Creativity will never go out of style, but refining those creative muscles in the 21st century marketplace is a skill in and of itself.
Enter BCIT’s Bachelor of Creative Industries program (BCI), the first degree program of its kind in Western Canada that’s set to launch in Sept. 2025.
This full-time degree program runs for 15 months with a concerted focus on three core areas: creative innovation, business strategy and technology.
Specifically designed for the contemporary needs of today’s creatives, BCI grads will be prepared for leadership roles in the creative and digital industries, where technology, design and business intersect.
“The big thing a lot of people are talking about right now is that we've got a lot of new technologies, generative technologies and AI-driven technologies,” says Susannah Skerl, BCIT’s associate dean of digital arts, media and design. “In this program, students will combine their hard skills with leadership development through innovation work, strengthening their ability to leverage new technology in practical, creative ways.”
Developed by BCIT School of Business + Media faculty and industry experts from across B.C., the curriculum is designed for those who’ve already completed a diploma program related to creative industries, or an approved B.C. post-secondary program with a minimum of 60 credits.
Picture BCI as that critical next step from previous schooling or an entry-level position, where the end goal is to be a founder, thought leader or an entrepreneur within B.C.'s burgeoning creative spaces.
The program will hone the discipline-specific skills students developed during their diploma programs and layer on critical thinking, strategic management, creativity, innovation, sustainability, inclusivity, business incubation, law and ethics in creative industries and digital communication and emerging technical trends in multimedia.
“For me, learning is about when I recognize there's an area where I want to grow,” Skerl says. “If I recognize that there's something that I want to learn more about in a formalized way, then I just do it – and that’s what I hear from a lot of people I talk to right now.”
BCI is led by industry experts who’ll guide students through advanced research and production tactics, demystifying current industry processes and helping them forecast future trends across creative sectors. It is designed for those ready to tackle complex challenges and equips students with the skills and vision to drive meaningful change.
The pay off?
Direct career pathways for computer programmers, interactive media developers, graphic designers, illustrators, advertising, marketing and public relations managers.
Beyond practical problem solving, blue-sky thinking will also be at the forefront of the learning model.
“Blue-sky thinking is about looking beyond current limitations in pursuit of innovation, which is really key to the BCI,” Skerl says. “BCI students will become practiced and comfortable with idea generation and encouraged to find creative solutions without confining themselves to existing limitations.”
The BCI course work will also involve Design Thinking, a well-known, powerful framework creative industries employ to solve complex problems and push the boundaries of conventional approaches. It empowers individuals to tackle seemingly unsolvable challenges with creativity, curiosity and strategic vision.
“Students will approach wicked hard global issues with an abstract, unconventional mindset,” Skerl says. “We want them to be able to bring ambitious ideas down to earth, creating real-world solutions that are actionable and impactful.”
For more information on BCIT’s Bachelor of Creative Industries (BCI) program, visit www.bcit.ca/creative-industries.
