Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI)

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • Online
• Length of program 
  • Full-time: 2 terms (8 months)
  • Part-time: 5 terms (20 months)
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in a field from humanities, social sciences, science, mathematics, environment, health or engineering, with an average of at least 78% in the final two years of the degree.
  • Applications must include demonstration of sufficient academic and/or practical experience and personal suitability. Experienced professionals in the private or public sectors may be considered for admission, but probationary status may be required for the first term of the program.
  • The program may also consider applications from mature students who do not meet the regular academic admission requirements of a four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent. To be considered, an applicant who does not meet the regular academic requirements must have at least eight years of professional experience in a field related to the program, such as digital media, journalism, digital entertainment, digital gaming, software development, design, etc., and a minimum GMAT score of 550, or an equivalent score on the GRE (referencing ETS's GRE Comparison Table for Business Schools).
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    at least 2 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must successfully complete the following 8 required courses:
  • DEI 612 Working in Teams
  • DEI 613 Digital Media Solutions 1: Design Principles and Practice
  • DEI 614 Principles of Marketing
  • DEI 616 Special Topics 1
  • DEI 623 Digital Media Solutions 2: Project Management
  • DEI 625 Business Innovation and Impact
  • DEI 626 User Experience (UX) Fundamentals and User Research (UER)
  • DEI 627 Special Topics 2

Link(s) to courses

• Digital Experience Innovation (DEI) courses

Program Intensive 1

• Students must complete the mandatory Program Intensive 1 academic milestone delivered virtually. Program Intensive 1 takes place over 10 days in August (at the beginning of the program) and is designed to introduce students to the program and to develop fundamental team-building skills that will enable students to work effectively in virtual environments throughout the program. Students will complete the equivalent of the first four classes of DEI 612 Working in Teams, which covers the elements of designing, managing and working in teams.

Program Intensive 2

• Students must complete the mandatory Program Intensive 2 academic milestone delivered virtually. Program Intensive 2 takes place over 10 days in April (at the end of the program). Students will be presented with a complex challenge from our industry partners, for which they will develop a business solution based on relevant issues in the digital economy. Learning objectives and outcomes are specific to each partner and challenge, and students will be supervised by a University of Waterloo faculty member and 1-2 representative from each partner. Projects will normally be undertaken in teams of 4-6 students, working virtually, on a schedule determined by the project scope.