Sonic Arts

Emerging Media arts electives in Sonic Arts include courses that explore the processes and products of digital sound and music. In the age of Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest, we are soaked in the visual, and develop strong visual literacy muscles. Yet most people also perceive the world through hearing. Sonic Arts develops these oft forgotten muscles—think robotic instruments, sound engineering, and sound design for every screen and environment.

Smart Environments (EMAR 345)

Prerequisites: Computation and Media Studio II (EMAR 161) and major in Emerging Media Arts 

Introduction to smart environments and the Internet of Things, sensors, smart lighting, smart sound, geospatial projection mapping.

Media Sound Design I (EMAR 360)

Prerequisite: Sound Lab (EMAR 251) 

Creative use of sound, both as its own artform, and in support of other emerging media arts. Students will learn ‘composing’ for non-composers.

Media Sound Design II (EMAR 460)

Prerequisites: Media Sound Design I (EMAR 360) and major in Emerging Media Arts

Building on what students learned in Media Sound Design I, students will further develop their skills in synthesis, sampling, mixing & remixing, coding and programming, analog and digital electronics, field recording, multichannel installations, public interventions, and gain a theoretical grounding in the concepts of immersion and acoustic ecologies and ecosystems.

Spatial and Interactive Audio (EMAR 463)

Prerequisite: Sound Lab (EMAR 251) 

Exploration and application of the technical and conceptual fundamentals of interactivity as applied to ambisonic and surround audio. Experimentation with the techniques, systems and computational processes used to generate immersive sound through computation and interactive design.

Detailed Curriculum and Degree Information Sample 4-Year Plan