Postgraduate Computing at Goldsmiths We aim to develop your creative as well as your technical skills. That s what makes computing at Goldsmiths so distinctive
Key features Our range of Masters extend from MA Computational Arts to MSc Data Science Our MSc in Computing allows you to build a degree that suits your particular interdisciplinary interests We produce research that is creatively applying computing to art, music, design, society and the wider environment Many students undertake a work placement that leads directly to employment 2 www.gold.ac.uk/computing
Computing at Goldsmiths It s the perfect time to get into computing. And at Goldsmiths we re offering our own particular brand. From developing computers that can compose music and paint pictures to defining and implementing new social media tools and applications, computing here is creative and innovative; we want to invigorate the subject and the world around it. As a Department we re interested in a certain kind of study: one that s founded on creativity, independence and learning by doing. So as a student here you ll really get to create the software you want to create it s why you ll be working on your own projects from the start of your degree. You ll work individually and in teams in ways that mirror industry practice. To develop the skills you ll need within today s creative industries you have to be using the latest technologies, so we have up-to-date lab facilities, equipped with the latest software development environments. Everything you learn is backed up by a rich base of knowledge our research was classified as of internationally excellent quality in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE, 2008). We want you to leave with knowledge and skills that have weight in the real world, so you ll be taught to apply computing to a whole range of real-life situations and to many industries within the creative arts and business sectors. And, because you apply computing to other subjects such as music and media when you re here, you ll be able to think on your feet and adapt within this evolving field. Why choose Computing at Goldsmiths? We give you the flexibility to develop your own interests. We do this by setting open-ended coursework assignments, giving you the chance to develop your own direction when it comes to the game, app or software you want to produce. We re connected. To go out and innovate you need to be a rounded professional, able to work independently or as part of a wider creative team, but you also need to be solving technical problems while you re thinking up new ideas. We make sure you work on live briefs so you get to know what the industry needs now. We re there for you. You ll have the freedom to develop your own work here but that doesn t mean you won t have support. Everything we do is informed by your experience, so you ll have dedicated lab session time to support your projects and a friendly team whose practice is often informed by yours. Visit computing for full details of our degrees 3
Our degrees MA in Computational Arts 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time ma-computational-arts The MA in Computational Arts will help you develop and apply skills in computational technology through arts practice, while providing the opportunity to integrate your practice within our environment of worldleading research. Teaching takes place in labs, providing facilities for 2D and 3D graphics programming, digital signal processing for audio and video, physical computing, full body motion capture, audiovisual interaction, computer music and sound art and mobile computing, including iphone/ipad development. On successful completion of the MA in Computational Arts you have the option to continue your studies with a place on the second year of our highly respected MFA in Computational Studio Arts programme (see below). Student insight James, MFA in Computational Studio Arts I decided to do an MFA to concentrate on developing my own practice more intensively. I didn t want to do a generic Fine Art Masters and so began to look for a course that was tailored to my specific interests. During the first year I learnt technical computing skills to complement the practical making skills I already possessed. From a practical level, I now know what is possible with technology. I feel that the course has provided me with the opportunity to set my work aside from the norm, and for my work to be seen in different ways. The course as a whole has taken an alternative route, and offers you the opportunity to gain from the exposure that being alternative provides. MFA in Computational Studio Arts 2 years full-time, or 4 years part-time, or 3 years combined full-time and part-time mfa-computational-studio-arts This interdisciplinary programme has been designed to enable you to develop your individual and collaborative artistic practices, computational skills, and conceptual framework so that you can participate in shaping the use and understanding of new technologies and cultural practices at the highest level. The MFA is a studio-based programme underpinned by the necessary technical, theoretical and historical background, allowing you to mediate between the worlds of visual, performing and relational (or interactive) art, technology and computer science. After the first year you may have the opportunity to work with the Université Paris 8, the Universitat de València, or the Athens Academy of Fine Arts in an Erasmus funded exchange. 4 www.gold.ac.uk/computing
Visit computing for full details of our degrees 5
