- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Art and Design
- Art and Materials Conservation
- American Sign Language – English Interpretation
- Audio Arts and Acoustics
- Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- Creative Writing: Poetry
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Majors and Concentrations
- Acoustics (BS)
- Audio Design and Production (BA)
- Audio for Visual Media (BA)
- Live and Installed Sound (BA)
- More about Audio Arts and Acoustics
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Related Events
- November 3: Fall Open House
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Other Programs to Consider
- Music
- Radio
- Marketing Communication
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Art and Design
The Audio Arts and Acoustics Department is dedicated to nurturing tomorrow’s sound experts. Audio arts and acoustics specialists are uniquely positioned to creatively explore the most versatile and visceral of senses (hearing) and the most ubiquitous and evocative of sensations (sound). Students enrolled in our programs learn how to systematically explore sound production and perception, facilitate communication, enhance audio and multimedia art-works, evoke emotions and, as a world-renown academic put it, “fill your soul.”
From live and recorded sound design and engineering for music, theatre, broadcast, or multimedia, to vibration and noise measurement and control, architectural acoustics, hearing studies, and design and management of audiovisual installations, our department offers facilities and collective expertise of which we are proud and that are unmatched by any other undergraduate audio program in the country. Our alumni are thriving in all aspects of our profession, have grown into Grammy winners, audio industry leaders, and promising future academics, and constitute the most rewarding measure and compelling evidence of our success.
Comprising a remarkable team of accomplished technicians, artists, and academics, our faculty members are all active and recognized within one or more facets of the audio industry, have a research publication and presentation output representative of a research facility, and include artists whose work is at the cutting edge of sound design and audio art.
All our students are presented with a rich and diverse collection of curriculum offerings and are able to take full advantage not only of our own expertise but also of relevant expertise available throughout the College. In addition, students join peer groups that sponsor industry field trips, live demonstrations, and technology seminars and have access to internship opportunities that offer practical work experience and professional contact in one of the nation’s largest professional audio markets.
Our passion and curiosity for sound are longstanding. They have literally shaped our lives as artists, scientists, professionals, and educators and will continue to do so. We trust it is a similar passion and curiosity that will bring you to us. We are committed to satisfying and further fueling your curiosity, nurturing your passions, and helping you become our colleagues. Standing firmly at the intersection of art, science, and technology, we shape soundscapes, and the world listens. Come join us!
Pantelis Vassilakis, PhD
Chairperson, Audio Arts and Acoustics
Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private non-profit arts and media college in the nation with more than 120 academic programs and nearly 12,500 students. Because of our size, we offer an unparalleled array of courses with exceptional technological resources in the heart of one of America's greatest cities.
Located in downtown Chicago's vibrant South Loop neighborhood, Columbia is a non profit creative academic community that takes a practical approach to arts education. Our programs in the visual, performing, and media arts are firmly rooted in a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum, which provides students with the essential context in which to practice their craft, develop their voice, and launch a sustainable career.
Columbia is an eclectic, urban community located in the city’s Education Corridor. Close by are several other colleges and universities, the Art Institute, Navy Pier, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, the Chicago Symphony, the main branch of the Chicago Public Library, Lake Michigan, and the Goodman Theatre. Convenient public transportation allows Columbia’s faculty and students to use the entire city as a social, cultural, educational, and professional resource, effectively turning all of Chicago into our campus.
Just about every corner of Chicago speaks of our involvement in the community. Competitions, awards, and professional forums are sponsored by Columbia College Chicago. Current students, faculty, and alumni broadcast over the local television and radio airwaves, perform in our city venues, and publish writing available in our city bookstores. Every student at Columbia is a part of Chicago’s vibrant and inspiring urban life—as well as a critical player in the burgeoning growth of its world-class social and cultural scene.
Columbia College Chicago believes in the power of your creativity. Join our community of outstanding faculty and alumni by applying to become a fellow Columbia student today.
We pioneered the concept of developing a faculty of working professionals, believing that no one can teach better than those who have been there and done that and are still doing it. As a result, our programs stress the career outcomes of a higher education, and our staff of award-winning professionals produces alumni who, in turn, become award-winning professionals themselves.
In 2011, nearly half of new freshmen received scholarship support from Columbia College with awards averaging $5,000–$10,000 per student. Scholarship awards were based on the student’s admission application date, high school GPA, and receipt of the student’s FAFSA. The earlier you apply, the better.
Columbia also awarded Presidential Scholarships—competitive merit-based programs based on academic achievement and demonstration of talent, ability of accomplishment in the student’s intended major.
Learn more about scholarships at Columbia College Chicago.
"You chose your major because you had to. It was your passion: a strong and genuine desire to make the arts and media your life's work. That passion will serve you well." - Warrick L. Carter, President of Columbia College Chicago
Our students come from all walks of life, from a variety of backgrounds and from a multitude of experiences, but however different they may appear, a common ground exists: our students are passionate.
