What is Interactive Media?
I like to tell people that Interactive Media brings the arts and technology together, which not only sounds impressive but is also very true. Studying Interactive Media gives you a broad skill set and open up countless paths into industry, academia, and more.
What is the Interactive Media course like at York?
Interactive Media at York consists of practical and theoretical learning. You take a combination of lectures, seminars, and practicals. You’ll explore new concepts and theories through lectures, and hold in-depth discussions about them in seminars. You’ll apply what you have learned and gain hands-on experience with technology and software. Technical modules cover things like computer programming, User Experience design, video editing, and working in game engines like Unity. Humanities modules may cover subjects such as interactive storytelling and how technology influences our society.
You’ll complete independent assessed essay and projects, but you will also frequently participate in group work. These projects develop invaluable transferable skills in communication and collaboration. They also help you learn more about your own strengths and weaknesses and develop your portfolio. Interactive Media is a highly creative course, and the School is equipped with exceptional facilities to help you bring your ideas to life. With access to everything from VR headsets and high-end computers and design suites to television studios, the possibilities are endless!
My favourite Interactive Media module
Last semester I took a module on content production for esports. It such an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Esports is a rapidly growing industry where video games are played competitively and watched by large audiences. Esports production modules aren’t very widely available at other universities, so it’s amazing to gain hands-on experience and learn more about the industry. We were tasked with producing a live broadcast of a Dota 2 tournament. We designed a virtual set, created graphical assets, and recruited external players and commentators. It’s unlike any module I have taken, and I’ve learned so much. You can watch a recording of our live broadcast here!
How Interactive Media prepares you for a career in digital media
The combination of theoretical and practical learning, group work, and project-based assessments will help you to develop strong technical, design, and creative skills. Interactive Media really emphasizes creating a solid technical and creative foundation from the beginning. Even if you’re not personally interested in learning the fundamentals of coding, this knowledge will equip you with skills that will help you down the line.
As you progress further into the course, you will be able to choose from optional modules that help you specialise in a specific subject or branch out. I chose modules that provided me with deeper insight into digital storytelling production techniques, as that’s what I want to work in. Interactive Media gives you the resources to prepare for whatever it is you want to do in the future, from graphic design to social media marketing to games development.
If you’re looking to gain some professional work experience during your studies, the University provides plenty of opportunities to do so. We have an amazing Careers and Placements team who give great advice and can help you with everything from mock interviews to CV and cover letter writing. York students also have access to Handshake, a website where jobs, internships, and volunteering positions are advertised. The School of Arts and Creative Technologies sends out its own careers newsletter in which you can find more opportunities. In my second year I secured an internship with the Creativity Lab, and it was a great experience.
Interactive Media is truly such a unique degree, and I love how it has given me such a wide variety of skills and experiences. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!
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