Our degrees continued MSc in Computer Games & Entertainment 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time msc-computer-games-entertainment Our groundbreaking Masters has been developed in response to a pressing need to offer a high quality postgraduate programme serving the industries of computer games and entertainment, with an emphasis on programming, maths and graphics, business, IP, entrepreneurship, team management, 3D animation, AI and physics in games. The programme is delivered by a mix of professionals from the industry and from the research world. We work closely with industry leaders to offer internships at studios including Sega and Sony. You will graduate from this Masters well positioned to get a job in this exciting worldwide industry. Potential employers include EA, Ubisoft, Sony, Activision, Microsoft, Cinesite, Framestore, and many more. Graduate insight Patricia graduated with an MSc in Computing in 2012. As part of her Masters, she developed an audio system called Kinect Audio Project (KAP), aimed at helping children with learning difficulties. She is now trialing the system in a school. The course was great and I think one of the most flexible of the computing programmes available in terms of subject choices. It was highly interdisciplinary which is another reason why I chose to study at Goldsmiths. The first thing I noticed when walking around was the relaxed atmosphere and great mix of people of different ages. I really enjoyed speaking with the lecturers and professors; they are all extremely knowledgeable in their fields of practice, always willing to give advice, and to introduce you to their contacts and people within the industry. MSc in Computing 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time msc-computing Computers are embedded in all aspects of our lives, and programmers collaborate on a daily basis with designers, artists and researchers from other disciplines. The MSc in Computing teaches you advanced programming, and places that programming in the wider context of applications and projects in areas of Goldsmiths research strengths. You ll choose from a range of options to learn about audiovisual interaction, sound and music computing, advanced graphics, social media, artificial intelligence and digital research, along with the techniques to develop hardware projects and deploy your software to computers and mobile devices. You will apply all of these skills in producing a substantial project to reflect your interests and skills. 6 www.gold.ac.uk/computing
MSc in Data Science* 1 year full-time msc-data-science New for 2014, the MSc in Data Science will provide you with the technical and practical skills to analyse the big data that is the key to success in future business, digital media and science. You will learn the mathematical foundations of statistics, data mining and machine learning, and apply these to practical, real-world data such as Hadoop (used by Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, IBM, Amazon, and many others). As well as these statistical skills, you will learn the computational techniques needed to efficiently analyse very large data sets. You will assess trends in social media, make financial predictions and extract musical information from audio files. The Masters will culminate in a final project in which you can apply your skills and follow your specialist interests, and carry out a novel analysis on a real-world data of your choice. MRes in Digital Journalism 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time mres-digital-journalism New for 2014, the MRes in Digital Journalism is a collaborative programme offered by the Department of Computing and Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths. It is a hands-on, practical programme that teaches invaluable digital tools and techniques, enabling students with existing experience in the field of journalism to update their skills and portfolios. This degree combines teaching from the Department of Computing with the rich journalistic expertise offered by staff of the Department of Media and Communications and aims to produce graduates who are equipped to meet the challenges of today s rapidly evolving journalistic practice. * Subject to validation. We will be offering this degree providing it is approved by Goldsmiths Academic Board MPhil & PhD in Arts & Computational Technology 3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time mphil-phd-arts-computational-tech This programme aims to support you in your creation of new forms of artistic expression, and in your invention and application of new technologies that help make the art form possible. We therefore expect you to take a novel and personal path of exploration. This path will be determined by the shifts you make between artistic, technical, practical, conceptual and theoretical domains in relation to your unique vision. Research training is provided both by the Department of Computing and the Graduate School, and you will have two supervisors one from arts practice, and one from computer science. You will be able to present your findings to your peers and staff at weekly PhD research seminars, and through interdisciplinary Graduate School seminars. MPhil & PhD in Computer Science 3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time mphil-phd-computer-science Joining Goldsmiths for an MPhil or PhD in Computer Science will offer you the opportunity to participate fully in the highly interdisciplinary research environment of our Department and of the university as a whole. We aim for all our students to produce innovative ideas and to develop them into fully fledged research results and software and hardware systems, working within the creative atmosphere of our Department. We provide you with office space and access to computer labs and other facilities, in addition to resources and facilities made available by the College Graduate School and support provided by the Goldsmiths Research Office. For information on the Department s research activities and specialisms, please see page 10. Visit computing for full details of our degrees 7
Watch our film at vimeo.com/ goldsmiths/ computing 8 www.gold.ac.uk/computing
