The MAT program is intended for students who have a strong background in either the arts or technology (for example, visual arts, film/video, music, computer science, or electrical and computer engineering ), and who wish to earn a degree that integrates art and engineering. Prospective students should be ambitious and curious about intermedia art and should be willing to work on group projects. The program will accommodate a balance of students from the three areas of emphasis mentioned below. All university admissions requirements must be met. For more information about these requirements, visit the Graduate Division's web site at www.graddiv.ucsb.edu.
Degrees and Proficiencies
Applicants should present a bachelor's degree in any of the following majors: art, music, computer science, or electrical engineering. This bachelor's degree is the student's major discipline. Applicants with other majors will be considered. However, they may be required to take a placement examination or submit additional application materials, such as examples of previous work that may be considered related. UCSB graduate students already enrolled in other degree programs may petition to add the MAT degree as a second degree objective.
Applicants should also be able to demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in a MAT cross-discipline. If a student's major discipline is in the creative arts, their cross-discipline is engineering. If a student's major discipline is in engineering, their cross-discipline is one of the creative arts.
Proficiency is judged by two MAT faculty members: one from the student's major discipline and one from a cross-discipline. An applicant whose major discipline is in the creative arts could prove cross-disciplinary proficiency by having successfully completed courses in computer programming, for example. An applicant whose major discipline is in engineering could prove cross-disciplinary proficiency by having successfully completed courses in music, art, or film/video. Applicants who cannot demonstrate cross-disciplinary proficiency but who show extraordinary promise in the field may be admitted but must make up this deficiency in the first year of graduate study. In general, this involves taking introductory courses in the cross-disciplines, to be determined in consultation with their advisor. Credits earned in the proficiency courses do not count toward the graduate degree, however.
Notice to applicants from other disciplines
Competition for space in the MAT Program is intense. Many factors go into the decision to admit. The admissions committee is looking for students with a strong focus in their background and current interests. Applicants with related majors may be considered, but only if they can demonstrate strong credentials in both the arts and technology. Acceptable credentials include recent University of California or equivalent course transcripts in calculus-level mathematics, computer programming, visual arts, and music. These applicants may be required to take a placement examination or submit additional application materials, such as examples of previous work.
Additional admissons requirements
MAT offers three areas of emphasis within the disciplines of arts and engineering:
- Multimedia Engineering
- Electronic Music and Sound Design
- Visual and Spatial Arts
Each area has its own additional admissions requirements.
- Multimedia Engineering applicants are expected to present undergraduate transcripts and documentation of their past work.
- Electronic Music and Sound Design applicants are expected to present an undergraduate composition portfolio, consisting of scores or recordings and any other relevant material, including pointers to web sites.
- Visual and Spatial Arts applicants are expected to present a portfolio of past work, which can include images and any other relevant material, including pointers to web sites.
GRE and TOEFL Tests
The University of California requires that all graduate students take the standard GRE test before they can attend classes. (For details see the Graduate Division web site. In addition, international students whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or the IELTS.
Test scores are one of many indicators that MAT uses in admissions decisions.
MAT strongly recommends that students complete these tests before applying to the program, but we recognize that in foreign countries the test schedules may not occur prior to our admissions deadline. In these cases, students should explain their situation in their Statement of Purpose and indicate when they will take required tests.
Note that in order to qualify for a University of California graduate fellowship, test scores must be received by UCSB by 15 December.
These supplemental materials should be sent to the MAT Program office. The address is:
Attn: Graduate Program Assistant
Media Arts and Technology Program
University of California, Santa Barbara
3315 Phelps Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6065 USA