|
Research Skills/Tutkimustaidot |
4 |
|
|
In addition student chooses one of the following courses. |
||
|
Academic Writing (in English)* |
3 |
|
|
Tieteellinen kirjoittaminen maisteriopiskelijoille (in Finnish)* |
3 |
|
|
Compulsory studies for the major in new media design and production |
42–44 |
|
|
New Media Exam |
1 |
|
|
Personal study plan |
1 |
|
|
Introduction to Media Art and Culture |
3 |
|
|
Master’s Thesis Seminar |
4 |
|
|
Master's Thesis |
30 |
|
|
Student chooses also one of the following courses for Software Studies: |
||
|
Software Studies for Media Designers |
3 |
|
|
Software Studies: Programming for Artists |
3 |
|
|
Software Studies for Game Designers |
3–5 |
|
|
Alternative Studies |
32–37 |
|
|
Courses from Media Lab course list, from the School of Business, and from School of Science, and from other universities, as agreed in the study plan. |
||
In addition, students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete minor studies and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, do an internship in Finland or abroad, or take elective courses offered by the Master’s Degree Programme in New Media.