TAM Program Requirements

NOTE: Students that declared TAM prior to Fall 2009, please contact Dave Kalahar (kalahar@colorado.edu) to see if you are eligible for automatic induction into the Minor in Technology, Arts & Media (MTAM), or if you will need to submit an application. The Certificate in Digital Media (CDM) does not require an application.

Requirements Flow Chart

Certificate in Digital Media (CDM)

The Certificate in Digital Media (CDM) provides basic understanding of the
interaction of information and communication technology (ICT) and society, basic digital literacy skills, and motivation to think critically about ICT and its impacts upon society. CDM is an option for students that either do not have the time required to complete MTAM or for students that were not accepted into MTAM.

Certificate Goals:

To equip the student body with a basic technical skill-set;
To motivate students to think critically about technology and its impacts on society; and
To transform students from passive users of technology into active producers of technology.

Certificate Requirements:

A minimum of 9 credit hours total for the Certificate in Digital Media;
No course substitution is allowed;
Student has a 2.0 CDM GPA with a minimum grade of C for individual course requirements; and
Course work used to satisfy CDM requirements cannot be taken Pass/Fail.

Minor in Technology, Arts & Media (MTAM)

The Minor in Technology, Arts and Media (MTAM) provides a broad multidisciplinary perspective that integrates technological skills with a critical, theoretical, and historical understanding of technology, media and the arts. The MTAM curriculum includes creative production courses, as well as classes that impart foundational knowledge and critical perspectives on the role of technology in society. Students from a wide range of majors receive instruction in digital media production, design, art criticism, computer programming, information technology, media and societal analysis, and project development. Many students use the program to prepare for careers in information technologies, media production, and the arts.

Minor Goals:

To prepare the next generation of artists, designers, and media producers for the networked age;
To give students the necessary technical, theoretical and historical backgrounds so they can contribute to the development of new aesthetics for computer media;
To facilitate the exploration of the intersection of technology and other specific disciplines; and
To produce active and critically aware participants and producers of technology.

Minor Requirements:

A minimum of 21 total credit hours;
Student has a 2.0 MTAM GPA with a minimum grade of C for individual course requirements;
You may not take more than one elective course from a single department, unless it is listed as ATLS. (i.e., ARTS and ARTH are considered the same department.)
Course work used to satisfy MTAM requirements cannot be taken Pass/Fail.
ATLS core courses cannot be substituted.
Boulder campus course work not on the approved elective lists, or course work from another University of Colorado campus, another institution, Study Abroad or Semester at Sea must complete a Course Substitution form and attach supporting documentation (syllabus);
Substitutions will not be considered if the student is requesting substitution already satisfied with an approved Boulder campus course;
A minimum of 15 credit hours must be taken on the Boulder campus; and
Failure to meet the minimum grade for any individual ATLS core course twice is automatic removal from the MTAM program.

Minor in Technology, Arts & Media Application Form

Course Descriptions

ATLS 2000, The Meaning of Information Technology
This course requires no prior technical knowledge and provides an introduction to a range of topics in IT and new media. Students not only investigate specific technologies, but will also explore how these technologies have affected cultural production, society, industry, and government. By the end of this course, students will have acquired an awareness of the rapid expansion of new technology and how it influences their everyday lives. Additionally, students will obtain the tools to think critically about the implications of new information technologies. Topics include: history of digital technology, the Internet, new media theory, artificial intelligence, privacy, security, open source, regulation, digital divides, digital music and art, intellectual property and copyright, gaming, virtual communities, globalization and other relevant topics.

ATLS 3010, Digital Media 1
The goal of this projects-based course is to facilitate the exploration of the student’s major and its intersection with technology, arts, and media through creative production. Digital Media 1 will provide students from any discipline with the opportunity to design and develop conceptually motivated digital media projects. This will be accomplished by refining technical, conceptual, and critical skills as they relate to a student’s individual interests and goals. Students will learn technical skills, but more importantly, they will learn how to think critically and conceptually about the practice of digital media production. Technical skills include: digital imagery, digital video, digital sound, web development, interactive design and motion design.

ATLS 3020, Digital Media 2
The field of digital media continues to be propelled forward by technological advances, making it essential for artists, designers, and media producers to expand their technical knowledge and skills in order to fully participate. This course introduces basic programming concepts and methodologies that will be applied to the creation and manipulation of information, images, animation, and sound. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to fully participate in digital media production. Technical skills include: fundamentals of programming, scripting, interactive web design, client/server relationships, multimedia computing, and database connectivity.

ATLS 4010, Capstone Projects
The focus on this thesis-driven, (group and individual) projects-oriented course is developing a larger thesis project to be installed within the ATLAS Building at the end of the semester. Individual class sessions will feature a combination of lectures, demonstrations, portfolio development, open lab sessions, meetings and critiques. This course also entails a significant reading and writing component. It is strongly suggested that this is the last course you take for the MTAM, and that you do not take another ATLS course (or Invention & Practice elective) concurrently because of the time commitment.

Elective Courses
From a list of courses offered campus-wide that provide a broad perspective on technology, arts and media, students take courses in a variety of disciplines to experience the environments and problem- solving techniques in complementary fields of specialization.