The purpose of this research study was to investigate the educational approaches utilized to professionalize undergraduate/post-secondary digital media students into their preferred industries. A secondary aim of this research was to highlight the process of professional identity exploration undertaken by digital media students as they progress through their formal education within institutions of higher education. Media production professionals have struggled to align their educational outcomes with the requirements of highly competitive professional industries. Given a lack of rigorous methodological investigations into these processes, there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the most effective approaches to transition students into creative industries. The study addressed this gap through the usage of a convergent mixed-methods design in which strands of instructor and student data were collected concurrently, ultimately converging in the implementation of Ordered Network Analysis. Projective Reflection was utilized as a theoretical framework to guide the interpretation of identity exploration characteristics. Classroom observations and instructor interviews provided insights into how instructors implemented pedagogical strategies in their courses. A quantitative survey and qualitative focus group provided insight into the students' experience and perspectives on their own educational training. Ordered network analysis was subsequently implemented to provide a visual comparison of the resultant themes of both the instructor and student strands of data. Findings of the study illustrated key insights in characterizing the Digital Media (DIGM) department including insight into instructor pedagogical approaches, student professionalization and identity exploration, the experience within the Digital Media department, methodological approaches for professional identity development, and study limitations and areas for future research. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]