Interdepartmental Graduate Program in
Media Arts and Technology
Phelps Hall 3309
Telephone: (805) 893-5244
Fax: (805) 893-2930
E-mail: info@mat.ucsb.edu
Website: www.mat.ucsb.edu (will open in a new browser window)
Program Chair: Matthew Turk
Vice Chair: Curtis Roads
Contents:
Kevin Almeroth, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, Professor (computer networks and protocols, large-scale multimedia systems, performance evaluation, distributed systems)
Jerry Gibson, Ph.D., Southern Methodist University; Professor (multimedia communications and compression, signal processing for multimedia, wireless communications)
Tobias Hollerer, Ph.D., PhD, Columbia University, Assistant Professor (human computer interaction, computer graphics, virtual and augmented reality, wearable and ubiquitous computing))
Lisa Jevbratt, M.F.A, CADRE, San Jose State University, Associate Professor (software, network art, information visualization)
Nancy Kalawak, B.S., Northwestern University, Studio Professor/Director, Professional Artists Lab (creation and development of multi-media theatre work)
JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, Ph.D., University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Professor (composition, sound synthesis and processing, multimedia opera)
George Legrady, M.F.A., San Francisco Art Institute, Professor (theory and practice of interactive media and multilinear narrative)
B. S. Manjunath, Ph.D., University of Southern California, Professor (image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, neural networks, learning algorithms, data mining in multimedia databases)
Marcos Novak, Ph.D., Ohio State University, Professor (transarchitectures, virtual environments and worldmaking, digital sculpture, algorithmic composition, theory)
Marko Peljhan, Diploma, University of Ljubljana, Agrft Academy, Slovenia, Associate Professor (interdisciplinary media/communications/technology, art studio)
Stephen Travis Pope, Certificate, Vienna Music Academy, Lecturer (computer music, distributed systems, music/sound databases, virtual environments, graphical user interfaces, multimedia computing)
Curtis Roads, Ph.D., University of Paris, Professor (music composition, microsound synthesis, graphical synthesis, sound analysis and transformation, sound spatialisation, history of electronic music)
Matthew Turk, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor (vision technology, vision-based interaction, 3D body tracking, gesture recognition)
The Media Arts and Technology Program (MAT) is a unique transdisciplinary and interdepartmental graduate degree program that offers M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Media Arts and Technology. The program, which is jointly administered by the College of Engineering and the College of Letters and Science, serves as a focal point for education, research, and artistic production in digital media, with special emphases in visual and spatial arts, electronic music and sound design, and multimedia engineering. The curriculum provides for an interdisciplinary experience, building on a core set of skills and knowledge, with an emphasis research and collaboration in digital media systems, content, and interaction. In addition to the interdisciplinary breadth of the program, each MAT student focuses on an area of emphasis, according to background and career interests.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit the MAT website at www.mat.ucsb.edu for the latest program information.
MAT is designed to provide its students with knowledge and skills relevant to careers in digital media-related research and in artistic and technical positions in the media industries of the 21st century. It fosters aesthetically trained engineers – the media technology inventors of the future. It trains electronic media artists who can work with a high degree of aesthetic and technical sophistication to enrich and enlarge our cultural heritage. It prepares thinkers for advanced studies in media technology, leading toward academic careers in this discipline.
The program is intended for students who are interested in both arts and technology and have a strong background in at least one area (for example, in visual arts, music, computer science, or electrical and computer engineering). Prospective students should be ambitious and curious about interdisciplinary research and intermedia art and should be interested in working with others on group projects covering multiple areas of expertise.
MAT faculty coordinate with four graduate departments: Art, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Music. Faculty advisors assist students in planning their courses of study depending upon their area of emphasis.
In addition to program requirements, candidates must meet the university degree requirements found in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB.” Master’s and Ph.D. students must be registered as full-time students in the program.
The three areas of primary emphasis within Media Arts and Technology are as follows:
Multimedia Engineering
The multimedia engineering emphasis is intended for creative engineers and computer scientists seeking a comprehensive program in multimedia research. Key topics include multimedia software systems, media signal processing, multimedia networking, computer imaging, and human-computer interaction. Students will be involved in the development of large-scale software systems of different types. Courses include in-depth work on multimedia networking programming tools, imaging, and the development of complex signal processing software systems.
