DG 8116: Explore. Develop. Advance.
Book a meeting to learn more
Graduate study helps you develop deep knowledge and expertise. It can also leave you wondering how to translate that work into something tangible beyond your courses, research, or thesis.
DG 8116 creates the space to do exactly that.
This graduate elective gives you the opportunity to explore, develop, and advance a real-world project as part of your degree. Participants should come with a project, initiative, or idea they would like to pursue further. This might be work you have already started, something connected to your academic or professional interests, or a new direction you are ready to explore.
You will work independently while benefiting from a cross-disciplinary community of graduate students from across the university. Every project is different, but each is grounded in work that is meaningful to the person behind it and reflects their knowledge, skills, and capabilities.
What is DG 8116?
DG 8116 is a hands-on graduate elective centred around self-directed, real-world projects. Instead of completing a predefined assignment, you will dedicate the semester to developing work that connects with your interests, experience, and future direction.
The course is designed for participants who already have a project, initiative, or idea they would like to develop further. Some projects may already be underway, while others may begin with an initial concept that participants want to explore more fully. DG 8116 is not designed to help you identify a project from scratch, but rather to provide the time, structure, and support needed to move meaningful work forward.
Projects take many forms. You might develop a project connected to your academic work, create something that demonstrates your expertise, continue an initiative already underway, build a body of work, explore a new area of practice, or pursue a project connected to your professional or personal interests.
Drive Your Own Project: Define Your Project, Stay Accountable, and Realize Your Vision.
Join a Dynamic Community: Connect, Share, Support, and Grow.
Earn Credit for Real-World Impact: Transform Your Ideas into Action.
Who joins DG 8116?
Participants come from many graduate programs across TMU and bring a wide range of knowledge, experiences, interests, and directions. They arrive with different starting points: some have an existing project they want to advance, while others have an idea or area of interest they want to explore through a more focused process.
What connects participants is a desire to dedicate time to meaningful work that reflects their abilities and extends their graduate experience. Through the course, they develop projects that showcase their knowledge, skills, and capabilities while learning alongside peers working on very different forms of work.
Many describe DG 8116 as one of the most practical and meaningful experiences of their graduate journey at TMU. Hear directly from participants through the testimonials below.
Nazem, Master in Aerospace Engineering
"I came in thinking that the biweekly briefs and monthly reports were just assignments, but they've genuinely helped me track my own thinking and catch patterns I wouldn't have noticed otherwise like the perfectionism and waiting for perfect conditions. The course also normalized the experience of a project going sideways and needing to adapt, which made the pivot in Month 2 feel less like a failure and more like part of the process. That framing is something I'll carry beyond this course."
Nazem, Master in Aerospace Engineering
Mahnoor, Master in Biomedical Engineering
"I now know how to combine creativity with expert feedback in developing a project. My expectation for DG 8116 was surpassed as it allowed me to develop and reinforce my skills in design, communication, and development of projects."
Mahnoor, Master in Biomedical Engineering
HaPhan, Master in Computer Science
“DG 8116 has given me the opportunity to enhance my abilities in content creation and presentation, which are vital skills in both academic and professional settings. I expect the knowledge and skills gained from the course and my project to significantly benefit my future studies and career.”
HaPhan, Master in Computer Science
Chelsea, Master in Digital Media
"You'll meet people, you'll have 12 weeks to dedicate to your project, you'll grow as a person and as an entrepreneur, you'll gain long-lasting relationships with those that you've met through the course, and you'll have an opportunity to scale your project or business."
Chelsea, Master in Digital Media
Jayda, Master in Environmental Applied Science and Management
"With DG 8116, I gained valuable insights into key principles for developing my own product and the critical steps involved in building a successful venture. The course's hands-on, interactive approach far exceeded my expectations, offering a more engaging and enriching experience than I had imagined. I'm truly grateful to have been part of such a uniquely impactful class."
Jayda, Master in Environmental Applied Science and Management
Adrianne, Master in Interior Design
"DG 8116 has given me the chance to dedicate a certain amount of hours every week to working on something that I am passionate about. I would say that other people feel the same because in other courses you wouldn't be able to have this much freedom by dedicating your own direction to your projects."
