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Computing in the Arts

Department of Computer Science

The Bachelor of Arts in Computing in the Arts (CITA) offers an interdisciplinary experience in computer science and the arts, with one of six different concentrations.

CITA fuses creativity, problem-solving skills, and computational know-how, prepping students for further studies, technology and arts industry jobs, or positions in companies seeking creative software developers.

CITA marries design and coding, spearheading the development of future tools. Our students acquire skills in:

  • Contemporary music, art, and theatre production
  • Animation and digital media
  • Visual and audio systems
  • Mobile app development

The CITA program at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has been supported by the National Science Foundation (,  ,  and ) and Google as a model curriculum.

CITA students learn to:

  • Model processes, especially in arts applications
  • Investigate, visualize, speculate, and invent using computing and computational thinking
  • Synthesize innovative software applications and media. This includes combining music, images, sounds, lighting and stage design, and other digital artifacts
  • Explore the potential and societal influence of computational thinking

The CITA educational experience is part of the new movement to combine art and design with science, technology, engineering and math (see ).

Concentrations

Choose one of six creative concentrations
  • Art

    Supported by faculty from the Department of Computer Science and the .

    The Art concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with studio art and art history.

  • Game Development and Interaction

    The Game Development and Interaction concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with game development and building interactive experiences.

  • Digital Media

    The Digital Media concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with digital media (sound, audio, image, web, and others).

  • Music

    Supported by faculty from the Department of Computer Science and the .

    The Music concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with music theory and composition.

  • Dance

    Supported by faculty from the Department of Computer Science and the .

    The Dance concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with dance and movement.

  • Theatre

    Supported by faculty from the Department of Computer Science and the .

    The Theatre concentration in Computing in the Arts synthesizes computing and computer programming with theater and storytelling.

Behind the Scenes at the CS Department

students in lab working together
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Explore new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, immersive spatial audio, wearables, and more... in Computing in the Arts and other related Computer Science degree programs.

Vfx Artist Discusses Motion Graphics

2014-nafees-bin-zafar

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø computer science graduate Nafees Bin Zafar '98 has worked as a visual effects artist. He has won two Academy Awards - one in 2008 (when he worked for Digital Domain) for developing fluid simulation software used in Pirates of the Caribbean, and another in 2015 for software used in the film 2012.

An Interactive Music Performance System

monterrey-mirror-project

A ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø research team has developed Monterey Mirror, an interactive music performance system with artificial intelligence capabilities. The Monterey Mirror is an electronic music generator, powered by computer programming, that mirrors a performer and takes the place of a human in live performance.