General Education (GE) courses (6 Credits)
(need to complete two GE courses)

GE courses offered from other contributing departments-TBA

This course offers a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of digital media and the integration of emerging technologies, including extended reality (XR), which encompasses augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), as well as artificial intelligence (AI), into media practices. Students will explore essential concepts and theories related to advertising, public relations, journalism, moving image, and interactive media at the digital context, while identifying theoretical frameworks that enhance critical thinking. Practical insights into the use of immersive technologies, animation, and graphic design will be provided, along with their impact on sectors. The course will also examine the ethical dimensions of media use and AI to prepare students for careers in media and their chosen fields.

This course aims to systematically teach the fundamental principles of design, focusing on the "Three Major Compositions", namely, two-dimensional composition, color composition, and space composition, to enable students to build a solid foundation in visual language and formal organization. Students will learn to consciously create and express using visual elements such as point, line, plane, volume, color, texture, and space within both two-dimensional and three-dimensional contexts. The course also integrates foundational training in digital design tools with principles of form and design, guiding students to use software for image processing and color composition practice, vector graphics and two-dimensional composition design, and layout design and integrated visual communication. Students will master systematic design methods, establishing a strong foundation in visual thinking and technical skills for advanced specialized study.

This course aims to equip students with the theoretical frameworks and practical skills needed to design compelling media experiences for interactive and immersive environments. By examining core concepts such as Environmental Storytelling, User-Centered Design, and the dynamics of human interaction with media, students will learn to bridge narrative intention with experiential design. A central focus is placed on the role of context, storytelling, and scenarios in interaction design, using them as foundational tools for defining user needs, behaviors, and the setting of an experience. Through the analysis of contemporary media case studies, students will explore how successful applications are built upon a deep understanding of situational use. Ultimately, students will develop the ability to craft coherent, engaging experiences that are thoughtfully shaped by their intended contexts and user journeys.

This course aims to introduce the foundational principles and practices of 2D character model design. Students will explore core concepts such as anatomy, proportion, expression, and stylization, developing a critical eye for visual storytelling through character design. Emphasis will be placed on mastering the digital painting tools and techniques essential for creating compelling 2D characters, including storyboarding animation. By understanding these fundamental design elements, students will build a robust creative toolkit and a strong conceptual foundation for advanced studies in 3D character modeling and immersive media development.

Designing effective interactive systems requires an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of users. In order to successfully design, deploy, and evaluate interactive systems for people, knowledge of the characteristics, strengths, and constraints of human cognition, perception, and motivation is required. The purpose of this second-level course is to allow students to gain a functional and actionable knowledge of relevant core concepts in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). This is an interaction design class, which means that we are focusing on the user-facing aspects of technology: web pages, mobile apps, the control interface of a smart home appliance, the interface of a public kiosk, the touch and feel of an end-user device, etc. We'll survey research from the social and biological sciences, with attention to how these concepts influence user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design and research.

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to Design Thinking through the analytical frameworks of Creative Recognition, equipping students with the conceptual tools and practical strategies needed to address complex design challenges. Students will explore the interconnectedness of environments within the creative industries. Through a hands-on, workshop-driven approach, the course guides students from identifying “wicked problems” to prototyping systemic interventions. It emphasizes the rigorous application of theory, requiring students to map stakeholders, analyze feedback loops, and iterate on creative solutions. By engaging in hands-on projects that integrate analytical and creative thinking, students will develop user-centered experiences and the skills necessary to become strategic designers capable of navigating the complexities of contemporary media and technology landscapes.

This course aims to offer foundational knowledge and practical skills in User Experience (UX) research methods, specifically tailored for media and immersive technology contexts. Students will explore how to understand user needs, behaviors, and motivations through engaging, hands-on activities. This course will move beyond theoretical concepts to apply diverse research techniques, fostering empathy and critical thinking essential for designing compelling and impactful interactive experiences. Therefore, this course will spark curiosity about user-centered design, preparing students to create innovative solutions that truly resonate with their audiences in the dynamic media and immersive technology industries.

This course aims to equip students with the foundational principles and practical skills of creative coding within the context of interactive media and immersive technology development. The primary focus is on mastering the core concepts of the C# programming language as the scripting engine for the Unity development environment. Students will learn to translate design logic into functional code, creating dynamic, interactive experiences. The course fosters a problem-solving mindset, enabling students to build a robust technical foundation for authoring 2D/3D applications. Through workshops, assignments and a final project, students will build practical skills in scripting, debugging, performance-aware design, and collaboration — preparing them for advanced VR/AR application development and industry practices in immersive media.

This course aims to systematically introduce 3D modeling as a foundational skill for developing Extended Reality (XR) projects and to equip students with practical abilities in storytelling and design using virtual environments. The course is divided into three parts: the first examines the core principles of XR technologies and the essential role of 3D modeling within them; the second provides hands-on training in specialized 3D modeling techniques and asset optimization workflows for XR content creation; the third focuses on 3D character modeling and animation, enabling students to create expressive and interactive virtual characters for XR projects.

