Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Information

Participating Degree Programs

Architecture — MArch
Computer Science — MSc, PhD
Curriculum and Pedagogy — MA, MEd, PhD
Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies — MA, PhD
Information — MI, PhD
Landscape Architecture — MLA
Language and Literacies Education — MA, MEd, PhD
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering — MASc, MEng, PhD
Medical Science — MSc, PhD
Museum Studies — MMSt
Religion — MA, PhD
Urban Design — MUD

Overview

The Collaborative Specialization in Knowledge Media Design (KMD) was launched in 2002 as the teaching arm of the Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI). KMD provides a specialization for graduate students from a variety of academic backgrounds to engage in the design, prototyping, evaluation, and use of knowledge media. In keeping with KMDI's human-centred approach, students explore the design and use of new media in the context of real-world practices of individuals and communities. Access to an intensely collaborative and cross-disciplinary faculty encourages students to take a broader view of technological and social change and to be constructively critical of technological utopian and dystopian visions alike. The goal is for students to take into account heritage and history, to understand the realities of today, and to design for tomorrow.

Students have access to a community of scholars and the network of relationships that the institute coordinates. They gain first-hand experience of a living network of innovation, an environment in which the resources are people and knowledge, and the social capital and value that are generated through collaboration.

The collaborative specialization is open to master's and PhD students in the participating graduate programs listed above. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Knowledge Media Design” on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: kmdi.utoronto.ca
Email: admin.kmdi@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-5634

Collaborative Specialization in Knowledge Media Design
Knowledge Media Design Institute, University of Toronto
Faculty of Information
John P. Robarts Library Building, 7023A
130 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5
Canada

Mailing address:
Faculty of Information
Knowledge Media Design Institute
University of Toronto
140 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3G6
Canada

Admission Requirements

• Students wanting to apply to the collaborative specialization must be enrolled, or anticipate being enrolled, in a participating degree program. They must apply separately to the collaborative specialization and the home graduate unit.

• Please consult the KMDI website for application guidelines. Admission will be subject to the approval of the graduate unit concerned and the collaborative specialization committee.

Specialization Requirements

Master of Architecture;
MSc in Computer Science;
MA in Curriculum and Pedagogy;
MA in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies;
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MASc; MEng Project Option);
Master of Landscape Architecture;
MA in Language and Literacies Education;
Master of Museum Studies;
MSc in Medical Science;
MA in Religion;
Master of Urban Design

• Students must meet all the requirements of their home program.

• Students must successfully complete a total of 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE):

  • KMD1001H (0.5 FCE);

  • 0.5 elective FCE related to knowledge media and design. Courses are subject to availability.

• Students must attend two KMDI Speaker Series Lectures during one academic year of their degree program. Attendance will be monitored and appear on the transcript as KMD2100Y (Credit/No Credit).

• The thesis or major research project in the participating degree program should be relevant to the area of knowledge media design, as approved by the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization committee.

• Students must submit a portfolio that includes completed student coursework and research in knowledge media design. The collaborative specialization committee will review all portfolios for their quality and contribution to the area of knowledge media design. Students' thesis or major research project will be a component of their portfolios.

• Collaborative specialization courses may be taken as electives for the purpose of satisfying home program requirements.

Specialization Requirements

MEd in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development;
MEd in Language and Literacies Education;
MEng in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (Coursework-Only Option)

• Students must meet all the requirements of their home program.

• Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs):

  • KMD1001H (0.5 FCE);

  • 1.0 elective FCE related to knowledge media and design. Courses are subject to availability.

• Students must attend two KMDI Speaker Series Lectures during one academic year of their degree program. Attendance will be monitored and appear on the transcript as KMD2100Y (Credit/No Credit).

• Students must submit a portfolio that includes completed student coursework in knowledge media design. The collaborative specialization committee will review all portfolios for their quality and contribution to the area of knowledge media design.

• Collaborative specialization courses may be taken as electives for the purpose of satisfying home program requirements.

Specialization Requirements

Master of Information (Coursework-Only Option)

• Students must meet all the requirements of their home program.

• Students must successfully complete a total of 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs):

  • KMD1001H (0.5 FCE);

  • 2.0 elective FCEs related to knowledge media and design. Courses are subject to availability.

• Students must attend two KMDI Speaker Series Lectures during one academic year of their degree program. Attendance will be monitored and appear on the transcript as KMD2100Y (Credit/No Credit).

• Students must submit a portfolio that includes completed student coursework in knowledge media design. The collaborative specialization committee will review all portfolios for their quality and contribution to the area of knowledge media design.

• Collaborative specialization courses may be taken as electives for the purpose of satisfying home program requirements.

Specialization Requirements

Master of Information (Thesis Option)

• Students must meet all the requirements of their home program.

• Students must successfully complete a total of 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE):

  • KMD1001H (0.5 FCE);

  • 0.5 elective FCE related to knowledge media and design. Courses are subject to availability.

• Students must attend two KMDI Speaker Series Lectures during one academic year of their degree program. Attendance will be monitored and appear on the transcript as KMD2100Y (Credit/No Credit).

• Students must submit a portfolio that includes completed student coursework and research in knowledge media design. The collaborative specialization committee will review all portfolios for their quality and contribution to the area of knowledge media design. Students' thesis will be a component of their portfolios.

• The thesis in the participating degree program should be relevant to the area of knowledge media design, as approved by the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization committee.

• Collaborative specialization courses may be taken as electives for the purpose of satisfying home program requirements.

Admission Requirements

• Students wanting to apply to the collaborative specialization must be enrolled, or anticipate being enrolled, in a participating degree program. They must apply separately to the collaborative specialization and the home graduate unit.

• Please consult the KMDI website for application guidelines. Admission will be subject to the approval of the graduate unit concerned and the collaborative specialization committee.

Specialization Requirements

• Students must meet all the requirements of their home program.

• Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs):

  • KMD1001H and KMD1002H if not already taken in the master's program, and

  • 0.5 FCE from the KMD series or a list of recognized affiliate courses.

• Students must attend four KMDI Speaker Series Lectures during one academic year of their degree program. Attendance will be monitored and appear on the transcript as KMD2200Y (Credit/No Credit).

• Students must submit a portfolio that includes completed student coursework and research in knowledge media design. The collaborative specialization committee will review all portfolios for their quality and contribution to the area of knowledge media design. Students' portfolios will most often be connected with one or more chapters of their dissertation.

• The dissertation topic must be in the area of knowledge media design. The thesis advisor and at least one other committee member must be from participating graduate units.

• The home graduate unit and the student's supervising committee will determine further requirements. The participating graduate units cooperate in jointly developing a program that is tailored to meet the needs of each student.

For courses offered in a particular year, check the Knowledge Media Design website.

Knowledge Media Design

Required

Electives

Participating Graduate Unit Electives

Not all courses are offered every year. Please consult the KMD website for a full list of eligible electives that meet the KMD collaborative specialization requirements. Courses that are mandatory for a student's degree from the home graduate unit cannot normally be counted. Some of the elective courses may require a significant amount of background knowledge and experience. Enrolment in such courses may require the permission of the instructor.

Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Urban Design; Visual Studies

Computer Science

Curriculum and Pedagogy; Language and Literacies Education

Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies

Information

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Museum Studies