Electronic Music and Sound Design
The electronic music and sound design emphasis focuses on contemporary electronic music composition or sound design and digital audio engineering. It is intended for technically inclined musicians. Courses include private composition lessons, instruction in computer techniques, and composer’s seminars, as well as directed work on various music production systems. During their studies, students will present a recital or an intermedia production.
Visual and Spatial Arts
The visual and spatial arts emphasis focuses on interdisciplinary, collaborative arts-technology research such as virtual and mixed realities, human-computer interaction, algorithmic morphogenesis, transarchitectures, data mapping, and visualization, digital sculpture, wireless broadband, motion capture, and distributed sensing. The relationship of present to future media is of particular interest, especially as it relates to nanotechnology, biotechnology, new materials, and new fabrication methods.
Return to Top of Page
Graduate Program
Master's Programs - Media Arts and Technology
The Master of Science and Master of Arts programs provide advanced training in Media Arts and Technology with three areas of emphasis: multimedia engineering (M.S.), electronic music and sound design (M.A.), and visual and spatial arts (M.A.).
The master’s programs typically take two full-time academic years to complete. The goal of the first year of MAT’s intensive interdisciplinary curriculum is to provide a common foundation of aesthetics, history, and technology. In addition, students take graduate courses in their area of emphasis, as well as courses in a complementary field.
The second year electives allow students to focus on either their area of emphasis or on a complementary discipline. All candidates are expected to complete an advanced project or thesis in their second year of the program, an artistic production or media research project supervised by MAT faculty.
Although all students are expected to engage in both technical and artistic aspects of multimedia creation, each student is expected to specialize in one area of emphasis.
Admission
In addition to fulfilling all university requirements for admission to graduate status, described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB,” the applicant should present a bachelor’s degree in any of the following majors: art, music, computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. This bachelor’s degree is the student’s major discipline.
Applicants with related majors may be considered, but only if they can demonstrate strong credentials in both the arts and technology. Acceptable credentials include recent University of California or equivalent course transcripts in calculus-level mathematics, computer programming, visual arts, and music. These applicants may be required to take a placement examination or submit additional application materials, such as examples of previous work.
In addition to their major discipline, applicants should also demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in a MAT cross-discipline. For students whose major discipline is in the creative arts, their cross-discipline is engineering. For students whose major discipline is in engineering, their cross-discipline is one of the creative arts. For example, an applicant whose major discipline is in the creative arts could prove cross-disciplinary proficiency by having successfully completed courses, or showing significant experience, in computer programming or signal processing. An applicant whose major discipline is in engineering could prove cross-disciplinary proficiently by having successfully completed courses or significant projects in music, art, or digital video. Applicants who cannot demonstrate cross-disciplinary proficiency but who show extraordinary promise in the field may be admitted, but must make up this deficiency in the first year of graduate study. In general, this involves taking introductory courses in the cross-disciplines, to be determined in consultation with a faculty advisor. Credits earned in the proficiency courses do not count toward the graduate degree.
See the MAT website at www.mat.ucsb.edu for detailed admissions requirements.
Degree Requirements
Each student’s area of emphasis and course list is determined in consultation with a MAT faculty committee, consisting of three members. The committee is nominated by the program chair in consultation with the student and is approved by the graduate dean. Two of these members, including the chair of the committee, must be MAT faculty. The committee chair advises students on a course of study and directs their research.
Thesis or project plan. A master’s degree may be earned in each of the three areas of emphasis according to two plans: thesis or project.
Plan 1 (thesis). Under the thesis plan, a student must submit an acceptable thesis, completed under the supervision of an MAT faculty member and approved by the student’s committee. A thesis is a substantial work of research or production that is a novel contribution to the field. The thesis must meet the filing requirements of Graduate Division. The student will give a public lecture based on the thesis.
Plan 2 (project). Under the project plan, a student must submit an acceptable project, completed under the supervision of an MAT faculty member and approved by the student’s committee. The project will consist of a digital media work resulting in a prototype, installation, or performance. An academic paper will describe the project, and the student will make a public presentation of the work. The project and documentation will be evaluated by the student’s committee.
