Technology, Arts and Media

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 58.6 k / Year(s) Deadline: Nov 15, 2024
131 place StudyQA ranking:4389 Duration:4 years

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A major in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), the Bachelor of Science in Technology, Arts and Media (BS-TAM) offers a broad, transdisciplinary curriculum that integrates technological skills with a critical, theoretical and historical understanding of technology, media and the arts. The BS-TAM curriculum infuses creativity into technology and integrates a technically rigorous education with critical thinking, problem solving, design and creative production. This program attracts designers, makers, tinkerers, and builders—those with unorthodox perspectives and unconventional approaches to technology. Teaching diverse and adaptable skills, BS-TAM equips graduates to address a wide range of 21st century challenges and opportunities.

The Technology, Arts & Media Program is housed in the ATLAS Institute with core courses taught in the Roser ATLAS Center.

BS-TAM incorporates the CEAS “Flexible First Year” and comprises a minimum of 128 and a maximum of 133 credit hours of coursework in several categories.

TAM BS Goals:

  • to prepare the next generation of technologists, designers and artists for both existing and future careers
  • to produce students with a mastery of creative technology and who are adept at critical problem finding and solving
  • to equip students with the necessary technical, theoretical and historical perspectives so they can contribute to the development of new functionalities, aesthetics and innovations of creative technology
  • to encourage the investigation of the intersection of technology with other disciplines and practices
  • to enable students to think creatively, critically and conceptually about technology and its impacts upon our world

Hallmarks of the TAM Program

  • Most TAM classes are small-studio based courses that encourage group work and collaboration.
  • TAM classes are around 60% female, a percentage well above most engineering and computing programs.
  • TAM stresses knowledge, skills, and expertise in technology development with a foundation in engineering and computational thinking; creative technologies and applications; and interdisciplinary perspectives on IT and society.
  • The TAM faculty comprises technologists, designers and artists from diverse fields who are experts in teaching students with varied backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

Sample 4 Year Curriculum

Year Fall Semester Spring Semester

Freshman Year

APPM 1350, Calculus 1 for Engineers (4 credits) or MATH 1300, Calculus 1 (5 credits)

ATLS 2000, Meaning of Information Technology (3 credits)

Natural Sciences (3–4 credits)

COEN 1500, Intro to Engineering (or CEAS intro–based course) (1 credit)

Humanities and Social Science (3 credits)

total credits = 14–16 credits

APPM 1360, Calculus 2 for Engineers (4 credits) or MATH 2300, Calculus 2 (5 credits)

ATLS 1100, Design Foundations (3 credits)

Natural Sciences (3–4 credits)

GEEN 1400, Freshman Projects (or CEAS project-based course) (3 credits)

CSCI 1300, Intro to Computing (or CEAS computing-based course) (3–4 credits)

total credits = 16–19 credits

Sophomore Year

Mathematics (3 credits)

ATLS 2100, Image (3 credits)

ATLS 2200, Web (3 credits)

CSCI 2270, Computer Science 2: Data Structures (4 credits)

Natural Sciences (3–4 credits)

total credits = 16–17 credits

Mathematics (3 credits)

ATLS 2300, Text (3 credits)

ATLS 3519, Object (3 credits)

Natural Sciences (3 credits) *if needed (12 credit hours of science required)

Humanities and Social Science (3 credits)

Free Elective (2-3 credits)

total credits = 17–18 credits

Junior Year

ATLS 3100, Form (3 credits)

ATLS 3200, Sound (3 credits)

Critical Perspectives in Technology (3 credits)

Free Elective (3 credits)

Humanities and Social Science (3 credits)

College-approved writing course (3 credits)

total credits = 18 credits

Critical Perspectives in Technology (3 upper division credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

Free Elective (3 credits)

Humanities and Social Science (3 credits)

total credits = 15 credits

Senior Year

ATLS 4100, Capstone 1 (4 credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

Humanities and Social Science (3 upper division credits)

Free Elective (3 credits)

total credits = 16 credits

ATLS 4200, Capstone 2 (4 credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

ATLS Focus (3 credits)

Humanities and Social Science (3 upper division credits)

 

Free Elective (3 credits)

total credits = 16 credits

Requirements

  • Online application for admission 
  • $50 nonrefundable ($70 U.S. for international students) application fee, payable online (if sending a check or money order, make payable to the University of Colorado; print student’s name and date of birth on check)
  • Official high school transcript
  • Official college transcripts (if applicable)
  • SAT or ACT test scores (if applicable)
  • Personal essays
  • Letter of recommendation
  • TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5

Scholarships

  • International students are eligible for a few merit-based CU Boulder scholarships, but must submit official ACT or SAT scores as part of the application to be considered.
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