Experimental Practices
Prepare for an inspiring career with a degree from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
The professional MS in Creative Technology & Design (CTD) focused in Experimental Practices offers mentoring in creative inquiry paired with science and engineering training for students interested in inventing through sound design, interactive media, motion capture and more.
Our 2-year master's course sequence is built for flexibility and rigor, allowing students with prior experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and other technical disciplines to transfer their skills into their creative interests, and for students with music performance, composition and other creative backgrounds to develop technical skills they can bring to their careers.
The University of Colorado Boulder has one of the top 12 public engineering graduate programs in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2024-25.
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Program Benefits
Inspiring Experience
Small class sizes offer hands-on project-based learning with mentoring and collaboration. Core classes empower you to build a strong foundation in design, technology and leadership. Elective options in ATLAS and across campus allow you to deepen your focus in many future-foward disciplines.
Creative Collaboration
ATLAS and College of Music together provide a community of researcher-creators that welcome our MS students. ATLAS students share their work in the Soundworks concert series-forum, a meeting space for the creation and performance of new and original works by student composers, improvisers, performers and collaborators in the College of Music and CU Boulder community.
Learn & Work
Most students work at least part-time while in the program, including opportunities for roles at ATLAS, across campus, along the Front Range and in remote positions. CU Boulder offers many resources to assist you in finding roles, and the course schedule offers flexibility to match your needs.
Creative Community
Community is one of our great strengths. Invent the future by participating in labs and studios at ATLAS and the College of Music. Engage with industry leaders through roundtables, instruction and mentorship. Build lasting creative partnerships and foster deep bonds through collaboration, learning and social events.
Portfolio Development
Our curriculum leverages project-based learning with an emphasis on presenting your work. Guided by course and project assignments as well as direct feedback from working professionals, we help you develop a strong audio and visual portfolio that tells the story of who you are and what you do.
Future-forward Careers
Our students are uniquely positioned for the evolving job markets of the future. No single technology will fully equip students for the field—instead we help you build a technical toolset and an approach to life-long learning and problem solving as your creative career evolves.
Curriculum
This program is anchored in a unique research community and space, the B2 Center for Media, Arts & Performance, with networked research and production spaces as well as state-of-the-art multichannel immersive audio, video projection, and motion capture equipment. We offer a core course sequence to familiarize you with the theoretical and practical applications of these tools for the creation of immersive experiences, including:
- Immersive Audio & Ambisonics
- Motion Capture for Performance
- Interactive Sound
- AR/VR
You can also access courses from partner programs at CU Boulder for in-depth engagement in your specialization. These include:
- Music
- Integrative Physiology
- Computer Science
- Environmental Design
- Physics
- Neuroscience
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
State-of-the-Art Equipment
The program allows you access to the most innovative playspace in the region for creating immersive experiences, including:
- 44 channel Ambisonic spatial audio system
- 270° video projection
- 20-camera Qualisys motion capture system
- LED lighting systems that boggle the imagination
Expansive Possibilities
When advanced technology and art combine
Internationally acclaimed theater artists, the Q Brothers, developed a motion capture-based animated version of their production Othello: The Remix at the B2 Center for Media, Arts & Performance, using the same facilities our students have access to.
Check out this behind-the-scenes video for a taste of what it's like to explore your practice at ATLAS.