Adrianne, Master in Interior Design
Rishabraj, Master in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
"This course has allowed me to get a ton of hands-on experience and develop practical skills in ideation, end-user research, planning, and pitching. I also acquired skills that will enhance my academic performance, especially in projects and efforts that require problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning."
Rishabraj, Master in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Shannon, Master in Professional Communication
"DG 8116 is a very safe place to make mistakes, to develop an idea, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a passion project. You'll get a lot of inspiration, interesting discussions, constructive criticism, and personal time with like-minded peers."
Shannon, Master in Professional Communication
Ria, Master in Social Work
"The more I was striving to be perfect, the more inadequate I felt. And it was through these classes that I realized that everyone here was in the same boat as I was."
Ria, Master in Social Work
Why take DG 8116?
Graduate study requires balancing many commitments, including coursework, research, teaching, and professional development. Finding the time and structure to pursue a real-world project alongside these responsibilities can be challenging.
DG 8116 creates dedicated space within your degree to focus on work that matters to you. Rather than trying to pursue a project entirely outside your academic commitments, you can integrate it into your program while earning course credit.
Through the course, you will strengthen your ability to work independently, navigate uncertainty, seek and integrate feedback, collaborate with others, and refine your work over time. You will also develop something tangible that allows you to showcase not only what you have learned, but what you can do.
When is DG 8116 offered?
DG 8116 is offered every Fall and Winter semester. Please note that the course is not currently offered during the Spring-Summer semester. Students interested in enrolling in DG 8116 need to complete a course substitution form. Please contact your graduate program administrator to request the form, then send it to one of the instructors for approval before classes begin.
How does DG 8116 work?
Over the course of a 12-week semester, you will spend the term exploring, developing, and advancing your project while learning alongside graduate students pursuing a wide range of work across disciplines.
The course begins with your existing project, initiative, or idea and provides a structured environment to help you make meaningful progress. Through a combination of full-group sessions and smaller discussions, you will have opportunities to share your work, receive feedback, learn from others’ approaches, and reflect on your own process.
Throughout the semester, you will work through cycles of exploration, development, testing, reflection, and refinement. You will document your progress, consider challenges and opportunities, and adapt your approach as your project evolves.
Assessment focuses on your engagement with the process and your ability to make meaningful progress over time. The goal is not simply to complete a final product, but to develop your ability to navigate open-ended work and continue building beyond the course.
If you are unsure whether your project, initiative, or idea is a good fit for DG 8116, you are welcome to book a meeting with the instructor before the semester begins.
Curiosity & Creative Thinking
Fuel your passion by exploring fresh possibilities. Cultivate original approaches, brainstorm innovative solutions, and embrace new perspectives to bring your unique vision to life.
Communication & Networking
Clearly articulate your purpose and connect with others. You'll learn to express your ideas compellingly, listen actively, and build valuable relationships that truly support your project's journey.
Initiative & Resourcefulness
Take charge of your project's direction. You'll learn to overcome obstacles creatively, find innovative solutions with available resources, and confidently push your ideas forward independently.
Experimentation & Testing
Put your ideas to the test in the real world. You'll learn to try small steps, see what works, and make smart changes based on real results.
Uncertainty Narrowing & Decision Making
Thrive amidst complexity. You'll learn to seek out necessary information, make informed decisions, and iterate on your approach as new insights emerge, keeping your project moving forward effectively.
Organization & Leadership
Structure your project from start to finish. You'll learn to manage tasks, set priorities, and lead yourself and your initiative effectively to achieve tangible progress.
Critical Thinking & Inquiry
Tackle the messy realities of your project. You'll learn to question assumptions, analyze challenges from all angles, and find practical solutions to move your ideas forward.
Empathy & Problem Solving
Understand real needs deeply. Develop a project that truly resonates with people, addressing needs with compassion and creating positive, lasting impact for your intended beneficiaries.
Responsibility & Accountability
Own your project's journey from idea to completion. You'll gain the commitment to meet goals, learn from every step, and take full ownership of your progress and outcomes.
