Computational Media

From Georgia Tech Student Wiki

Computational Media (CM) is a Bachelor's of Science program offered by the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is a joint offering from the College of Computing and School of Literature, Media, and Communications, that is designed to "provide a thorough education in all aspects of the computer as a medium: the technical, the historical-critical, and the applied [1]." Although CM is one of the newer and smaller undergraduate programs to be offered by Georgia Tech, having started with only one student in 2004 [2], it is now nationally recognized within its own right, with its video game design course being ranked #3 in the nation according to the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report [3].

Degree Requirements[edit | edit source]

Degree Requirements [4]
Course Description
CS 1100 Freshman Leap Seminar (1)
CS 1301 or CS 1315 Introduction to Computing or Introduction to Media Production (3)
CS 1331 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming (3)
CS 1332 Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
CS 2050/2051 Discrete Mathematics Requirement (3)
CS 2340 Objects and Design (3)
CS Ethics Course Ethics/Professionalism Requirement (3)
LMC 2700 Introduction to Computational Media (3)
MATH 1551 and 1552 Calculus Requirement (6)
MATH 1554/1564 Linear Algebra Requirement (4)
MATH 2550 Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (2)
2 Lab Sciences (Non-sequential) Lab Science Requirement (8)
ENGL 1101 and 1102 English Requirement (2)
Any Humanities Course Humanities Requirement (3)
Any LMC Humanities Course LMC Humanities Requirement (3)
One History/Government Requirement Class History/Government Requirement (3)
9 credits of Social Science Classes Social Science Requirement (9), requirements vary by thread combination
APPH 1040/1050/1060 Wellness Requirement (2)
Thread Requirements Select a thread page below
Junior Design Capstone Select one requirement (6)
Free Electives Varies by thread combination and capstone selection

For more information on degree requirements, Junior Design Capstone options, and threads, see CM Degree Requirements.

Threads[edit | edit source]

The Computational Media course structure is most similar to Computer Engineering's in nature; students are required to choose a thread, or specialization, in two different disciplines. Students who major in Computational Media have to choose from one of three threads from the Computer Science program: Intelligence, People, or Media, and either Music Technology or one of three threads from the Literature, Media, and Communications program: Interaction Design (formerly Experimental Media and Interaction Design), Game Studies, or Film and Media Studies [5].

Thread List[edit | edit source]

Computer Science (CS) Threads

  1. Intelligence*
  2. Media
  3. People


* In lieu of CS 4510 (Automata and Complexity Theory), CM majors take another specialized class, as they are neither required to take MATH 3012 (Applied Combinatorics) nor any statistics course, both of which are prerequisites for CS 4510.

For more information on CS threads, see Thread (Computer Science).

Literature, Media, and Communications (LMC) Threads

  1. Film and Media Studies
  2. Game Studies
  3. Interaction Design

Music Technology

Students choose from one of the CS threads and either Music Technology or one of the LMC threads.


References[edit | edit source]

  1. Bachelor of Science in Computational Media < Georgia Tech (gatech.edu)
  2. B.S. in Computational Media | Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts (gatech.edu)
  3. 2022-2023 Best Undergraduate Game Design Programs - US News Rankings
  4. FR-SO-21-22.pdf (gatech.edu)
  5. Undergrad recruitment brochure_2020 update_v2.pdf (gatech.edu)