Though the Media Arts Technology Program strongly involves state-of-the-art-technologies and applications in the sciences, it requires a solid orientation in traditional and liberal arts such as literature, music, architecture, the visual and performance arts, as well as subjects in the humanities, sociology, history, and psychology.

The work done in this program integrates multiple disciplines around the concept of building virtual models and worlds. Literature, the sciences and computer programming simulate different aspects of life, whether for research, entertainment or education. These areas are flowing together, and there is great opportunity to explore ways of creating works in which art, science, and simulation are combined.

This program provides tools and skills to other college programs in the same way traditional language arts or math are applied in more than one area of study. As students satisfy their MATP course requirements by building models for the sciences and humanities, their work will be added to a library of models, and used as learning tools for other students and faculty outside of the MATP. An example would be the building of virtual story-worlds, providing a new tool to enhance learning methods through real time interaction with virtual characters in a virtual world.

The Media Arts Technology Program has a strong connection with the proposed Communications Division, specializing in video production and televised broadcast. Related core classes are required for Media Arts students. The program also offers courses useful to Communications students, satisfying requirements for their program as well.

The disciplines emerging from the program will also supply support in new media development formats to the faculty, helping develop instruction on the Internet, pioneering the creation of environments for virtual classrooms that allow both students and instructors from local and remote places to interact.