Columbia College Chicago offers an academically rigorous creative learning environment for students eager to study the visual, performing, media, and communication arts. At Columbia we wed theory and practice. Throughout their studies, students are firmly rooted in coursework in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as the fundamental theories and histories that shape their chosen disciplines. Equally important, they get their hands dirty by creating work of their own, collaborating with students from other disciplines, making industry contacts, and working alongside faculty who provide the context and expertise to guide their work.
By their final year Columbia students have developed a Body of Work that gives voice to their talent and personal vision. The countless hours logged at consoles, the late hours spent in practice rooms, the miles ran across stages, and the dog-eared pages of their notebooks demonstrate a unique passion not found on any other campus in the nation.
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With nearly 100 student organizations, Columbia College Chicago offers students myriad opportunities to independently organize events, clubs, and initiatives that give voice to their passions, politics, and creative interests. Whether you have a passion for writing (Fictionary Magazine) or anime (Japanese Anime and Manga) or softball (Columbia Renegades), each one of the clubs, groups, and organizations on our campus is proudly student-created, student-run, and student-promoted. We happily give you the venues and the resources you need to organize and execute.
Official student organizations relevant to this program
Acoustical Society of America
Outside organizations featuring Columbia students or Columbia-based chapters
Audio Engineering Society
Columbia General Audio Group (CGAG)
Columbia’s urban campus is home to some of the most innovative student housing available. Our four residence centers are centrally located on campus, each with their own unique vibe, and provide ideal settings for creative students. Each building features its own unique set of amenities (from music practice rooms, fitness centers, bicycle storage, to a graffiti room), and each uniquely embodies the innovative mindset of the College. Columbia’s residence centers are a hub of social activity—actively building strong communities by providing the events, social support, and resources that truly make it their home-away-from-home.
Of note, Columbia’s on-campus housing is situated in the heart of the “South Loop Education Corridor” of Chicago, among the safest neighborhoods in the third largest city in the United States with steps-away access to mass transit. The adventurous will appreciate the numerous cultural, career and social opportunities awaiting them at the nearby clubs, theatre companies, and media agencies; the homesick will take comfort in experiencing that a short walk or brief ride will take them to a meal as good as mom made, be it a classic American diner in the Loop or a beloved pho restaurant in Little Vietnam.
How to Apply for Housing
Students who apply for Admission using Columbia’s Online Application should complete the On-Campus Housing section of the application. Students who apply for Admission using the Common Application will be asked to complete an On-Campus Housing application separately.
Important Note: Housing is assigned on a first-come first-served basis, and we do our best to match students with the “room-type” and/or roommate preference they indicate on the application. Housing assignments are made exclusively by room-type, and not by building. More information about residence life and housing are available here.
Thank you for your interest in applying to Columbia College Chicago. We welcome applications from all students interested in becoming part of our diverse and uniquely creative community. We look forward to reviewing your application!
Ready to apply?
Visit our Apply page to begin.
For all domestic students, there are three key parts to Columbia’s application:
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1 of 3 |
Application, including housing portion, essay and application fee |
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2 of 3 |
Letter of recommendation |
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3 of 3 |
Official transcript(s) |
Regarding test scores: If you have taken the ACT or SAT, and your scores are not on your transcript, please arrange to have your test results forwarded separately to the Admissions Office. Although the ACT or SAT is not required for admission to Columbia College Chicago, these tests are valuable tools for advising new students. In many cases ACT scores may be used as an alternative to the college's assessment test. All students are strongly urged to complete one of these tests while they are in high school.
Detailed information about the application process is available on the Apply page.
International applicants are welcome: please view special instructions to ensure your application is completed properly.
Full-time tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year is $20,094. For a comprehensive list of fees and costs, as well as information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, please visit Student Financial Services.
Application fee for domestic students: $35.00
Application fee for international students: $100.00
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Fall 2012 Applicants |
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January 1, 2012 |
FAFSA Application process opens |
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May 1, 2012 |
General deadline for Fall 2012 |
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July 31, 2012 |
Final decision date for Fall 2012 |
Columbia’s Admissions Review Committee evaluates all completed applications for admission to the College. Students will be notified of their admissions decisions by mail or email within three to four weeks of the completion of their admissions file.
Students whose application materials suggest they are likely to be under prepared to meet the College’s standards will be required to participate in the College’s Summer Bridge Program. Students who are required to participate in the Bridge Program must successfully complete the program before they can be admitted to the College. Students whose application materials suggest that they would be inordinately challenged by the College’s curriculum and/or students who, in the College’s sole determination, do not demonstrate the maturity and commitment necessary to be successful in our rigorous programs will be denied admission.
Admission to Columbia College Chicago is offered for a specified term of entry. Students who are offered admission to Columbia but are unable to enroll in the specified term of entry may request to defer their admission for one year by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office in writing. Application materials for students who are granted deferred admission are retained for one year.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Art and Design
- Art and Materials Conservation
- American Sign Language – English Interpretation
- Audio Arts and Acoustics
- Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- Creative Writing: Poetry
- Cultural Studies
- Dance
- Early Childhood Education
- Fashion Studies
- Fiction Writing
- Film & Video
- Interactive Arts and Media
- Journalism
- Marketing Communication
- Music
- Photography
- Radio
- Television
- Theatre