Music Technology (BS)
Columbia College Chicago’s Music Technology program focuses on the science of sound—how music technology can be designed, shaped, used, and manipulated for experimental live performances, video games, music compositions, sound installations, and other musical activities. In this program, you’ll do more than operate the tools; you’ll design, hack, manipulate, and reconfigure the next generation of music technology.
Our Bachelor of Science program combines faculty expertise with coursework in music composition, programming, and audio technology. After taking introductory courses in science, mathematics, sound technology, and acoustics, you’ll choose one of three concentrations: Interactive Music Design, Electroacoustic Composition, Perception and Timbre, Programming Audio, and Physical Design.
Music Technology graduates can pursue careers as multimedia artists, sound artists, music software and hardware designers, programmers, and user experience (UX) designers. The program also prepares students for graduate study in music technology, human-computer interaction, and computer science.
Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS) requires more substantial STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) coursework than a traditional Bachelor of Arts (BA) does. Our Bachelor of Science in Music Technology has STEM requirements built into the curriculum so that students master the scientific concepts behind the music technology they design and create. The Audio Arts and Acoustics Department offers several BA programs for students interested in learning music technology at a practitioner level.
Concentrations
To earn a bachelor’s degree in Music Technology, you’ll complete a series of foundational courses and then specialize in one of the concentrations listed below.
Interactive Music Design
Sonic Arts
Sound and Music Computing
In the Classroom
What to expect your first year
The Music Technology major begins by building your background knowledge. You’ll sharpen your knowledge of sound in courses like Sound for Interaction, Studies in Hearing, and Fundamentals of Audio Production, and take courses in science and mathematics.
What to expect your last year
All Music Technology students in their junior and senior years take The Sonic Experience, a four-semester course that bridges music, sound-art, and computer applications. In this course, you’ll explore electroacoustic music production and build a portfolio of professional-level music technology projects.
Careers
This degree trains students for a number of careers in the music technology profession. Post-graduate options include:
- Graduate study in a music technology or computer science program
- User experience (UX) design
- Music or audio software development
- Multimedia performance, computer music, or sound art
- Game sound design
- Audio engineering
- Acoustic installation engineering
Creative Spaces and Facilities
We have a number of creative spaces equipped with industry-standard software and technology.
- Anechoic chamber
- Advanced digital audio production lab
- Audio editing suites
- Live and installed sound spaces
- Recording studios
- Reverberation chamber
Related Minors
Faculty
Faculty members who teach Music Technology courses come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, including music, physics, engineering, sound art, cinema, and fine art. View all department faculty.
Visda Goudarzi
Goudarzi teaches Columbia students how to make audio interfaces and interactive electronic instruments.