Degree Planning
On this page: Curriculum requirements, studyplans, course outlines, TMU undergraduate calendar links.
Degree Requirements
If you were admitted Fall 2022 or after, please visit the "Students Admitted Fall 2022 and After" tab
First Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 1st Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2021 or before only.
| Fall Semester (1st Semester) | Winter Semester (2nd Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 100 - Creative Industries Overview | CRI 200 - IP Issues in the Digital Age |
| BSM 100 - The New Business: From Idea to Reality | BSM 200 - The Growing Business: Breaking Even |
| PLX 111 - Imagining the Creative City | CMN 210 - Text, Image and Sound |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies | Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies |
Second Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 2nd Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2021 or before only.
| Fall Semester (3rd Semester) | Winter Semester (4th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 300 - Digital Design Studio | CRI 400 - Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Business: One course from Core Elective Table III | Business: One course from Core Elective Table III |
| Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies | Liberal: One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies |
Third Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 3rd Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2021 or before only.
*A minimum of two Table I credits must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
| Fall Semester (5th Semester) | Winter Semester (6th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 600 - The Creative Process | BSM 600 - The Mature Business |
| ACC 340 - Financial Management OR CRI 460 - Financial Management for Creatives | CMN 313 - Organizational Report Writing |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Liberal: One course from from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies | Liberal: One course from from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies |
| Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
Fourth Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 4th Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2021 or before only.
*A minimum of two Table I credits must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
| Fall Semester (7th Semester) | Winter Semester (8th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 700 - Human Resources in Creative Industries | CRI 800 - Managing Creative Enterprises |
| CRI 710 - Creative Industries Research Methodology | CRI 810 - Studies in Creative Collaboration |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
| Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
If you were admitted before Fall 2022, please visit the "Students Admitted Fall 2021 or Before" tab.
First Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 1st Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2022 and after only.
| Fall Semester (1st Semester) | Winter Semester (2nd Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 100 - Creative Industries Overview | CRI 200 - IP Issues in the Digital Age |
| BSM 100 - The New Business: From Idea to Reality | BSM 200 - The Growing Business: Breaking Even |
| PLX 111 - Imagining the Creative City | CMN 210 - Text, Image and Sound |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies | Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies |
Second Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 2nd Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2022 and after only.
| Fall Semester (3rd Semester) | Winter Semester (4th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 300 - Digital Design Studio | CRI 400 - Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries |
| One course of either: CRI 600 - The Creative Process OR MKT 100 - Principles of Marketing | One course of either: CRI 600 - The Creative Process OR MKT 100 - Principles of Marketing |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Liberal: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies | Liberal: One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies |
Third Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 3rd Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2022 and after only.
*A minimum of two Table I credits must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
| Fall Semester (5th Semester) | Winter Semester (6th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 700 - Human Resources in Creative Industries | BSM 600 - The Mature Business |
| CRI 710 - Creative Industries Research Methodology | CMN 313 - Organizational Problem Solving and Report Writing |
| CRI 460 - Financial Management for Creatives | Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) |
| Module A: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Liberal: One course from from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
Fourth Year
For details of the courses and tables, see the course calendar. This is the 4th Year curriculum for students admitted Fall 2022 and after only.
*A minimum of two Table I credits must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
| Fall Semester (7th Semester) | Winter Semester (8th Semester) |
|---|---|
| CRI 500 - Project Management | CRI 800 - Managing Creative Enterprises |
| Module B: One course from Table II (Creative-Content Modules) | CRI 810 - Studies in Creative Collaboration |
| Liberal: One course from from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
| Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
| Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table | Elective: One course from Table I* or Open Elective Table |
Degree Planning - All Cohorts
These are the requirements for your Creative Industries degree. All requirements must be met prior to graduation.
If you plan to take courses out of sequence, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have completed all the required courses for your degree. Please note that some mandatory core courses are prerequisites for upper-year courses so taking them out of sequence may result in scheduling and enrolment complications.