Metacognition & Mindfulness
Understand how you operate at your peak. Develop the self-awareness to recognize your strengths, manage challenges effectively, and continuously refine your approach to thinking and working.
Book a meeting to learn more
Interested in learning more about DG 8116 or wondering whether your real-world project is a good fit? Book a meeting with JP Silva to continue the conversation.
FAQ
DG 8116 is open to graduate students from every program at TMU. The course attracts students who want to explore and expand their creative practice, pursue a passion project, or test an idea in a structured but flexible learning environment.
Unlike a capstone, thesis, or MRP, DG 8116 is not about advancing required academic research. Instead, it provides space for you to pursue a self-directed project that matters to you while engaging real-world audiences, end-users, or communities.
You’ll learn how to plan, develop, and execute a project in real-world conditions. Along the way, you’ll strengthen transferable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, all while navigating uncertainty and feedback from others.
Beyond having a clear project idea, there are no formal prerequisites. What’s most important is your readiness to pursue the project with focus and autonomy.
Not at all. The course is designed for students from all disciplines. What matters is your commitment to building and refining a project, not your prior technical skill.
You should have a project idea in mind before enrolling. The semester is too short to both conceive and meaningfully launch something from scratch. If you’re unsure, book a meeting with the instructor before the semester begins.
No. DG 8116 does not match students with projects. Most participants work on their own project or with collaborators they bring in themselves.
Yes. You can adjust or change your idea before the course starts. What matters is that you’re ready to actively pursue a project from day one.
Projects vary widely. Past participants have worked on creative practices (film, design, music, fashion), professional initiatives (consultancies, agencies, collectives), software products, MOOCs, nonprofit and community projects, and practice-based research pilots. Examples include developing a diagnostic prototype connected to a biomedical engineering thesis, launching a design consultancy, producing a documentary on an environmental issue, building a community health literacy program, or self-publishing a body of creative writing.
Both group and individual projects are supported. What matters is clarity of vision, scope, and responsibility.
You’re welcome to continue developing an existing project. Many graduate students choose to build on something they’ve already started.
That’s very encouraged. Projects can be commercial, creative, or community-based. What matters is your ability to define and carry them forward.
The course operates on two-week cycles. One week features a three-hour class with all peers for presentations, discussions, demos, and guest speaker conversations. The alternate week involves a one-hour small group session (4-5 peers with the instructor or an academic assistant) for debriefing on progress, challenges, and planning. These small group sessions foster peer learning and support.
Expect to spend at least three hours per week outside class on your project. Class time is for feedback, exchange, and reflection, not direct project work.
That’s expected. Iteration and adjustment are part of the process.
Failure is part of learning. You’re assessed on your process, reflection, and skill development, not on whether your project “succeeds.”
That’s normal. The course is designed to be supportive, with structured opportunities to share progress and receive feedback at a pace that helps build confidence.
Assessment is based on three individual reports and one group presentation. These reflect how you apply and strengthen transversal skills such as leadership, organization, problem-solving, and communication. You are not assessed on your technical expertise or on whether your project ultimately succeeds. The focus is on your process, your reflection, your journey, and how you navigate challenges along the way.
You’ll have access to instructor support, peer networks, and connections to TMU’s resources (including funding opportunities, mentorship, and materials). The course also emphasizes feedback and community, so you’ll never be working in isolation.
Most projects require little or no funding. If you do need financial support, we’ll help you identify potential resources at TMU or externally.
DG 8116 is designed to strengthen your portfolio, expand your practice, and give you hands-on experience in taking a project forward. While it can be related to your thesis or MRP, it's not a substitute for either of them.
Yes. At the end of the semester, you’ll be invited to participate in the Zone Learning Showcase and Market at the SLC. There may also be other opportunities, such as gallery exhibits, community events, or faculty-led showcases.
Not through DG 8116. However, you can ask your DG 8116 instructor if they would be willing to continue supporting your efforts by becoming your supervisor in a directed or independent studies course.
Enrolment requires a course substitution form. You can request one from your program administrator or from one of the instructors. Booking a meeting with the instructor is not required, but you're welcome to book one if you'd like to discuss your project or ask questions before you enrol.