ATLAS PhD Program FAQ

If you don't see your question answered below, please email us: atlas.admissions@colorado.edu

General ATLAS Institute PhD Program Questions

What is Creative Technology and Design?

Creative Technology and Design is a program offered by the ATLAS Institute with degrees granted by the CU Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science. It bridges rigorous engineering training with design and creative exploration as a means for students with multi-disciplinary interests to pursue their vision without the boundaries of more traditional programs.

What is the deadline to apply?
The ATLAS PhD application deadline is December 1.

Do I have to take the Graduate Record Exam?
The ATLAS PhD program does not require the GRE.

Who can serve as my PhD advisor in the ATLAS PhD program?
Any tenure track or tenured CU Boulder faculty member who holds a doctorate may serve as the chair of your advisory committee. However, most (but not all) current ATLAS PhD students are advised by ATLAS Institute faculty members. Regardless of departmental affiliation, advisors of ATLAS PhD students are expected to provide tuition and stipend support.

How does funding work? Are there teaching and research assistant roles for PhD students?
We aim to support every PhD student with tuition and stipend throughout their program. Admission to the program comes with a four-year funding commitment, as long as students remain in good academic standing and are making progress toward their degree. Most PhD students are supported by funding from their advisor’s research grants, although a few ATLAS-funded teaching assistantships are available.

Grad Program Info Request

About the PhD Program

What kinds of jobs to ATLAS PhD alumni get?
Our PhD alumni have followed a wide range of career paths. Some are specialists or senior researchers at large corporations or research institutes. Some are founders, directors, advisors, board members and CEOs of different companies or non-profit organizations, and some are university faculty members. To learn more about the career paths of our PhD graduates, explore our alumni page.

I'm interested in pursuing a career as a professor. Do ATLAS PhD alumni get jobs as faculty members?
Yes. As of 2023, among the ATLAS PhD program's 32 alumni, nine are currently full-time faculty members at US universities, including the University of Washington, Georgetown University, Ball State University, University of Colorado Denver and Georgia Tech.

I'm interested in doing a practice-based PhD. Can ATLAS accomodate me?
The ATLAS PhD program is a research-based program. Students are expected to propose a thesis and write a dissertation. You can see examples of recent ATLAS PhD dissertations here. If you're looking for a practice-based PhD, you might be interested in two programs offered by the College of Media, Communication and Information: the PhD in Emergent Technologies and Media Art Practices and the PhD in Intermedia Arts, Writing and Performance.

Would I be better off with a PhD in a conventional field like computer science or mechanical engineering?
It depends. The ATLAS PhD program values and supports interdisciplinary interests in ways that conventional single-discipline programs do not. If your career aspirations require a specific conventional degree, then by all means pursue that degree. In practice, we’ve found that the opportunities open to the graduates of PhD programs are governed more by what they’ve accomplished than by the degree on their diplomas. To see the career paths of PhD program alumni, visit our alumni page.

How many years does it take to get a PhD at ATLAS?
The average time to graduate with a PhD is 4.9 years. The length of study varies widely based on many conditions.

ATLAS PhD Program Application Instructions

How do I apply to the ATLAS Creative Technology and Design PhD program?

After reviewing the information below and gathering your materials, please complete the Official University of Colorado Boulder Graduate School application.

Your application will include:

1. Résumé or curriculum vitae.

2. Responses to the following questions:

  • What attracts you to the ATLAS Graduate program?
  • What do you hope to learn in the ATLAS Graduate program?
  • What is one accomplishment that you're proud of?
  • What do you plan to do after completing graduate study?
  • What is one 'fun fact' about yourself?

3. 3-5 page statement of purpose.

Students accepted to the program will be mature, self-directed, highly motivated and have demonstrated outstanding achievement. A statement of purpose for this program should include:

  • How does your background prepare you to study your proposed research topic in a technology-rich, interdisciplinary PhD program?
  • A statement of longer-term goals: How would an ATLAS PhD support your career plans?
  • A tentative program of study including specific faculty members with whom you want to work. (We may ask these faculty members to review your application.)
  • A statement specifically describing research interests. What would you study and why does it demand interdisciplinary work?

4. Personal website or online portfolio of your work.

  • This might comprise software, hardware, design or multimedia production or performance, or research papers.
  • Clearly credit all authors and collaborators on each work. Include a URL on your résumé and/or in your statement of purpose (add password information if your site is restricted).

5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to judge your potential for success in graduate school.

  • Recommenders will submit letters directly online.

6. Unofficial transcripts from each institution of higher learning that you have attended.

7. Test Scores:

  • ATLAS accepts but does NOT require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Application Review Process

What is the application review process for the ATLAS PhD program?

We consider three main criteria when reviewing applications:

  1. Do you have a clearly defined area of interest? 
    We understand that over the course of PhD study, interests may shift. We won't hold you to your initial expressions of area of interest and we don't expect that you know the topic of your dissertation when you apply to the program. Still, having a clear idea of the topics to be explored in PhD study is a good indicator of future success.
     
  2. Do you have the background and skills to work in that area? 
    We look at whether you are prepared to begin working on the topics you identify as your area of interest. For example, if you have a background in nuclear engineering and you plan to work on computer music, we'd like to know more about what skills you'll bring to bear on your new direction.  
     
  3. Do we have the capacity to supervise work in that area?
    We look at whether we have faculty members who can supervise research in your area of interest. No matter how interesting the area of research and how capable you are to work in that area, we can only take students for whom we have the faculty to advise and supervise. We require a commitment from at least one faculty member to advise and fund any applicant we admit to the ATLAS PhD program. 

International Students

For complete requirements and application needs, please review the CU Boulder's official international graduate admissions page.

Is the ATLAS PhD program STEM-OPT elibigle?

Yes, the ATLAS PhD program is classified as a STEM-OPT eligible degree. All ATLAS degree programs have been assigned the US State Department's CIP code 15.0000 [Engineering Technology, General].  

What are the English language proficiency requirements for the ATLAS PhD program?

If your native language is not English, you must submit a documented TOEFL iBT score, Duolingo proficiency test score or IELTS score.

  • TOEFL:
    • Minimum iBT score: 100
    • The CU Boulder TOEFL institution code is 4841. (CU Boulder Admissions does not use department codes.) 
  • Duolingo:
    • Proficiency test scores of 125 or higher
  • IELTS:
    • Minimum score: 7.0
    • Please request your IELTS test center report your score to our school using the following information:

University of Colorado Boulder - Masters & PhD
3100 Marine Street
Suite A122, UCB 65
Boulder, CO 80303
USA