By utilizing the three tools below, any student should find it easy to keep track of their Creative Industries degree progression.
B.A Creative Industries Studyplan
Much like a shopping list, simply print off a copy of the Studyplan and check off the courses as you move through your degree. It's that simple!
You can view your courses at any point via MyServiceHub (formerly RAMSS) by selecting, > 'Academic Records' > 'View My Course History'
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar lists all policies for the University, as well as your full degree requirements, and all course information.
Use this as a tool for choosing your classes for Course Intentions.
Advisement Report
The Advisement Report is an online tool for Undergraduate degree students. Accessed via MyServiceHub (formerly RAMSS), it shows all the courses that you have taken, enrolled in, or completed for your degree.
Modules, Electives & Course Outlines
Course Outlines
While we try to provide most course outlines, this is not a comprehensive list. For an idea of what to expect for a course, please refer to the Course Descriptions page.
First Year
Third Year
Second Year
Forth Year
Core Elective Table I
- PDF file CRI 410 Beggars and Choosers Government and the CI
- PDF file CRI 420 From Writer To Reader
- PDF file CRI 430 Canadian Media and Entertainment Industries
- PDF file CRI 450 Appreciating Creativity in Practice
- PDF file CRI 500 Project Management
- PDF file CRI 510 The Art and Business of Gaming
- PDF file CRI 520 Design Management
- PDF file CRI 530 Talent Management
- PDF file CRI 540 FCD 540 Marketing the Creative Industries
- PDF file CRI 560 Special Topics in CI W22 Topic Black Creative Practices
- PDF file CRI 570 Creative Industries International Lab
- PDF file CRI 590 Storytelling Indigenous People
- PDF file CRI 620 Concert and Festival Management
- PDF file CRI 630 Advertising Theory and Practice
- PDF file CRI 670 Music and Brands
- PDF file CRI 680 Celebrity
- PDF file CRI 720 Media Regulation and Communication Policy
- PDF file CRI 730 Strategic Leadership in Creative Industries
- PDF file CRI 740 The Creative Negotiation
- PDF file CRI 750 Emerging Technologies in Cyberspace
- PDF file CRI 760 FCD 760 Diversity in Creative Industries
- PDF file CRI 770 Trendwatching
- PDF file CRI 780 Your Creative Self
- PDF file CRI 820 Global Licensing and Distribution Agreements
- PDF file CRI 830 Youth Cultural Production
- PDF file CRI 840 Experience Innovation
- PDF file CRI 850 Directed Reading Course
- PDF file CRI 860 The Big Night
- PDF file EID 100 Digital Skills Intl Innovation
- PDF file FCD 815 FCAD Design Solutions Supercourse I
- PDF file FCD 816 Global Campus Studio
- PDF file FCD 825 FCAD Design Solutions Supercourse II
Creative-Content Modules
A module is defined as a sequence of five courses consisting of varying combinations of required and elective courses in a discrete subject area. As a Creative Industries student you’ll select one module at the start of 1st year and a second at the start of 2nd year. You’ll complete both modules at a rate of one course per semester. Delivered by the eight professional schools within The Creative School and one professional school in the Ted Rogers School of Management, each module will cover the basic historical, theoretical and production aspects of a creative field while also examining how that field functions as a business.
For details of the courses and tables below, see the course calendar.
School of Fashion
- The Fashion Industry: Markets, Aesthetics & Creativity
This module allows students to experience the world of fashion through theory, research and practice. Fashion at TMU nurtures students to systemically transform the Canadian and global fashion system by advancing the principles of inclusion, decolonization and sustainability. Students can formulate this module to be more creative, theory and research-based, or managerial in scope by selecting from a variety of topic areas including fashion culture and history, fashion industries and leadership, events and curation, etc.
School of Professional Communication
- Professional Communication
The Communications Studies module provides students with an overview of how communication, media, public relations, and writing all intersect within the Creative Industries. With classes provided by the Professional Communication school, students can expect to garner knowledge and experience applied to public relations, advocacy, writing, and digital communication to utilize in their careers.
