MA in
Master of Arts in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication The University of Texas at Dallas
Introduction
The MA in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) cultivates creative practitioners, scholars, and interdisciplinary researchers and is appropriate for candidates who want to advance their education through further study of technology and media or take an initial step toward a Ph.D. in related fields.
Admissions
Curriculum
Program Options
- Emerging Media Studies
- Interaction Design
Master of Arts in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication: Interaction Design Pathway
Required Major Core Courses: 9 semester credit hours
- ATCM 6000 ATEC Dean's Colloquium
- ATCM 6300 Approaches to Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
- ATCM 6302 Theories and Histories of Semiotics
- ATCM 6361 Design Research Methods
Students are expected to complete ATCM 6300 in their first semester and the remainder of these courses within the first 18 semester credit hours in their degree plan.
Prescribed Electives within Pathway: 15 semester credit hours
Choose five courses from the following courses:
- ATCM 6301 Aesthetics of Interactive Arts
- ATCM 6304 Computer Processing for Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
- ATCM 6322 Experimental Interactive Media
- ATCM 6326 Research in Sound Design
- ATCM 6345 Interactive Narrative
- ATCM 6360 History of Interactive Media
- ATCM 6365 Design Principles
- ATCM 6366 Information Architecture and Design
- ATCM 6367 Human-Computer Interaction
- ATCM 6368 Usability Testing
- ATCM 6369 Media Analytics
- ATCM 6370 Computational Design
- ATCM 6371 Visualization Research
- ATCM 6372 Pervasive Computing and Interaction Design
- ATCM 6373 Interactive Environments
- ATCM 6374 Special Topics in Interaction Design
- ATCM 6375 Critical Approaches to Networked Cultures
- ATCM 6377 Creativity as Social Practice
- ATCM 6380 Histories of Emerging Media
- ATCM 6381 Media, Culture, and Economy
- ATCM 6383 Digital Culture
- ATCM 6384 Digital Publics and Counterpublics
- ATCM 6387 Emerging Media Studio
- ATCM 6390 Social Science Research Methods in Emerging Communication
- ATCM 6391 Theories of Media Psychology
Free Electives: 9 semester credit hours
Nine semester credit hours of electives in any organized 6000-level courses in ATEC or offered by the School of Arts and Humanities, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Naveen Jindal School of Management, School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, or School of Interdisciplinary Studies. All free electives are subject to approval by the Graduate Advisor.
Thesis: 3 semester credit hours
Having completed at least 30 semester credit hours of coursework, students will complete and present an advanced research project in interaction design for evaluation by a master's committee.
- ATCM 6399 Master's Thesis
Master of Arts in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication: Emerging Media Studies Pathway
Required Major Core Courses: 9 semester credit hours
- ATCM 6000 ATEC Dean's Colloquium
- ATCM 6300 Approaches to Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
- ATCM 6375 Critical Approaches to Networked Cultures
- ATCM 6376 Media and Cultural Studies Methods
Students are expected to complete ATCM 6300 in their first semester and the remainder of these courses within the first 18 semester credit hours in their degree plan.
Prescribed Electives within Pathway: 15 semester credit hours
Chose five courses from the following courses:
- ATCM 6301 Aesthetics of Interactive Arts
- ATCM 6336 Critical Game Studies
- ATCM 6345 Interactive Narrative
- ATCM 6351 History and Culture of Games
- ATCM 6352 Socially Conscious Games
- ATCM 6354 Play and Culture
- ATCM 6357 Virtual Worlds and Communities
- ATCM 6377 Creativity as Social Practice
- ATCM 6381 Media, Culture, and Economy
- ATCM 6382 Privacy, Surveillance, and Technology
- ATCM 6383 Digital Culture
- ATCM 6384 Digital Publics and Counterpublics
- ATCM 6385 Emerging Media and Identity
- ATCM 6386 Digital Textuality
- ATCM 6387 Emerging Media Studio
- ATCM 6388 Critical Making
- ATCM 6389 Special Topics in Networked Cultures
Free Electives: 9 semester credit hours
Nine semester credit hours of electives in any organized 6000-level courses in ATEC or offered by the School of Arts and Humanities, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Naveen Jindal School of Management, School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, or School of Interdisciplinary Studies. All free electives are subject to approval by the Graduate Advisor.
Thesis: 3 semester credit hours
Having completed at least 30 semester credit hours of coursework, students will complete and present an advanced research project in digital media studies for evaluation by a master's committee.
- ATCM 6399 Master's Thesis
Program Outcome
Students learn foundational theories and methodologies that underpin technology and media studies, as well as contemporary debates in the fields. After their coursework, students pursue their own research questions for their theses.
The program also provides opportunities for students to refine their teaching through teaching assistantships, to attend and present at conferences through competitive scholarships, to engage with the core intellectual life of ATEC through the Dean’s Colloquium and other speaker series, and to collaborate in multiple research collectives. Faculty areas of expertise include global media studies, feminist media studies, critical play studies, games and learning, cultural and social scientific studies of media, digital health humanities, disability media studies, digital journalism, remix studies, public humanities, science and technology studies, art + science and animation.
Students are admitted to one of two pathways in the ATEC MA:
- Interaction Design: Students use design research and media studies methods in the analysis and design of emerging technologies.*
- Emerging Media Studies: Students use media and cultural studies methods to explore the histories and social implications of digital media and technologies.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include, but are not limited to, education, writing/publishing, non-profit advocacy research, data visualization, user experience design, interaction design, interactive narrative, and game design in a variety of industries.
English Language Requirements
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