Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

CURRICULUM FOR MUSIC TECHNOLOGY PH.D. PROGRAM

• MUS-N 521 Research Methods in Music and Multimedia (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Introduction to the underlying principles and concepts of technology-based studies in the arts. Techniques of educational research, including integration of scientific methodology, descriptive, and inferential methods, and multimedia instrumentation in project development.
• MUS-N 531 Music Quantitative and Qualitative Research (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Applications of scientific methodology to music therapy theory and practice. Philosophical differences between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, integration of theoretical concepts and practice standards with scientifically-sound research proposals.
• MUS-N 523 Historical Foundations of Music Technology (3 cr.) This course analyzes and evaluates concepts, events, designs, and creative works that have served as catalysts in the progression of music technology over time. Through the study of the past, the class will develop rationales for new and emerging technologies that relate to the expression of music today and looking towards the future.
• MUS-A 540 Music Engineering Technology (3 cr.) This course provides a technical approach of engineering concepts of music technology. Topics include digital audio concepts, audio signal processing, synthesis, and electroacoustic design of audio devices, while utilizing programming. Students will develop a quantitative understanding of music engineering methods and investigate current technologies and their effects on music technologists.
• MUS-A 500 Music Technology Graduate Seminar (0 cr.) The Music Technology Graduate Seminar is a zero (0) credit hour graduate course consisting of 15 weekly seminars by the Department of Music and Arts Technology and other engineering and technology faculty at IUPUI, researchers from local and national academia, representatives from industry, and peer graduate students in the MAT. Seminars introduce MAT graduate students to a variety of music technology related topics in academic and industrial research. Presenters will pose research questions, scientific methodologies, and technological advancements in music technology and related fields. Presentations and discussions will assist students in developing and refining critical thinking and technical presentation skills.
• MUS-N 512 Foundations of Sound Production (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. This course explores how musical sound is produced. Fundamentals of the physics of sound will provide the technical foundation to explore musical applications. The course will cover the varying families of musical instruments, tuning and temperament, and human hearing while also introducing aspects of audio programming to reinforce theoretical concepts.
• MUS-N 513 Principles of Music Technology (3 cr.) Explores underlying technologies of systems within the music and media field from a computational perspective by utilizing software programming tools and techniques to create and build interactive systems within these domains. The Max programming environment is the current format for application designs in the course.
• MUS-N 514 Music Technology Methods (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. This course is designed to provide a functional, conceptual, and philosophical overview of graduate level music technology. Students will evaluate and analyze software, hardware, and related technology applications. Additionally, students will compare and critique these concepts and tools as they relate to the field of music technology.
• MUS-N 515 Multimedia Design Application in the Arts (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Addresses the usability and human factor principles of multimedia digital product design in the arts. Topics include cognitive frameworks, design patterns, user research, usability evaluation, and performance analysis. Students will apply the various cognitive theories and design principles in the creation software applications to be employed in the arts.
• MUS-N 516 Advanced Interactive Design Applications in the Arts (3 cr.) P: MUS-N 515 or consent of instructor. Incorporates extensive analysis and use of computer and multimedia authoring tools intended for specific educational applications. Project management and programming team organization; media management and selection criteria for digital arts media development; task analysis and instructional sequencing applied to training and instruction; and assessment modeling and feedback schedules are examined.
• MUS-N 519 Digital Sound Design for Multimedia I (3 cr.) P: N514, or consent of instructor. Music composition and multimedia applications of MIDI systems and Digital Audio Workstations. Analog, digital, and software-based synthesis, and exploration of multi-track MIDI and digital recording.
• MUS-N 520 Digital Sound Design for Multimedia II (3 cr.) P: MUS-N 519, or consent of instructor. Advanced applications of MIDI and next-generation sound file formats for producing soundtracks, multimedia events, and collaborative composition over the Internet.
• MUS-N 522 Techniques for Music Performance, Teaching, and Production at a Distance (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Electronic tools for music performance, teaching, and production at a distance. Website and Internet resources including video conferencing, digital editing, and compression of video and sound wave formats. Group and individual assignments for on-line music presentations
• MUS-N525 Techniques of Interactive Performances (3 cr.) Techniques of Interactive Performance prepares public presentations that highlight the current underlying principles and concepts of computer music, live media, interdisciplinary, and interactive performance systems. Areas covered will include electro-acoustic music (with instruments, microphones, and computer processing), laptop music, live media manipulation, created instruments, machine learning, telematics, and networks, among others. The group generally works together with an outside group from another discipline in order to cross-synthesize the artistic realizations of each performance. Each semester the ensemble engages a project that draws on the multi-disciplinary skill set from the enrolled students.
• MUS-N526 Synthesizers and Controllers (3 cr) Synthesizers and Controllers addresses underlying principles of analog and digital synthesizer technology. Topics covered include voltage control, additive synthesis, FM, wavetables, and MIDI. The course will also examine various types of controller technology frequently used in computer music creation and performance.
• MUS-N527 Advanced Digital Music Systems (3 cr.) Advanced Digital Music Systems addresses underlying principles of digital audio processing, together with related control systems for live music performance, production, and installations. They will work with software to create music scenarios of their own design. Students will also program music software and will design a large-scale music system.
• MUS-N899 Music and Arts Technology Dissertation (1-9 credits)

Note: With the approval of the student’s Advisory Committee other courses may be substituted for those listed above.