The IAIA Computer Science Department (CS) bridges technology and creativity, offering a curriculum that integrates programming with Studio Arts, Digital Media, within an Indigenous framework. CS is designed to use computational tools as a form of empowerment through means of expanding creative expression, fostering innovative applications in digital art, printmaking, sculpture, and interactive media. By blending technical knowledge with artistic exploration, students develop creative works across multiple disciplines, unlocking the potential of digital tools, crafting new methods of artistic production with code, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in art. This approach honors Indigenous storytelling and contemporary cultural expression, ensuring that technology serves as a means of creative and cultural enrichment.

Unlike traditional computer science programs, our approach emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning in artistic contexts. Students engage with coding as both a technical skill and an artistic medium, exploring the interdisciplinary potential of programming with ceramics, photography, metalwork, and sculpture. Programming for Physical Computing, Sound Art, Video Art, Dome/Spatial Audio, and Performing Arts courses allow students to experiment with real-time visual and sound effects, creative coding, and computational design, equipping them with tools to expand their artistic practice.

Graduates of the program will be uniquely positioned to contribute to the fields of studio arts, digital arts, museum curation, cinematic storytelling, and interactive design, using technology to elevate artistic and cultural narratives. Whether creating a hybrid of traditional and generative sculptures or designing interactive performances, students will leave IAIA with a deep understanding of how computer science can serve as a powerful tool for creative innovation.

Guiding Statement

CS empowers students to unlock the innate capabilities of the tools used to create by fostering innovation, problem-solving, and technical expertise. This program bridges computational and artistic disciplines, emphasizing creative and computational thinking, coding, and software engineering. Graduates emerge with the ability to shape, refine, and develop digital tools that push artistic and technological boundaries, preparing them for a wide range of careers in the evolving digital landscape.

Philosophy

CS is grounded in the belief that technology should be accessible, ethical, complementary to our cultures and world views, and transformative. We emphasize critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration, ensuring that students not only develop technical proficiency but also understand the broader societal impact of computing.

Goals

• Technical Excellence: Equip students with the foundational and advanced skills in programming, data structures, algorithms, interactive media, digital arts, and studio arts.
• Cultural Integration: Foster a deep understanding of how technology can be used to preserve, enhance, and share Indigenous narratives and knowledge systems.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Encourage cross-disciplinary learning by integrating computer science with other creative fields, allowing students to develop innovative projects at the intersection of technology and the arts.
• Career Preparation: Prepare students for diverse career opportunities in industries such as software development, digital media, game design, museum curation, and cultural preservation.

In the long term, the impact of CS extends beyond the individual student. Graduates will emerge as skilled technologists and innovators who can contribute to the broader community by leveraging technology to support cultural preservation, creative expression, and social change. The program’s emphasis on applied knowledge and collaboration will foster a new generation of Indigenous technologists capable of addressing global challenges while staying true to their cultural roots.

Learning Outcomes

CS at IAIA prepares students for diverse career paths where programming and digital technology intersect with creative expression. The program also enhances CS learning in and across other IAIA programs by contributing to the following areas:

• Studio Arts: Graduates will apply programming to traditional studio practices like sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, and digital fabrication. Roles may include creative coders producing generative art, artists using computational design to enhance physical mediums, or innovators working with CNC machines and 3D printing to push the boundaries of traditional arts.
• Performing Arts: Opportunities abound for graduates to use programming in live performances, creating dynamic stage effects, real-time visuals, and interactive installations that bring storytelling to life. They may also design motion-capture systems or sound-responsive technologies for performances.
• Video and Sound Art: Careers in video art, sound design, and interactive media offer graduates a chance to work with real-time spatial audio, cinematic programming, and digital effects, particularly within immersive environments. These skills allow them to craft compelling audio-visual experiences.
• Museum Studies: Technology is transforming museums and cultural institutions, and graduates can contribute by developing interactive exhibits, digital archives, and multimedia installations that preserve and amplify Indigenous cultural heritage.
• Cinematic Arts and Technology: In cinematic arts, graduates may work on digital effects, animation, interactive film production, and immersive cinematic experiences. Their technical expertise can enhance storytelling with real-time spatial audio and advanced computational tools.

By fostering a view of code as both a tool and a creative material, the program enables graduates to innovate across Studio Arts, Performing Arts, Video and Sound Art, and Museum Studies.