School of Image Arts
- The Art & Business of Film
This module provides students with a theoretical approach to film, with major focuses on business, creative practice, concepts and theories, and analytical perspectives on cinema as a whole. With courses from The School of Image Arts and The School of Creative Industries, the Art and Business of Film module allows for students to explore and think critically about the way film is produced, written, represented, and managed within the Creative Industries.
- Visual Culture
In the Visual Culture module, students learn how to apply an analytical lens to subject areas such as art, history, culture, advertising, and design. Theory-based, specialized courses allow students to gain a well-rounded perspective on how visual culture affects, influences, and impacts the Creative Industries in which we operate.
- Curatorial Practices
The Curatorial Practices module provides students with an overview of curatorial history while strengthening their understanding of display culture and curatorial practices. From art galleries to museums, students can expect to learn about topics such as art history, theories of photography, and public space curation.
School of Journalism
- The Business and Practice of News
Taught by industry experts, the Business and Practice of News module prepares students with transferable and marketable skills in interviewing, critical thinking, writing, and research. Students with an interest in journalism and media will learn how to put current events in context and understand key issues and trends. Students will receive an in-depth look at the production of news over various scopes. With topics ranging from photojournalism to religious reporting, students will harness a scope of knowledge within the journalistic sphere.
School of Graphic Communications Management
- Concept to Reality: Publishing and Printing
Concept to Reality: Publishing and Printing
The Printing and Publishing module is ideal for those looking for both an applied and theoretical groundwork on the publishing, printing, and design industries in North America. The module’s core includes GCM’s three foundational pillars: design & creativity; technology & innovation; and business & entrepreneurship, with a focus on book publishing, typography, design, and packaging.
RTA School of Media
- The Music Industry
The Music Industry module is ideal for students looking to understand the business side of music. Through a curated blend of Creative Industries and RTA courses, students gain an excellent understanding of how the industry operates—exploring talent and event management, branding, distribution, and sound production. Led by industry professionals, students often take this module in hopes of working in talent management, content creation, and event promotion.
- Storytelling in Media
This module, featuring courses from RTA School of Media, provides students with a broad and informative view of how stories are told in media. With classes focusing on the history and aesthetics of television, digital media, and video games, this module is essential for students whose passion is content creation. Students who take the Storytelling in Media module will gain experience in scriptwriting and video production, and deepen their understanding of how content connects with audiences.
- Media Business
This module, featuring courses from RTA School of Media, provides students with a strong foundation in how media is created, curated, and distributed. Students will gain an understanding of how the art, craft and business of media are imperative to the Creative Industries. Taught by leading academics and industry professionals, the courses focus on topics such as social media, producing, management, digital culture, and emerging media markets.
School of Performance
- Acting/Dance Studies
The Acting and Dance module is ideal for students who want to learn how the field of performance interconnects with the Creative Industries. Students will pursue a variety of theoretical courses related to production, performance, and theatre history. Curated by the School of Performance, students will have the opportunity to learn about different dance forms and styles through some studio based courses including Latin American Dance Forms, Western Dance Styles, improvisation, and Musical Theatre.
School of Interior Design
- Interior Design: Humanscale for Creative Thinkers
IMPORTANT: The School of Creative Industries is due to officially retire the Interior Design: Human-Scale for Creative Thinkers module as of the 2025-2026 academic year. This comes as a result of a major curriculum change to the School of Interior Design.
School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Events and Live Entertainment
Almost all industries use event or live entertainment products to attract, captivate and emotionally connect with their audience and internal stakeholders. Whether you are a fashion brand (fashion show), media company (on-stage adaptation of media properties), non-profit organization (fundraisers), musician (concerts), municipality (food festivals) or university (academic conferences), events and live entertainment are integral to the creation of emotional bonds and dissemination of information. Students in this module will be exposed to different types of events, business models and skills required to manage and market a live event.
