Creative Industries Curriculum

The MS track in Creative Industries equips students with skills in three areas:

  • Design—needs assessment, articulating alternatives, selection process, iteration, developing solutions.
  • The business of creativity—communicating work visually and verbally, engaging with industry, networking and professional skills.
  • Technical fluency—a foundation in contemporary digital skills including coding and development.

SemesterClass #1Class #2Class #3
Year One (Fall)Professional Seminar:
Business of Creativity		Design MethodsIntroduction to Programming
*or* 
Creative Code
Year One (Spring)Design Studio
 		Creative Technologies
 		Elective: Tech Focus
Year Two (Fall)Elective: Critical Perspectives  
or Tech Focus

Elective: Critical Perspectives
or Tech Focus

Elective: Tech Focus

Year Two (Spring)Project Focus:
Design Studio,
or Tech Focus		Creative Industries
Thesis Project		 

(This schedule assumes the program is completed in two years, but the completion time is flexible. Exceptions can be made based on student background. Most students in the program will not have a formal faculty advisor until their final semester. A small number of students come into the program with a faculty advisor and focus specifically on professional research. Exceptions can likewise be made for these students in consultation with the program co-directors.)

Professional Seminar: the Business of Creativity

3 credit hours

This course introduces students to the professional landscape of creative technologies and design. Students hear first hand from leaders in the field about career paths and opportunities, through visiting speakers and studio tours that provide exposure to a wide range of professional environments.

Students gain:

  • goal reflection
  • exposure to a wide range of successful creative professionals
  • understanding of career trajectories
  • professional connections and networking opportunities
  • portfolio/work critique

Design Methods

3 credit hours

In this course students will learn design, deliberate observation (e.g. cultural probes, ethnography, etc); “problem finding” and “design thinking”; wicked problems; iterative design; alternative generation and assessment.

Students gain:

  • strategy and framework for design methodology
  • skills for collaboration
  • comfort with iteration
  • documenting process for portfolio
     

Introduction to Programming *or* Creative Code

3 credit hours

For students with little to no programming experience, the Intro to Programming class gives students the coding experience needed for more advanced programming classes and many technical focus classes. For students with prior programming experience, Creative Code explores creative uses of software development, while focusing on developing the “digital plumbing” that supports our creative work.

Creative Technologies

3 credit hours

This course gives students hands-on exposure to a wide range of technologies, including 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers, sensors and programming. Through physical computing projects, students gain technical fluency and competence while identifying technology skills they wish to develop further.

Students gain:

  • foundation in creative technologies
  • technical fluency and competence
  • experience working with microcontrollers and sensors
  • fabrication skills

2 Tech Focus Electives

6 credit hours

Based on their professional goals for the program, students build their skill sets by taking technical courses through ATLAS and have the unique opportunity to take courses across CU Boulder departments. There are many options, so your advisor will work with you to find the best fit for you individual goal. Here are some popular focus areas with courses that support that goal: User Experience and Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design and Development, Interactive Product Design and Development. 

Students gain:

  • Deepen technical skills and knowledge

Design Studio

3 credit hours

This course focuses on refining projects through several iterative cycles. Students who have a clear set of objectives can use the time to work on independent projects; others may work on projects for industry instructors, simulating a client/practitioner relationship. This course prepares students to develop a practice for creating, presenting, critiquing and iterating work. Throughout a design studio, students learn how to develop a professional portfolio.

Students gain:

  • Presentation skills
  • Design method and technical skill
  • Application portfolio development

Note: An approved internship can substitute for one instance of Design Studio

2 Focus Electives

6 credit hours

Based on their professional goals for the program, students build their skill sets by taking a mix of technical and portfolio building courses through ATLAS and across campus. ATLAS graduate students have the unique opportunity to take courses across departments, while there are numerous options and your advisor will work with you to find the best fit for you individual goal, here are some popular focus areas with courses that support that goal. 

Tech Focus Elective

3 credit hours

Based on their professional goals for the program, students build their skill sets by taking technical courses through ATLAS and across campus. ATLAS graduate students have the unique opportunity to take courses across departments, while there are numerous options and your advisor will work with you to find the best fit for you individual goal, here are some popular focus areas with courses that support that goal. For example: User Experience and Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design and Development, Interactive Product Design and Development. 

Creative Industries Thesis Project

3 credit hours

Students create a culminating project that prepares them to enter the professional world. Each student chooses a primary advisor/mentor. Together the student and advisor outline a work proposal with deliverables that often serve as the cornerstone of the student’s portfolio. At the end of the semester, students formally present their work to the ATLAS community and submit detailed written paper that documents and reflects on their process.  

Students gain:

  • proposal writing skills
  • pitch skills
  • presentation skills
  • project design and development
  • portfolio development