Unit Requirements. In addition to the submission of an acceptable thesis or project, both the M.A. and the M.S. degrees require completion of a minimum of 60 units, of which at least 48 units is upper-division or graduate coursework, apart from those credited to the project or thesis, and apart from units gained for teaching assistant duties or training, or units for service as a graduate researcher. Under the thesis option, 20 of the 48 units must be in graduate-level coursework (excluding units for internships, TA and/or GSR practica, and independent study courses numbered 500-599). Under the project option, 24 of the 48 units must be in graduate-level coursework (excluding units for internships, TA and/or GSR practica and independent study courses numbered 500-599).
Required Courses. Students in the first year of the program must take five core courses in Media Arts and Technology, designated MAT 200(A,B,C) and MAT 201(A,B). These focus on the history, theory, and practice of media arts and technology.
Doctor of Philosophy - Media Arts and Technology
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Media Arts and Technology prepares students for academic research and teaching positions, for research and leadership positions in industry and government, and for leadership positions in relevant artistic fields. The MAT Ph.D. curriculum provides a common foundation of the field’s aesthetics, history, and technology through rigorous coursework, seminars, and active participation with the faculty. Each Ph.D. student participates in interdisciplinary projects and performs innovative research, under the supervision of a faculty advisor and committee, leading to a dissertation that exhibits significant and novel research in the student’s area of specialization.
Admission
Students must fulfill all university requirements for admission to graduate status, described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB.” MAT Ph.D. applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in media arts and technology, art, music, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field. Note that outstanding students with a bachelor’s degree may apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Typically, students who enter with a bachelor’s degree will take longer to complete the Ph.D. than those with a master’s degree. See the MAT website at www.mat.ucsb.edu for detailed admissions requirements.
Degree Requirements
Students entering directly into the PhD without a master’s degree must first meet the equivalent course requirement of the MAT master’s program, which is 48 units of non-thesis-related upper-division and graduate courses. In addition, they must successfully complete a master’s thesis or project and present it publicly. MAT PhD graduates will be expected to have broad knowledge in all fields of digital multimedia and have a deep and current understanding of at least one of these areas. The MAT PhD is not a unit-count degree; rather, it is awarded upon demonstration of academic excellence and performance of original research. Students will complete an individual program of study determined in consultation with their PhD committee. This will typically include a mix of MAT elective courses, seminars, directed reading for research, and dissertation research. Specific course requirements shall be identified on a per-student basis, under advisement with each candidate’s doctoral committee. It is the responsibility of the student’s advisor, in consultation with the PhD committee and the MAT graduate advisor, to ensure that the candidate has achieved the appropriate breadth and depth from coursework and independent study. In order to proceed to dissertation research, Ph.D. students must pass a thorough qualifying exam, after completing their coursework.
The Ph.D. dissertation is a novel and substantial research work that makes a significant contribution to the field. The dissertation is done under the supervision of an MAT faculty advisor and the doctoral committee, consisting of three faculty, at least two of whom must be from MAT. The committee must approve a dissertation proposal that describes the proposed research and presents a comprehensive plan for the dissertation. After the dissertation is completed, the committee evaluates the dissertation and the candidate’s presentation at the dissertation defense; the committee’s approval indicates that the candidate has successfully defended the dissertation.
Return to Top of Page
Media Arts and Technology Courses
Media Arts and Technology is in the process of revising its course numbers and adding new courses. Please check with the Media Arts and Technology office for more accurate and up-to-date information on our course offerings.
200A. Arts and Technology
(4) Legrady
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Overview of the digital media arts field with an emphasis on technological developments and their integration in art research and production. Students are introduced to contemporary and historical directions and methodologies through seminar lectures, research presentations, and a final project.
200B. Music and Technology
(4) Roads
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Overview of music and technology, including historical aspects. Readings and exercises with a range of music software applications. Basics of Internet audio and evolving media, music production, business, technical, and aesthetic aspects.
200C. Digital Media Technology and Engineering
(4) Pope
Intensive survey course on digital media technology: perception and media data, information theory, signals and streams, events and timed data, signal representations and formats, data compression, hardware/software issues for digital media systems, media data I/O devices, and multimedia systems integration.
201A. Media Signal Processing
(4) Gibson
Basic concepts in digital signal and image processing (transforms, convolutions, etc.), filter design, image enhancement and coding, digital video.