Teaching across Goldsmiths As well as running eight postgraduate programmes, we contribute teaching and expertise to other degrees at Goldsmiths MA/MSc in Creating Social Media The Department of Computing will be working with the Digital Culture Unit in the Centre for Cultural Studies on this new Masters, which launches in 2014. This unique theory and practice programme combines computing and cultural studies to provide students with the practical and critical skills to shape the future impact of social media. You will analyse existing ideas, approaches and tools, and plan, develop, hack and implement ground-breaking interventions. ma-creating-social-media MA in Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship: Computing Pathway This MA, which is run by the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, will allow you to innovate, while providing the entrepreneurial skills to commercialise your creative and cultural practices and/or knowledge. It s ideal if you wish to develop a business arising from an existing creative practice or to understand how to build the infrastructure and environment for new creative businesses. ma-creative-cultural-entrepreneurship MA/MSc in Digital Sociology Run by the Department of Sociology, this Masters has been specifically designed with the Department of Computing to equip you for critical and creative engagement with digital social life. It offers you advanced training in the skills, arts, concepts, methods and ethics of digital social research, teaching you to combine empirical analysis with critical thinking and technical practice. ma-msc-digital-sociology MA/MSc in Digital Journalism This Masters is on the cutting edge of emerging media and journalistic practice. With its unique inclusion of real software, design, and code training, complemented by fundamentals of news writing, media law, and multimedia production, the Masters seeks to redefine journalistic practice for digital media. This degree is ideal for aspiring or mid-career professionals. ma-digital-journalism Visit computing for full details of our degrees 9
Our research Everything you learn with us is backed up by a rich base of knowledge. Our staff are experts in their fields, engaged in developing cutting-edge technology that crosses the boundaries between computing, art, design and the wider social sphere. Our research areas include Computer Science, Arts Computing, Music Computing and Cognitive Computing, Narrative and Interactive Media, and Artificial Intelligence. If you are interested in carrying out research in any of these areas of expertise and interest, please contact Professor Robert Zimmer, (pgtutor@doc.gold.ac.uk) to discuss joining us. Department of Computing research Embodied AudioVisual Interaction Group (EAVI) is a research group focused on embodied interaction with sound and image. We are a small group of academics, researchers, and PhD students, carrying out cutting edge research across a diverse range of topics. Computational Creativity Research Group We are one of the world s largest and most prominent AI research groups specialising in the computational modelling of creative processes. Computational Creativity is a sub-area of Artificial Intelligence research, where we study how to build software which can take on some of the creative responsibility in arts and science projects. Goldsmiths Digital Studios is a hub of radical experimentation, fundamental investigations and innovative practices, forging links between digital technologies and artistic practice. The Studios are staffed by leading academic specialists with interests in computing, art, music, design and culture. They work closely with artists and digital media professionals to explore and extend the use of today s digital technology and to define and implement the art and design technologies of tomorrow. These include those working in the culture industries, film production, design consultancies, museums and galleries, interactive media content providers, software development houses, and hardware design laboratories. The Centre for Creative & Social Technologies (CAST) CAST is a truly interdisciplinary centre integrating computing and technology in emergent digital practices in Goldsmiths core academic strengths of media, social sciences, art, humanities and creative practices. It is situated in the Department of Computing and has teaching and research alliances with many other departments in the College, including: Sociology, Media and Communications, the Centre for Cultural Studies, Institute of Management Studies, and Educational Studies. Staff associated with CAST regularly supervise students working on research projects intersecting emerging technologies, digital innovation, systems, methods, and craft. The Whitehead Lectures in Cognition, Computation and Culture Goldsmiths organise regular seminars by guest speakers throughout the academic year encompassing various aspects of cognition, computation and culture. All are welcome. Please contact the Department for more information. 10 www.gold.ac.uk/computing
The Ben Pimlott Building Visit computing for full details of our degrees 11
Contact us See computing for full details of our degrees. If you need more information, please email course-info@gold.ac.uk. To find out more about us, go to www.gold.ac.uk/ computing or email computing@gold.ac.uk. Graduate insight Andrew, MSc in Computer Games & Entertainment The course has done an excellent job preparing me for working at the front lines of the games industry. It has been intensive and very thorough, encouraging us all to understand first-hand the workings of graphics, animation, and physics systems that ultimately helped me work with them at a higher level during my internship at Supermassive Games and my subsequent employment at the studio. 2013. Printed on 100% recycled paper 12 www.gold.ac.uk/computing