Artificial Intelligence in Digital Media

The UBC Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Digital Media helps learners to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI in the contemporary digital media landscape. Gain an understanding of AI and its components, evaluate the ethical implications of AI, and develop proficiency in using AI to produce creative digital media projects.

Through lectures and hands-on activities, you will learn to use AI to optimize digital media projects and tasks (such as content creation, delivery and analytics). Examine current trends and emerging technologies that enable AI-driven digital media products and analyze case studies and best practices in leveraging AI to achieve business objectives. Develop proficiencies that are most relevant to your goals by choosing the learning pathway that’s right for you.

By the end of this program, you’ll be able to:

• Develop a fundamental understanding of AI and cloud computing and their impact on businesses
• Design a framework for implementing AI strategies within cloud services to improve operational efficiency, customer experiences and business outcomes
• Evaluate and identify the right infrastructure for high-performance and low-cost instances optimized for machine learning
• Identify and present a prototype framework to address ethical and logistical challenges and solve a set of societal problems caused by use of AI
• Develop automation strategies for digital media processes
• Explore AI-powered tools for strategic data analysis, visualization and content generation
• Examine current trends and emerging technologies that enable AI-driven digital media products
• Analyze case studies and best practices in leveraging AI to achieve business objectives
• Examine the key considerations of risk management, ethics and compliance in the context of using AI for digital media

Technical and coding skills are not required to take this program. It is designed to accommodate professionals in non-technical or tech-adjacent roles who are interested in quickly upskilling to access job opportunities where automation and AI solutions are either under consideration or already implemented.

This program is particularly relevant for digital media specialists and managers across various industries who are responsible for developing media for business or creative needs, as well as for professionals working in media-related fields including web broadcast, film, video production, education, entertainment media, social media and marketing.

Courses cost $950-$1,950. The total cost of the program is $5,700-$5,750, depending on which learning pathway you choose for the electives.

All fees are in Canadian dollars and subject to change. Fees are subject to GST where applicable. Fees may be paid by Visa®, Visa® Debit, Mastercard®, American Express®, money order or certified cheque.

For details on financial support options, please see Financial Assistance.

For details on UBC’s payment policies, please see Refunds, Cancellations and Transfers.

This certificate program offers two learning pathways and consists of five or six courses. Four courses are required, and the final one or two courses are determined by which of the learning pathway options you select. Each course takes approximately 25 hours to complete, except for AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good which takes 55 hours. The program includes approximately 150 hours of learning.

Learners who have already completed the existing UBC Micro-certificate in AI Cloud Solutions Strategy can apply the credential to ladder into the UBC Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Digital Media.

This 100% online, part-time program consists of instructor-supported real-time online classes combined with independent study.

Weekly virtual classes include subject matter experts and a high degree of personal engagement and interactivity. Virtual classes are recorded for later viewing.

Outside of class, you can access online materials on your own time. Each week, review readings and videos, apply your knowledge in exercises, case studies, and labs, and contribute to an online discussion forum where you can connect with other students.

Expected effort

Expect to spend approximately five to seven hours per week per course completing all learning activities, including attending the real-time online sessions. Textbooks and materials There are no textbooks required for this program. All course content is provided in the online learning management system.

Technology requirements

• To take this program, you need access to:
• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet, using Windows or macOS
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
• a reliable internet connection
• a video camera and microphone

Assessment

You are assessed on successfully completing weekly activities, including your contributions to discussion posts and applied case study projects (based on real-life scenarios). These activities are marked using a proficiency scale, and your instructor provides you informal feedback in the live sessions. While you’re not assessed on your attendance of the real-time online classes, we encourage you to attend so you don’t miss the opportunity to learn and interact with your instructor and other participants. All sessions are recorded in case you miss one.

Obtaining your certificate

When you’ve successfully completed the two required micro-certificates and one learning pathway, complete the certificate request form and pay the certificate application fee of $175 to obtain your certificate by mail.

Our program instructors are experts with extensive industry and adult education experience.

Ricardo Trujeque, Course Author and Instructor, is a versatile entrepreneur and passionate educator whose 20-year career intersects technology, communications and education. Ricardo focuses on next-generation educational content and experiences. He has co-founded several software as a service (SaaS) companies that span digital media content distribution, marketing automation, language assessment, disaster resilience assessment and, currently, immersive environments for training and education.  

Kelly Shiohira, Course Co-Author and Instructor, is a Director of the Global Science of Learning Education Network and a prominent strategist recognized for her work in areas of literacy, connecting education to the world of work, and the use of AI and Technology in Education. Kelly has worked on large-scale projects and works across the value chain of planning, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation to design, deliver and evaluate educational interventions. 

Dr. Simon Bates, Course Co-Author, is the UBC Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, and Chair Associate of Pacific Rim Universities: University of the Future working group “How GenAI will enable, challenge and disrupt Higher Education.” Simon has facilitated numerous discussions around GenAI and its impact on teaching and learning in HESA’s AI Observatory round table community meetings which focuses on AI Policies in Canadian Post-Secondary Education. 

Dr. Natalie Lao, Course Co-Author, is an Executive Director of the App Inventor Foundation. Dr. Lao's research on databases, AI, ML, and educational frameworks has been featured by MIT News and UNESCO. Natalie also serves as Individual Specialist for UNESCO's AI & the Futures of Learning project.

Lawrence McDaniel, Course Instructor, is a full-stack web developer and business analyst with expertise in financial modelling, analytics, machine learning and big data. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas with majors in computer science and mathematics, and minors in physics and English.