Centennial College Combines Media Design with Engineering for an Exciting New Program

If you’re a person who often thinks of the future and images a place that’s exciting and innovative, you don’t have to wait for the present to catch up. In the field of Media Engineering Design Integration (MEDI), robotics technology, the power of mobile Internet and 3D cinematic storytelling are combined with the next generation of media and entertainment experiences. Professionals in this industry are in high demand by media technology developers, media publishers and media producers. Alongside these professionals, Media Engineering Design Integration experts work as: Mobile Communications Applications Developers (they create all those cool apps on your iphone), Interactive Technician Producers (in museum and instructional design), Project Managers (in the production of digital media), User Experience Designers (in consumer electronics) and Producers (with Digital Signage Networks).

Centennial College offers a very unique Media Engineering Design Integration program, which is a joint collaboration with the college’s School of Communications, Media and Design and School of Engineering, Technology and Applied Science. It is also the first media studies course of its sort! As this is a Graduate Certificate program, students are expected to submit an official transcript that demonstrates proof of successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree program. In addition, there are also non-academic requirements such as a program information session or portfolio review. Please note that Centennial will consider people presenting a partial post-secondary education (eight college or university credits) in media production or engineering technology.

Also, because there will be two diverse groups of students applying, they must be integrated. To bring the groups of engineering technology and media design professionals to a level of equivalence, students will be expected to qualify for advanced standing in two courses in their respective disciplines in the first semester.

The media education that students receive in this Centennial College program is centered on the design, development and production of innovative products and interactive environments. Therefore, the goal is to create a balance between engineering and design where students are able to lead collaborative teams of technologists and media producers in the creation of new applications and products for the media marketplace. These products and applications include: wireless devices, interactive museum and retail installations, digital signage systems and networks and much more.

Through project-based training, students begin to understand the challenges of media design. Their analytical and decision-making skills are also enhanced, as learning occurs through lectures and laboratory experience. Media studies courses include topics such as introduction to media engineering, video production and sound design, media electronics, the marketing cycle, content management and much more. In addition, laboratory practice with PLCs, robotics, sensors, electronics and network technology is a key component. Lastly, there is a 15-week field placement that puts students into industry settings (i.e. media technology companies, interactive design firms or media publishers) to apply the theory and knowledge they gained in the classroom.