201B. Computing with Media Data
(4) Pope
Recommended preparation: one quarter of introductory programming and one quarter “data structure and algorithms” course.
Hands-on introduction to development of multimedia applications: basic representations, data structures, and interchange formats used for multimedia data such as sound and images. Students develop programs for multimedia tasks such as file I/O, data streaming, format conversion, and data analysis.
202. Mathematics and Signal Processing
(2) Staff
An overview of the mathematical concepts used in media signal processing. Review of trigonometry, calculus, and complex exponential representation of signals. Introduction to the MATLAB signal processing language. Lab oriented.
221. Multimedia Compression
(4) Gibson
Prerequisites: graduate standing; consent of instructor.
Covers the principle standards for speech, audio, still image, and video compression, with the emphasis on system performance, key underlying technologies, current applications, and the projected future evolution of the standards.
233. Multimedia Software Development
(2) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Does not count toward the required units of graduate-level courses.
Introduction to programming for digital media artists. Focus on the JAVA programming language: data structures, programming techniques, and algorithms.
235. Computer Imaging
(4) Turk
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Fundamentals of digital imaging systems, including the capture, storage, display, and retrieval of image and video data. Topics include the nature of light, color, optics, sensors, human vision, image processing, and computer vision.
240A-F. Digital Audio Programming: The Series
(4-4-4-4-4-4) Pope
Recommended preparation: some programming experience and basic acoustics.
Six-quarter practical programming course devoted to digital audio application development. The emphasis is on learning to use current state-of-the-art programming methods, tools, and library APIs. Programming assignments are given in the C, C++, Java, Smalltalk and/or SuperCollider programming language. Quarter topics:
A. Using commercial I/O APIs
B. Spectral transformations
C. Spatial sound manipulation
D. Sound synthesis techniques
E. Multi-rate control and synchronization
F. Media application integration
242A. Advanced Topics in Digital Multimedia: Audiophile Engineering
(4) Pope
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated with faculty approval. Upper-division undergraduates are welcome with instructor permission.
Recommended preparation: basic knowledge and some familiarity with stereo equipment. (No specific electronic or musical skills are assumed.)
Focuses on the engineering and aesthetics of audiophile sound recording and reproduction equipment and musical content.
242B. Advanced Topics in Digital Multimedia: Recording Studio Engineering
(4) Pope
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated with faculty approval. Upper-division undergraduates are welcome with instructor permission.
Recommended preparation: basic knowledge of acoustics, some programming experience, and a familiarity with stereo equipment.
Focuses on the design and engineering of sound recording studio equipment.
246. Virtual Environment Development
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Virtual world building using a variety of tools for 3D modeling and behavior scripting and programming. Overview of two- and three-dimensional computer animation and composing techniques. In addition to basic methodologies, specific areas covered include modeling, animating, lighting, rendering, layering of images, filtering and keying. Readings from texts on modeling and compositing.
251. Mixed Realities Interactive Projects
(4) Legrady
The theory and practice of interactivity in mixed realities installation. Topics include control devices, motion sensing methods, feedback, user behavior in time and space, phrasing, and narrative plot development for audio/visual output. Students realize a project and a research presentation.
253. Navigating Information Space: Design and Visualization
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
A project-based course focusing on the theory and practice of interface design with an interaction, visualization, and information architecture. Conceptualization, design, programming, visual communication are addressed in lectures, readings, and projects.
255. Digital Time-Based Media
(4) staff
Theory and production of linear and interactive digital video narratives through DVD authoring. Students acquire methodologies and production skills following analysis of time-based media.
256. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project
(4) Staff
Same course as INT 256.
A team-taught course with goals to foster engineering-level research in conjunction with the experimental approach of the visual arts. Course consists of team-based production for the realization of a multimedia project. Emphasis of the course is to develop skills in interdisciplinary production, concept development, and problem solving methodologies.
257. Network Protocols in a Social Context
(4) Jevbratt
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Theory and history of internet protocols. Examining internet legislation and the politics and structure of the request for comments system. Code as cultural expression. Project-oriented.
258. Art and Science of Aerospace Culture
(4) Peljhan
Prerequisites: upper-division standing; consent of instructor.
