MFA Computational Arts

Program Overview

It equips students with programming skills, historical foundations, and critical thinking to create innovative works across diverse media. The program fosters a hands-on, experimental approach, preparing graduates for careers in the creative industries and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• What is computational art?

It explores the merging of these two fields to create a rapidly evolving field at the forefront of both technological and cultural advancements.

• Objectives: The program aims to:
• Develop your artistic practice through creative computation.
• Challenge you to develop a series of projects for public exhibition.
• Equip you with the knowledge and skills to apply programming expressively.
• Encourage you to produce works across diverse media, including 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, wearables, and traditional art forms.
• Provide you with the historical foundations, frameworks, and critical skills to effectively express your ideas.
• Teach you how art provides rigorous ways of thinking.
• Help you develop a broader understanding of the contemporary art scene and your place within it.
• Technical requirements: No prior programming experience is required.
The program welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including performers, filmmakers, architects, musicians, painters, and computer scientists.

Outline:

• Year 1:
• Compulsory modules:
• Computational Arts-based Research and Theory (30 credits)
• Workshops in Creative Coding 1 (15 credits)
• Workshops in Creative Coding 2 (15 credits)
• Final Project in Computational Arts (60 credits)
• Optional modules (choose 60 credits worth):
• Programming for Artists and Designers (15 credits)
• Computational Form and Process (15 credits)
• Advanced Audio-visual Processing (15 credits)
• Physical Computing 1 (15 credits)
• Physical Computing 2 (15 credits)
• Data and Machine Learning for Artistic Practice (15 credits)
• Hacking your creative practice (15 credits)
• Extended Reality for Creative Practice (15 credits)
• Special Topics in Programming for Performance and Installation (15 credits)
• Approaches to Play 1 (15 credits)
• Approaches to Play 2 (15 credits)
• Visual Game Development (15 credits)
• Game Development (15 credits)
• Motion Capture Techniques and Digital Embodiment (15 credits)
• Pervasive Gaming and Immersive Theatre (15 credits)
• Year 2:
• Compulsory modules:
• Computational Arts Critical Studies (60 credits)
• Studio Practice - Computational Arts (90 credits)
• Optional modules (choose 30 credits from a list approved annually by the department):
• To be determined annually.
• Additional opportunities:
• Audit other classes offered by the department.
• Audit classes across Goldsmiths and other University of London institutions (subject to agreement).
• Access to all technical facilities in the department.

Assessment:

• Year 1: Assessed through a combination of coursework and a final project.
• Year 2: Assessed through a self-evaluation report, essay, viva voce, and exhibition of final work.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods: The program employs a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual supervision.
• Faculty: The program is taught by a team of experienced and internationally renowned artists, designers, and technologists.
• Unique approaches: The program emphasizes a hands-on, experimental approach to learning.
Students are encouraged to explore new technologies and develop their own creative ideas.

Careers:

• Career paths: Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, including:
• Artist
• Designer
• Technologist
• Researcher
• Educator
• Entrepreneur
• Opportunities: The program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the creative industries and beyond.
• The program is offered full-time (2 years) or part-time (4 years).
• The program is taught in English.
• The program is open to international students.

Annual tuition fees These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year. Home - full-time: £12520 Home - part-time: £6260 International - full-time: £18560 Additional costs There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme.