Program Overview

---

Media Arts and Sciences, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in media arts and sciences is housed in the transdisciplinary School of Arts, Media and Engineering. This program educates the next generation of learners and empowers them with technofluency --- its development, application, and implications. Students are prepared to be socially aware, critically thinking global citizens who strive to bring about positive change in a society that is increasingly shaped by new technologies.

Program Description

The program allows students to tailor coursework to their specific interests with courses from a variety of disciplines, such as sound design, critical media theory, experiential media, and computer science. Doctoral students in this program are provided distinct opportunities to engage in knowledge creation at the intersection of computational arts and sciences, using the most advanced practice-based and theoretical methods.

At a Glance

• College/school: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation

Required Core (18 credits)

• AME 520 Movement and Computing (3)
• AME 530 Philosophy of Media Technology (3)
• AME 531 Experimental Media Philosophy (3)
• AME 532 Creating Interactive Media (3)
• AME 533 Design for Media Arts (3)
• AME 534 Machine Learning for Media Arts (3)

Research (33 credit hours)

• AME 792 Research (33)

Restricted Electives (12 credit hours)

• Electives (9 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
  • AME 799 Dissertation

Additional Curriculum Information

It is expected that students are research-active throughout their program, taking at least three research credit hours per semester. For restricted electives, students must choose graduate-level AME or MDC courses, with approval from the student's advisor. Electives can be any graduate-level courses offered at ASU. The selection of courses relates to the student's research interests and requires the approval of the student's advisor.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree in a related field to be used for this degree. A student can register for dissertation credits only after they have passed the comprehensive examination.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in arts, humanities, design, media studies, computer science, engineering, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Additional Application Information

An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The statement of purpose should explain in a concise and persuasive manner how the student's educational, professional, and personal experiences inform their research and creative interests, and the student should elaborate on any aspect of their background that supports candidacy to the School of Arts, Media and Engineering program.

Each applicant must demonstrate entry-level competencies. This can be demonstrated primarily through a portfolio, which may include previously developed media products, projects, or publications that demonstrate an understanding of and involvement with digital media and computation. Entry-level competency can also be partially demonstrated through coursework and may include courses in:

• advanced computer programming
• computer graphics and animation
• computer music
• digital design
• film theory
• interactive technologies
• media authoring tools
• media theory
• multimedia systems
• signal processing

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: Session A/C, In Person, Deadline: 01/07, Type: Final

Career Opportunities

Graduates can go on to careers in areas such as:

• academia
• mobile and web development
• product design
• programming
• research and development across diverse industries
• software engineering
• 3D modeling
• user experience design

Research Areas

Students can pursue research at the intersection of any of these fields, among others:

• artificial intelligence, system engineering, and machine learning
• auditory culture, digital composition, and performance
• critical media theory and philosophical technologies
• food design and sensory science
• interaction design, experiential media, and responsive environments
• mediated rehabilitation, and somatic and movement studies
• public participation in science
• social and embedded design
• sustainability and critical climate studies
• VR and AR

STEM-OPT Extension

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension. The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.