Georgia Tech's Music Department within the College of Architecture will soon offer a master's degree in Music Technology, pending approval from the Board of Regents.

"After working several years to expand the music program and to provide an academic center to what has been for years a co-curricular program, I believe this new master's degree in Music Technology represents a huge step in the development of music at Georgia Tech," said Dean Tom Galloway, College of Architecture. "I am so appreciative of the many students and faculty across campus who have helped us create a fully interdisciplinary program centered in art and technology."

Students interested in the program will need to complete 48 credit hours to graduate and will be heavily involved in research.

"We would like students to take part in our effort to innovate and develop future technologies for music performance, composition and education," Said Gil Weinberg, director of Music Technology.

The new program will eventually offer students two different concentrations to complete the degree. However, the plan is to start the degree program with one concentration in Computer Music Research and Engineering. The other concentration will be geared toward music production, and the plan is to offer that concentration within the next few years.

"Clearly, what is most important is to provide a world-class education for students who wish to pursue careers in music technology," said Frank Clark, director of the Music Department. "We also hope to positively impact our profession through innovative research, performance and teaching. As we look forward, it will be imperative to build a new Center for Music, Art and Technology - we desperately need new and innovative facilities."

The master's degree in Music Technology will be the first degree in Tech's history combining performing art with technology. The degree is also interdisciplinary and will require collaboration across campus.

Students pursuing the new degree will have a chance to take classes in Industrial Design, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, College of Computing, College of Sciences, and Literature, Communication and Culture.

"Throughout the process of creating a strategic plan for music, we inexorably returned to the combination of music and technology," said Clark. "It became abundantly apparent that we were positioned to institutionally, regionally and nationally create unique paradigms for music performance, teaching and research. It was also clear that we had an unparalleled opportunity to develop interdisciplinary programs combining music, architecture, computing, science and engineering."

According to Weinberg, the Music Department has already started receiving interest from students. He hopes to have 5 to 7 students start the degree path next fall, with that number expanding to about 20 or more within the next few years.