Interdisciplinary Computing & The Arts Major (ICAM)

WHAT IS THE ICAM MAJOR?

The Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts major in the Music and Visual Arts Departments draws upon, and aims to bring together, ideas and paradigms from computer science, art and cultural theory. It takes for granted that the computer has become a metamedium and that artists working with computers are expected to combine different media forms in their works. All of this makes the program stand out among currently existing computer art or design programs which, on the one hand, usually focus on the use of computers for a particular media (for instance, specializing in computer animation, or computer music, or computer design for print) and, on the other hand, do not enter into a serious dialogue with current research in computer science, only teaching the students "off-the-shelf" software. The goals of the program are to prepare the next generation of artists who will be functioning in a computer-mediated culture; to give students necessary technical, theoretical and historical backgrounds so they can contribute to the development of new aesthetics for computer media; to prepare students to mediate between the worlds of computer science and technology, the arts, and the culture at large by being equally proficient with computing and cultural concepts; and to give students sufficient understanding of the trajectories of development in computing so they can anticipate and work with the emerging trends, rather than being locked in particular software currently available on the market.

The ICAM major was designed to prepare students to pursue graduate education in digital arts and serious careers in cutting edge art-making. Students in ICAM courses are evaluated on their abilities as art-makers and their abilities to apply computing in an art-making environment. Artistic creativity and technological expertise are both required. As an interdisciplinary major, ICAM students regardless of department (Music or Visual Arts) should be prepared to take lower and upper division classes in traditional forms of studio art, music, media practice, as well as in history, theory, and criticism in both art and music.

THE ICAM MAJOR PREPARES STUDENTS:

  • for study in prestigious graduate programs such as the UCSB MAT Lab, UCI ACE Program, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute iEAR program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University/Tisch School of the Arts ITP program, USC Interactive Media Program, and the California Institute of the Arts integrated media program.
  • to adapt fluidly to rapid change in a dynamic post-industrial economy
  • to create tools instead of use them
  • to explore a breadth of art practices, including physical electronics, virtual environments, new telematic performance practices, music, creative social media, and computer programming in the arts
  • to explore the intersection of aesthetic practice and technology in an interdisciplinary environment that involves both visual art and music
  • to imagine the future of digital media based on a firm understanding of its history and theory

Rather than train the next generation of pixel pushers, ICAM educates the next generation of leaders and innovators in the digital media field.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN TERMS OF COMPLETING THE MAJOR?

ICAM is no longer an impacted major, and most students should be able to complete the program in four years. Beginning in the Fall quarter of 2007, the pre-major requirements will be removed from the major.

The department maintains as part of its advising process the very strong encouragement that students meet with the ICAM faculty adviser for additional information about the major before they declare ICAM. This meeting is noted in the student's file. Additionally, when a student has either completed all of the lower division course work or has achieved junior standing, they are once again strongly encouraged to meet with a faculty advisor for a review of important portfolio works and an artist's statement. This is an opportunity for the student and faculty member to personally discuss the student's development and direction, and is also noted in the student's file for advising purposes.

HOW DO I BECOME AN ICAM MAJOR?

  • Submit a completed Change of Major form to the Visual Arts Department and provide the department with your email address. Note that the department will ask the student to meet with the ICAM faculty adviser first, to ensure that the student has clarity about what the major is.

Students who want to change their major to ICAM with a Music emphasis should consult the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Music Department.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

If you have additional questions, please contact the ICAM faculty adviser in either the Visual Arts Department (for students interested in Visual Arts ICAM) or the Music Department (for students interested Music ICAM).

To see some examples of ICAM student work, click here.

Vis Arts:

Brett Stalbaum

(see link for office hours)