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to generative artificial intelligence and its transformative applications in media design and creation. Students will explore the fundamental principles and practical implementations of AI technologies across various modalities, including text, image, audio, video, and 3D content generation. The course combines theoretical foundations with hands-on workshops to build proficiency in prompt engineering and model optimization, and to foster ethical awareness in AI-assisted creation. Students will learn to critically evaluate AI-generated content and to integrate these innovative tools into their creative workflows, preparing them to become forward-thinking media designers who can leverage cutting-edge technologies in the rapidly evolving landscape of immersive media and digital content creation.

The aim of the course is to equip students with the hands-on skills needed to create 3D assets for the Extended Reality (XR) environment, which can enhance storytelling by journalists. The course covers various components of assets in XR applications. Through practical exercises, students will learn how to design and develop assets for XR applications using industry-standard tools such as the Unity engine. They will gain experience in implementing interactive functionalities within Unity 3D to construct complete immersive scene prototypes that improve the user experience in virtual reality. Additionally, they will evaluate the usability of these assets in XR applications to ensure they align with user needs and use cases.

This course aims to equip students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to design and develop applications for Extended Reality (XR) platforms, encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Students will explore the complete development pipeline, from concept ideation and interaction design to implementation, optimization, and deployment. Emphasis is placed on user-centered design, spatial computing principles, and performance-aware development for immersive environments. Through hands-on projects and analysis of industry case studies, students will learn to create functional, engaging XR experiences that address real-world problems and leverage the unique affordances of immersive technology.

Entrepreneurship is as vital to established organizations as it is to startups, and thrives in for-profit, non-profit, and institutional settings. This course is an experiential-learning practicum in innovation, customer value, and venture creation in the information industry. Students analyze entrepreneurial risks and best practices through interactive exercises, readings, and assignments. Students then take the principles directly into practice in real-world projects, to build functional fluency and to develop relevant career skills and portfolio materials. The aim of the course is to help students understand the principles and pitfalls of real-world entrepreneurship; apply innovation, customer value, and venture creation in diverse settings; critically assess and communicate real-world entrepreneurial opportunities; and to create differentiated value for constituents/customers and sponsors/stakeholders, especially in various VR/AR products and services.

This course aims to explore the principles and practices of interactive animation, introducing the advanced conceptual and technical skills necessary to create immersive digital experiences. The curriculum focuses on designing meaningful motion systems that respond to user input and enhance interaction. Students will learn to structure animation that communicates functionality, provides intuitive feedback, and builds engaging user experiences. Through a blend of theory and practice, the course covers core concepts such as timing, easing, transformation principles, and interactive behavior patterns. It further integrates specialized training in selected engine including animation states, blend trees, timelines, and event-driven transitions, enabling students to prototype and implement animation solutions that bridge static design with dynamic interaction. The course prepares learners for professional practice in interactive media, game design, and experiential development.

The capstone project is a media design or VR/AR/XR immersive content creation with practical or commercial value. The course aims to provide an opportunity for students to use the skills they have learnt to develop a media design or VR/AR/XR project with a client (e.g., a non-governmental organisation, a commercial company) that is of interest to them and of practical use for the client based on their internship experience or advice from the academic supervisor in the Department. The course is divided into two phases: a Pre-production and Proposal phase (Semester 1) to ensure project viability, followed by a Production and Realization phase (Semester 2).

The capstone project is a media design or VR/AR/XR immersive content creation with practical or commercial value. The course aims to provide an opportunity for students to use the skills they have learnt to develop a media design or VR/AR/XR project with a client (e.g., a non-governmental organisation, a commercial company) that is of interest to them and of practical use for the client based on their internship experience or advice from the academic supervisor in the Department. The course is divided into two phases: a Pre-production and Proposal phase (Semester 1) to ensure project viability, followed by a Production and Realization phase (Semester 2).

The capstone project is a media design or VR/AR/XR immersive content creation with practical or commercial value. The course aims to provide an opportunity for students to use the skills they have learnt to develop a media design or VR/AR/XR project with a client (e.g., a non-governmental organisation, a commercial company) that is of interest to them and of practical use for the client based on their internship experience or advice from the academic supervisor in the Department. The course is divided into two phases: a Pre-production and Proposal phase (Semester 1) to ensure project viability, followed by a Production and Realization phase (Semester 2).

This course aims to develop student’s creative skills in sound design by teaching basic knowledge in sound theory as well as the technical skills of sound recording, creative sound effects, audio mixing, Foley, voice dialogue and digital music production. This is a hands-on course which involves studio audio operation, indoor and outdoor sound recording, digital music production and sound effect design. It equips student with the basic vocabulary and concepts necessary for working in the field of sound design and production and further applying the theory and techniques for immersive content production.

Video games have become a vital part of daily life of people across different generations and socioeconomic backgrounds in modern society. It is not only an entertainment, but also a booming industry with its flourishing gaming culture for consumers, game developers and game entrepreneurs. This course is a conceptual and practical introduction to game design and development. Specifically, at the conceptual level, theories and models of game development, and design patterns and logics underlying different game engines will be introduced. At the practical level, techniques of employing Unity, a commonly used game engine, to develop an interactive game, together with other skills necessary in game development such as graphic and motion design, audio and lighting settings, etc., will be developed. It is expected that this course will equip students with fundamental knowledge of game development, and the necessary techniques to design and create an interactive game.