Online Master of Arts in Creative Technology

Experience Creative Technology – Where Code Meets Innovation

Combine your passion for artistic expression and/or coding with creative technologies to build innovative art, AI powered experiences, interactive media and more. The Master of Arts in Creative Technology offered online through ҹɫ��Meadows School of the Arts, empowers you to merge coding with creativity by leveraging tools like JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Java, Solidity and others to create impactful, real-world applications.

Creative technology is a gateway to creating transformative experiences that bridge art, design and technology. This 30-credit-hour program dives into the tools and concepts shaping today’s - and tomorrow’s - digital frontier. Develop your skills in areas such as 3D modeling, animation, programming, data visualization, generative AI, AR and VR, and Web3 to create immersive experiences that redefine business and artistic possibilities.

This program isn’t about theory - it’s about harnessing advanced tools and techniques to push the boundaries of your coding and creative development expertise, while also giving you the educational foundation to future-proof your skills in leveraging new digital technologies.

Summer 2025 Priority Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Apply by the priority deadline to waive your $75 application fee.

Regular Application Deadline: April 1, 2025

or call us at 469-619-9940

Complete the form below to receive a program guide and start a conversation with a program representative for more information.

Curriculum Overview

Two students working together at a computer The creative technology master’s degree includes 10 required courses, each 15 weeks long, with each course being three credit hours (30 total). Full-time students who register for at least two classes every term (Fall, Spring, Summer) can complete the program in as few as two years.

Introduction to Creative Coding
Principles of Digital Design
3D Modeling/Animation
Creative Coding for the Web
Creative Coding for Application Development
Interactive and Experiential Design
Artificial Intelligence in the Metaverse
Mobile Computing and Augmented Reality
Data Expression
Creative Technology Capstone

Who Should Apply?

This program is ideal for students who have training in art, creative computation or technology, and who want to gain or enhance their knowledge of technical tools and creative processes.

Individuals looking to transition into a new career in creative or technology-related fields
Coders passionate about innovation in technology and the arts
Creative professionals who want a deeper understanding of emerging technologies
Designers who desire to augment their skill set with a greater understanding of programming languages and concepts
Programmers who are curious about applying their skills in areas like blockchain, AI and NFTs
Software developers who are interested in design and the creative process

Career Opportunities

Earning the master’s degree in creative technology provides graduates with knowledge and skills within AI, AR/VR, blockchain, web design, data expression, interactive media, and more, can help prepare you for a variety of roles (now or in the future) in creative or technical industries. Some related career options may include:

AI/VR Application Developer
UI/UX Designer
Creative Technologist
Creative Software Developer
Lead Animator
Web3 Product Designer
Data Visualization Specialist
Video Game Developer

FAQs

Students are expected to have access to a computer capable of running contemporary graphics software: Minimum 8 MB RAM, recommended 16MB or higher. Minimum 4GB VRAM, recommended 8GB or higher.

Experience in coding is not strictly required in the program, but applicants must demonstrate the ability to handle quantitative coursework. This can be shown through strong grades in relevant classes, prior work experience in technical fields, or by submitting a coding example with a detailed review.

Both. However, synchronous courses will be in the evenings on weekdays at 6:30 CST.

Federal aid is the only funding available for students applying to the Creative Technology program. Your first step in funding college is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You cannot apply for, or receive, any financial aid from ҹɫ��until we have received either a FAFSA form or, if you don’t feel that you will qualify for need-based aid, a FAFSA waiver. Don't wait to be accepted to complete them - apply early, while you are submitting your applications. The U.S. Department of Education runs a variety of student financial assistance programs, which include grants and loans. Your eligibility for aid is determined by the information that you provide in the FAFSA. ҹɫ��will also use your FAFSA to determine your eligibility for scholarships, grants, and institutional aid. These forms are not required of international applicants.

about the FAFSA and apply. The ҹɫ��code is 003613. FAFSA must be filed each year for continued consideration of SMU, federal, and state funding.

Committees begin reviewing completed applications shortly after the application deadline(s). Submitting your materials by the priority application deadline helps ensure your application is among the first to be evaluated and also makes you eligible to waive the $75 application fee.

Completing your application requires the following information:

Proof of a bachelor’s degree (includes providing transcripts from all colleges and universities attended).
An updated resume highlighting your educational background, career experience and skills.
A statement of purpose describing your interest in creative technology and your motivation(s) for enrolling in the program.
Contact information for two professional references who can provide a recommendation on your behalf.

The GRE (or the GMAT) is optional and there is no minimum score requirement. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred but consideration will be given to those with a lower GPA upon completion of application and all supporting materials.

Ready To Take The Next Step?

Meet the Program Director

Ira Greenberg
Professor and Director
Painting, Drawing and Creative Computation

With an eclectic background combining studio arts and computer science, Ira Greenberg has been a painter, 2D and 3D animator, print designer, web and interactive designer/developer, programmer, art director, creative director, managing director, art and computer science professor, and author. He wrote the first major language reference on the Processing programming language, Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art (Berkeley, CA: friends of ED, 2007) and two subsequent creative coding texts. Greenberg holds a B.F.A. from Cornell University and an M.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Read more about Ira in the spotlight interview here.

Meet Our Faculty

Ira Greenberg

Professor and Director
Painting, Drawing and Creative Computation

Burke Jam

Visiting Professor

Read Burke's Faculty Spotlight

Melanie Clemmons

Associate Professor of Art
Digital/Hybrid Media
Director of Undergraduate Studies

Read Melanie's Faculty Spotlight

David Gail Smith

Lecturer

Read David's Faculty Spotlight

Jeffrey Cavitt

Professor of Practice, Art & Team Game Production

Read Jeff's Faculty Spotlight

Ruby Thelot

Visiting Professor

Read Ruby's Faculty Spotlight

Figure 1: Meadows Admission Ambassadors give prospective students a glimpse into the vibrant community at ҹɫ��Meadows.

Campus Visitors Receive Warm Welcome From Meadows’ Student Ambassadors

Students
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Ira Greenberg discusses his extraordinary career with Anika Meier.

Ira Greenberg is a featured artist in Chain Reaction, an exhibition of inventive experimental gestures that set into motion a course of action. Curated by Christiane Paul, curator of digital art at the Whitney Museum.

Ira Greenberg was recently invited to Proof of People, a festival showcasing art, fashion and music through the lens of metaverse culture and NFT-backed technology.

Ira Greenberg is one of the speakers on the panel for "How to get started in Web3," hosted by Secret Africa.

The Oracles is a generative AI PFP collection. The project brings together some of my creative explorations over the past 25 years, in portrait painting, creative coding, automatic drawing, generative NFTs and AI.

Ira Greenberg was featured on the Waiting To Be Signed podcast, which is dedicated to fx(hash), the generative art NFT platform on the Tezos blockchain.

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Online Master of Arts in Creative Technology