NOTE: Modules are offered subject to minimum student enrolment and are normally confirmed in July of each year. Though every effort is made to offer all students the modules of their choice, space in specific modules may be limited if demand exceeds capacity.
Business Module (Table III)
It is important for your future success in the Creative Industries that you graduate with a functional knowledge of business and a solid set of business related skills. Your business specialization, consisting of a six-course module taught by the Ted Rogers School of Management and select core Creative Industries courses, is designed to address this goal.
For details of the courses and tables below, see the course calendar.
IMPORTANT: The Table III Business module degree requirement has been phased out for the Students admitted Fall 2022 and after. Only students admitted Fall 2021 or prior will be required to complete two Table III courses towards their degree.
Required Business Courses
- BSM 100: The New Business: From Idea to Reality
- BSM 200: The Growing Business: Breaking Even
- BSM 600: The Mature Business
Table III Business Module Electives (2):
- ENT 100: Applied Entrepreneurship
- ENT 401: Design Thinking Experience
- ENT 500: New Venture Start Up
- ENT 505: Small-business Management
- ENT 627: Social Entrepreneurship and Changemaking
- GMS 410: Management - Large Corporation
- GMS 455: Project Planning and Delivery
- GMS 520: International Business
- HTT 610: Business of Events and Entertainment
- HTT 622: Destination Management and Marketing
- HTH 700: Professional Ethics in Hospitality/Tourism
- ITM 102: Business Information Systems I
- ITM 350: Concepts of e-Business
- MKT 310: Marketing Plans
Creative Industries Required Business Related Courses:
- CRI 400: Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries
- CRI 460: Financial Management for Creatives
- CRI 500: Project Management
- CRI 700: Human Resources in Creative Industries
- CRI 800: Managing Creative Enterprises
NOTE: All courses are subject to change and availability each term.
Electives
These elective courses, required of all Toronto Metropolitan University students, are intended to broaden your education beyond your specific program of study. You will take one elective each term in your first three years. Typically students choose from a wide variety of courses offered in such areas as English, Philosophy, History, Political Science, Psychology, Musicology, Sociology and Economics.
For details of the courses and tables below, see the course calendar.
Creative Industries Core Electives (Table I)
A minimum of two (2) courses are to be selected from the following list in Years 3 and/or 4:
- CRI 410: Beggars, Choosers: C.I. Advocacy
- CRI 420: From Writer to Reader
- CRI 430: Canadian Media and Entertainment Industries
- CRI 450: Appreciating Creativity in Practice
- CRI 510: Art and Business of Gaming
- CRI 520: Design Management
- CRI 530: Talent Management
- CRI 540: Marketing the Creative Industries
- CRI 560: Topics in Creative Industries
- CRI 570: Creative Industries: International Lab
- CRI 590: Storytelling Indigenous People
- CRI 620: Concert and Festival Management
- CRI 630: Advertising Theory and Practice
- CRI 670: Music and Brands
- CRI 680: Celebrity
- CRI 720: Media Regulation and Communication Policy
- CRI 730: Strategic Leadership in the Creative Industries
- CRI 750: Emerging Technologies in Cyberspace
- CRI 760: Diversity in Creative Industries
- CRI 770: Trendwatching
- CRI 780: Your Creative Self
- CRI 820: Global Licensing and Distribution Agreements
- CRI 830: Youth Cultural Production
- CRI 840: Experience Innovation
- CRI 850: Directed Reading Course
- CRI 860: The Big Night
- EID 100: Digital Skills and Innovation
- FCD 222: Coding for Creatives (TCS Elective)
- FCD 240: History of Art and Design: Global Survey
- FCD 362: Introduction to UX/UI Design (TCS Elective)
- FCD 551: Digital Media and Cultures (TCS Elective)
- FCD 580: Project in Creative Technology
- FCD 815: Design Solutions Supercourse I
- FCD 816: Global Campus Studio Supercourse I
- FCD 825: Design Solutions Supercourse II
- FCD 826: Global Campus Studio Supercourse II
- FCD 962: Designing Interactions (TCS Elective)
- THF 470: Black Creative Practices (from the School of Performance)
- ZON 100: Zone Learning I (from Zone Learning)
NOTE: All courses are subject to change and availability each term.
