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Doctoral studies in ATEC

ATEC Doctoral Program

The PhD in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication trains students in academic disciplines and research traditions at the intersection of technology and new media.

PhD in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication

The PhD program in ATEC caters to individuals aspiring to pursue advanced scholarship, teach arts- and technology-focused courses in higher education, or innovate artistic, cultural, or commercial applications of digital technology and emerging media. With a faculty known for varied expertise and a curriculum that seamlessly integrates scholarly study with creative practice, the Bass School’s ATEC PhD program nurtures creative scholars, scholarly practitioners, and interdisciplinary researchers.

PhD students, hailing from diverse backgrounds, embark on transdisciplinary journeys during their first year of coursework, where they delve into foundational theories, questions, and methods underlying the study of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication. As they progress, students engage in methodological training and can explore individual research interests, including up to 15 credit hours of coursework from other schools at UT Dallas.

One of the few programs of its kind in the US, the ATEC PhD program features faculty expertise in areas such as game studies, arts education, global media studies, science and technology studies, critical media studies, and animation studies. Regardless of their specialty, faculty share a unified focus on media, arts, and technology. Our students, who join the program with MA degrees as varied as literature, film studies, computer science, game studies, art history, and the visual and digital arts, contribute a rich blend of knowledge in culture, technology, and the arts.

The ATEC PhD program provides substantial support for students’ intellectual, creative, and career ambitions, including opportunities to develop teaching skills as instructors of record. Graduates of the program have successfully secured prestigious postdoctoral and faculty roles in higher education.

Our ATEC PhD program offers five years of funding in the form of Teaching Assistantships to all who are admitted. To learn more, visit the List of Graduate Degree Program Policies and Procedures.

Program TypeDoctorate
FormatOn campus, full- and part-time options are available
Estimated Time to Complete4 years
Semester Credit Hours60
faculty presenting at the ATEC Master's Showcase

Meet Professors You Will Never Forget

ATEC Faculty include world-renowned artists, scholars, and creative practitioners. Their diverse areas of expertise ensure that graduate students gain knowledge of breadth and depth. Our professors publish with the nation’s leading academic presses, work with top animation studios, hold patents in design, and are recognized as pioneers by peers in their field.

ATEC PhD Faculty

Anne Balsamo
Professor
Anne.Balsamo@utdallas.edu

Xtine Burrough
Professor
cxb153930@utdallas.edu

Heidi Rae Cooley
Associate Professor of Arts, Technology and Emerging Communication
heidi.cooley@utdallas.edu

Monica Evans
Associate Professor
mevans@utdallas.edu

Roger Malina
Professor
roger.malina@utdallas.edu

Josef Nguyen
Associate Professor of Critical Media Studies
Josef.Nguyen@utdallas.edu

Kevin Sweet
Assistant Professor — Design & Interactive Arts: Immersive Experience
Kevin.Sweet@UTDallas.edu

Christine Veras, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Christine.Veras@UTDallas.edu

Marilyn Waligore
Professor
waligore@utdallas.edu

Hong-An Wu
Associate Professor
HongAn.Wu@utdallas.edu

More Faculty →

anechoic chamber

Art-Based Research & Creative Practice

We believe if you can imagine it, we can make it. Our lab and studio culture blends art, technology, design, engineering, science, and the humanities to create an incubative environment rich with possibilities. Collaboration is the heart of the Bass School. Learn how faculty, students, art-based research, and creative practice are connected.

Contact Information

Larrlenski Jackson
Graduate Academic Advisor
Phone: 972-883-6311
Email: larrlenski.jackson@utdallas.edu
Office: ATC 1.606

Graduate Advising
Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
The University of Texas at Dallas, JO31
800 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone: 972-883-4706
Email: ahtgradvising@utdallas.edu

Office of Admission and Enrollment
800 W. Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
972-883-2270 or 1-800-889-2443
admission@utdallas.edu
utdallas.edu/enroll

Next Steps

Explore

Reach out to us to get more information about your program of interest.

Apply

Review the Bass School’s graduate application process and requirements.