Study overview BSc Creative Technology

Overview modules

• Year 1EC

  • Module 1 | We create Identity15

    The first module is an introduction to Creative Technology as a discipline and as a subject. You will learn: to describe various aspects typical of the field of Creative Technology (example products, societal context, processes and issues in the field, techniques for creative thinking), to a certain extent, to describe your own position in this field (“Me as a Creative Technologist”),  to work in a project (first encounter with planning, collaboration, communication and organisation), to describe, and apply to yourself, possible roles that one can take in a project or creative development process, and to apply a first set of skills and insights in the various thematic subfields underlying the curriculum (Smart Technology, Interactive Media, Computer Science and Engineering, (Visual) Storytelling, Programming)

    Modules 1-8 have time dedicated to professional development which you will use to broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills in the field of Creative Technology, and develop yourself as a professional.

  • Module 2 | Smart Environments15

    In the Smart Environments module students learn various techniques from different disciplines that are needed to invent, design and realize a (prototype of) a smart environment. The module is a mix of smart technology, additional knowledge and skills from other disciplines and a project in which the students apply the skills they just learned. The smart technology components in the module are "Sound & Circuits", "Programming and Physical Computing", "Smart Environments" and the module’s project. These courses deal with (distributed) electronic and digital systems in increasing complexity and with increasing interaction with the physical environment. An important part of the module is programming these (sub-)systems. To be able to invent, design and realize smart environments, knowledge from other disciplines is necessary. "Introduction to Mathematics and Modelling" provides the students with basic mathematical skills, while "Sketching" teaches the students how to sketch and make a design. Some generic skills like collaborating in a team are essential.

  • Module 3 | Living & Working tomorrow15

    As an independent creative professional, it is necessary that you develop skills to generate ideas (ideation), explore and tinker. It is also necessary that you can imagine, realize, present and evaluate ideas in the context of an external assignment.

    One of the main attributes of a creative engineer is visualising and concretising ideas, both as an independent professional or by external assignment. These ideas need to be presented in a way that allows for tinkering, tweaking, playing and testing - before they are ready for market or production. There are many ways for visualising or realising ideas in such a way that they can be presented to and discussed with others. This process of choosing a representation, tinkering and explorative research is the bottom-line of this module.

    Central topic in the module is assignments by external clients. The assignments deal with both technology (smart products, electronics, new media) and design aspects. Students have to make a well-balanced choice in the tools they use for visualising and discussing their solutions (mock-ups, prototypes, simulation, 3D visualisation, movie) and evaluate the work that has been realised (discuss evaluation criteria, produce and evaluate measurement results, discuss their choices in shape and design and used methodology).

  • Module 4 | Art, Impact & Technology15

    Can you develop human feelings of pity in an artificial, lifeless installation? Can you make music with light? In Module 4, during the “Have fun & play!” project you will design and realise an interactive installation for Gogbot, a local art and technology festival. You will use and integrate methods and techniques you familiarised yourself within the previous modules.

    You will tell the story, both visually and textually, behind the (creation of) your installation and place it in its context, for a variety of audiences. The module is organized in cooperation with the GOGBOT festival, an international festival in Enschede, held in September. The focus of the festival is on multimedia, art, music and technology. High-quality installations are invited to exhibit at GOGBOT (in addition to the course project exhibition).

    To predict the impact of the interactive installation you will have to reflect on the theoretical concepts of interactive art and consider how your design will influence the experience of the spectator.
• Year 2EC

  • Module 5 | Specialisation15

    This module is an elective module. The subjects in these three sub-modules vary, but both will offer you the fundamental knowledge of tools you will frequently use when you carry out your profession. 

    Smart Technology (systems, signals, smart environments)
    In the Smart Technology specialisation, you will learn about systems, signals and smart environments. You will be thought the processes behind filters, amplifiers, step responses, sensors, and control systems. This theory will then be applied in lab sessions where you will be able to work  with these concepts. Additionally, you will receive the mathematics which is necessary to understand systems and signals. A Smart Tech Hackathon will mark the end of the specialisation. In this hackathon you will build installations in small groups with the knowledge you have acquired during the specialisation.

    Interactive Media (internet, games, visualisation)
    In the Interactive Media specialisation you will learn what is needed to animate movies and games. You will work with concepts such as the analysis and synthesis of sound, game theory, and 3D visualisations and animations. Additionally, you will learn to use virtual reality and augmented reality. All the acquired knowledge in this specialisation will be combined into a final project. In this project you will create an interactive experience or 3D game in pairs.

    Humane by design
    Humane by design is offered by VU Amsterdam. This specialisation focuses on raising awareness of the consequences of technology for people and society as a whole.

  • Module 6 | Intelligent Interaction design15

    How does Artificial Intelligence work, and how do you apply it? What do we need in order to improve AI? Which factors should you consider in the interaction between people and technical systems? In this module, you will design low fidelity and high fidelity prototypes of an interactive, intelligent system and evaluate it with potential users.

    Next to that, you will also learn the main AI techniques concerning search, Bayesian networks and machine learning. You will practice these skills and learn to implement algorithms in an object-oriented programming.

  • Module 7 | From Ideas to Society15

    Always wanted to know how big firms introduce radical, ground-breaking innovations to the market? Or how entrepreneurs turn a fantastic idea into their own startup? Then this module is up your street. In this module, you will discover that entrepreneurship is more than starting up a company. That it is primarily about a specific mindset. In this module, you learn basic entrepreneurial theories, models and skills. You develop a(social/sustainable) business idea into a business. You will also validate your idea and prototype with (potential) customers. Next to that, you will learn to understand which external (e.g. international) environmental conditions are important for an innovative organization. In this course, you will experiment with entrepreneurship and innovation with cases of existing companies as well with “your own” start-up. After all, your design will never reach the production stage without a positive, properly developed business plan! You will also learn how to design a good questionnaire and experiment and how to analyse data gathered from potential customers. Furthermore, you will discover the ethics and philosophy of technology.

  • Module 8 | Data: from the Sources to the Senses15

    Module 8 centres around the Hybrid Worlds project, in which you will build an installation that showcases the interplay between the physical world and the digital world using an interactive data physicalisation. You will, for example, might come up with an interactive installation, such as a table-top screen that can display a three-dimensional, colour-lit bar chart presenting the migration flows in a given country. 

    You will draw on all the knowledge and skills you acquired in previous modules. The goal is to use and process data from various sources, and to present them in a physical, interactive installation.
• Year 3EC

  • Modules 9&10 | Electives30

    Modules 9&10 are electives, these are your options:

    Do a pre-master’s course to prepare for a master’s programme;

    Spend half a year (a semester) studying at a university abroad;

    Do an internship at a company, and discover your added value as a Creative Engineer;

    Is your ambition to teach? Choose the Education minor and get a second-degree teaching qualification, which will allow you to work as a teacher at high-school level;

    Or choose another module at the UT (see all minors).

  • Modules 11&12 | Bachelor's Assignment30

    In the second half of your third year, you get to choose from a number of electives in the fields of human technology interaction, ethics and professional conduct. You will also take (compulsory) subjects, including Academic Writing and Reflection. These are designed to help you to successfully complete your graduation assignment. Throughout these last six months, you will be busy with your graduation assignment, solving a current issue in a scientific way.

    Before you start, we will discuss with you the research question you want to focus on. You can carry out your project at the UT, in the business world or, for example, at a government organisation. Upon completion of your graduation thesis, you will receive your bachelor’s diploma and you can officially call yourself Bachelor of Science (BSc).