University Open Electives
Selecting from any discipline in Years 3 and/or 4 will enable you to explore areas of personal interest or to gain additional depth in areas that you think are valuable to your chosen career path. You may also elect to devote these electives to the completion of a minor.
For a complete listing of the Open Electives please consult the Open Elective Table of the calendar.
Creative Industries student can complete as many as four (4) Open Electives.
NOTE: All courses are subject to change and availability each term.
Minors
While pursuing your Creative Industries degree you may wish to combine it with a minor that enhances your career preparations. A minor is a grouping of six courses that will uniquely complement your degree by adding knowledge and skills in a related field. These are examples of the minors available to students who wish to devote some of their open and breadth electives toward this goal:
- Accounting
- eBusiness
- Economics
- English
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Global Management
- Law
- Marketing
- Organizational Leadership
- Politics
- Public Administration
- Psychology
- Sociology
For a full list of Minors and the current policy, please see the Minors Policy/Minors page in the current Academic Calendar (opens in new window) .
Learning Outcomes
1. Contribute productively to the Creative Industries
a) Critically analyze and synthesize knowledge of the cultural, economic, legal, political, and technological environments in which the Creative Industries function,
b) Recommend how Creative Industries as sectors or as individual enterprises should best manage interactions with cultural, economic, legal, governmental and technical spheres and work confidently with industry, government and community organizations in the Canadian and international contexts
2. Demonstrate an entrepreneurial capacity
a) Engage in independent learning
b) Transform creative ideas into commercial products and services through the application of business and management concepts and practices applicable to media and cultural production
3. Facilitate the work of artists, writers, designers and media makers
a) Apply an integrated knowledge of creative and production processes (both individual and system-base to facilitate the work of artists, writers, designers and media makers
b) Develop strategies to access funding and investments; to facilitate the work of artists, writers, designers and media makers,
c) Recognize and respond to future challenges and opportunities in their sectors including technological change to facilitate the work of artists, writers, designers and media makers.
4. Communicate
a) Communicate verbally within and to creative enterprises, academia and industry effectively and persuasively
b) Communicate in written form, within and to creative enterprises, academia and industry effectively and persuasively
c) Communicate by preparing and conducting presentations using a range of appropriate media, within and to creative enterprises, academia, and industry effectively and persuasively
5. Conduct research relevant to cultural and industry issues
a) Formulate appropriate research questions and conceptual frameworks; employing appropriate data collection techniques
b) Apply appropriate quantitative tools and methodologies and/or
c) Apply appropriate qualitative tools and methodologies
6. Implement and manage projects
a) Problem-solve to implement and manage projects
b) Team build to implement and manage projects
c) Negotiate to implement and manage projects
d) Work within a collaborative practice to implement and manage projects
7. Apply skills and knowledge
a) Critically evaluate the aesthetic quality of creative works
b) Apply fundamental business and management skills within organizations and as entrepreneurs,
c) Integrate an aesthetic sensibility and business acumen to the practical realities of production, promotion, and distribution of commercial or non-commercial cultural products with an understanding of the theoretical and historical underpinnings of one or more creative industry sectors;
d) Recognize when more information is required to address the limits of one’s own knowledge, abilities, and analyses and determine appropriate next steps
8. Autonomy, Professional Capacity, and Social Responsibility
a) Develop a personal plan for continuing development of professional skills and flexible ongoing career paths
b) Act as socially responsible citizens with integrity and strong ethical mores
c) Work towards creating diverse and inclusive cultural opportunities accessible to all
Are you a transfer student? Check your Transfer Credit Report (opens in new window) and Advisement Report (opens in new window) to see if your credits applied to your CI degree.