Interdisciplinary course/seminar/practice for artists, academics, engineers, and designers interested in exploring the technological aesthetic, cultural, and political aspects of the space side of the aerospace complex. Design history, space complex aesthetics, cinema intersections, imaging/telecommunications, human spaceflight history, reduced/alternating gravity, experimentation, space systems design/utilization.
259. The Aesthetics of Algorithmic Visualizations
(4) Legrady
Project-based course focused on aesthetics of algorithmic visualization. An overview of designing still and time-based visualizations with historical and contemporary perspectives resulting in large scale prints, digital video, or computer generated realtime visualization. Emphasis on implementation of algrorithmic expressions.
273. Advanced Topics in Multimedia Psychoacoustics and Music Cognition
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Music 11 or equivalent.
Introduces students in media, arts & technology, music, psychology, and related disciplines to psychoacoustics and music cognition, in terms of knowledge content and research literature. Since psychoacoustics and music cognition are empirical in nature, the course combines required reading, lecture, demonstrations, class discussion and the development of critical analysis skills for a final paper.
275. Music Systems Programming
(4) Pope
Recommended preparation: knowledge of a programming language and basic acoustics.
Theory and practice of programming music and sound software: compositional algorithms, synthesis techniques, signal processing, interactivity, and user interfaces using the SuperCollider programming language.
276IA. Direct Digital Synthesis-Processing and Composition
(4) Kuchera-Morin
Prerequisites: MAT majors and graduate non-majors in areas of electrical engineering, computer science, physics and math; consent of instructor.
First quarter of general purpose computing for computer music applications. Topics include: introduction to the UNIX operating system and VI editor, music synthesis using C-based computer programs, and score input programs.
276IB. Direct Digital Synthesis-Processing and Composition
(4) Kuchera-Morin
Prerequisite: MAT 276IA.
Second quarter of a three-quarter sequence course concentrates on computer music instrument design using C-based music software and exploring applications of frequency modulation, additive/subtractive synthesis, digital signal processing, and computer music composition.
276LA. Digital Audio Montage
(2) Roads
Prerequisites: graduate MAT majors and graduate non-majors in areas of electrical engineering, computer science, physics and math; consent of instructor.
First quarter of a three-quarter sequence course concentrates on multitrack recording, mixing, digital signal processing, using microcomputers and special purpose DSP equipment.
276LB. Digital Audio Montage
(2) Roads
Prerequisite: MAT 276LA.
Second quarter of a three-quarter sequence course concentrates on digital synthesis (primarily frequency modulation, simple and complex; but also amplitude modulation and additive synthesis) using microcomputers, digital synthesizers and processing equipment.
276LC. Digital Audio Montage
(2) Roads
Prerequisite: MAT 276LB.
Third quarter of a three-quarter sequence course concentrates on real-time computer music composition with microcomputer and digital synthesis/processing equipment.
276N. Special Topics in Electronic Music
(4) Staff
Prerequisites: MAT 276LA-LB-LC.
Advanced topics in computer music composition, synthesis, and digital signal processing.
293. Internship in Industry
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit with faculty approval.
Special projects for selected students. Offered in conjunction with selected industrial and research under direct faculty supervision. Prior departmental approval required.
299. Independent Study
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of graduate advisor and director of graduate studies.
Students are limited to 4 units per quarter. No more than 12 units may be credited toward a Master’s degree. Not intended for thesis research.
Independent research under the guidance of a faculty member in the department. Course offers an opportunity for qualified students to undertake independent research or work in a group laboratory in digital media arts and technology.
594AA-ZZ. Special Topics in Multimedia Engineering of Visual Arts or Electronic Music
(1-4) Staff
Special course in selected problems in multimedia engineering, visual arts, or electronic music.
A-E. Transvergence Series - Novak
GL. Special Topics - Legrady
SP. Special Topics - Pope
595AA-ZZ. Seminar Series
(1-2) Staff
Required of all first year students.
Seminar series for advanced topics in multimedia.
M. IGERT Seminar Series - Staff
596. Directed Research
(2-12) staff
Prerequisites: consent of instructor and Director of Graduate Studies.
Independent research, either experimental or theoretical, may be taken by properly qualified graduate students under the direction of a faculty member.
