Computation, Technology and Culture Concentration

several students at workstations topped with an array of computing hardware

Offering opportunities for undergraduates to merge digital technologies with art and design practices, the Computation, Technology and Culture (CTC) department’s interdisciplinary concentration melds instruction in programming languages with frameworks for understanding the technologies that shape society and culture.

CTC concentration overview

Students in the 15-credit CTC concentration gain an understanding of ideas and techniques around writing in programming languages, while engaging with critical analysis, history, and theory concerning software systems, computational platforms, and the associated technologies that shape society. As a CTC concentrator, you hone your ability to write source code, author software, and program machines for making works of art and design.

Encompassing fine arts, design, the humanities, computer science, and the social sciences, the CTC concentration provides you with an interdisciplinary platform to apply existing and ever-evolving digital methods of making to work in your major course of study.

View the curriculum

Learning outcomes

Students who complete the CTC concentration are prepared to:

  • write source code, author software, and program hardware for making their own works of art and design.
  • discuss significant historical developments in computational technology including the work of key engineers, scientists, programmers, designers and artists.
  • compare and contrast theories surrounding the cultural reception and production of new and emerging media technologies.
  • demonstrate ability in critical discourse surrounding computation, technology, and culture through speaking, dialogue, writing, and artistic production.

Concentration declaration and info for current students

If you would like to declare the CTC concentration, you can do so by completing a CTC declaration form. For more information about declaration—or if you are a current concentrator looking for information about registration, credit requests, and more—please visit the CTC concentration’s online hub.

For eligible students who would like to pursue a major in the broad field of computation, technology, and culture, the CTC department also offers two BFA programs: Art and Computation and Sound.