33 E. Ida B Wells

Turn your passion for sound into a career with an Acoustics degree from Columbia College Chicago. Learn the science of sound through foundational courses in the art and science of audio while you complete a sequence of math and science courses. Analyze how we hear and perceive sounds by studying physiology, neurobiology, and psychology. And learn how acoustical design creates spaces, environments, and products that are safe, useful, and engaging. With the help of our faculty of innovative researchers and our program’s strong network in the acoustics community, you’ll poise yourself for a career in architectural acoustics, environmental noise control, sound perception and cognition, and audio signal and vibration analysis. You can also pursue graduate studies in engineering, architecture, or hearing sciences.

Audio is an art and a science. We’ll train you in both. In our lab-based courses, you’ll create, record, and manipulate sound and learn the general theories and practices of audio. After your initial coursework in audio concepts, you’ll focus your studies in one of five concentrations: Music Recording, Live Sound Reinforcement, Audiovisual Systems Integration, Audio and Sound Design, or General Audio Arts.

Columbia College Chicago’s Music Technology program focuses on the science of sound—how music technology can be designed, shaped, used, and manipulated for experimental live performances, video games, music compositions, sound installations, and other musical activities. After taking introductory courses in science, mathematics, sound technology, and acoustics, you’ll choose one of five concentrations: Interactive Music Design, Electroacoustic Composition, Perception and Timbre, Programming Audio, and Physical Design.

Columbia College Chicago provides a comprehensive safety and security program on campus. Our 24-hour Security Command Center includes dispatching capabilities and a sophisticated video surveillance and emergency communications network staffed around the clock. We continuously review the latest technology to ensure we are providing optimal security services to the community. To complement our 24/7 campus security patrols, security officers use a marked security vehicle, Segways and bicycles to provide rapid response to incidents. Columbia has an after-hours Security Escort Program to help students and employees travel safely between campus locations and from campus locations to pre-designated mass transit stations. The Security Escort Program is available seven days a week from 6 p.m.­–1 a.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters.

The Columbia College Chicago Academic Center for Tutoring (ACT) provides students from all disciplines, backgrounds, and levels of expertise the opportunity to develop diverse skills and strategies that will enhance their academic success within a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Tutoring interactions span a variety of formats and learning environments to meet individual students’ academic demands. Tutors work collaboratively with students to produce knowledge through high-quality individual, small-group and large-group student-centered learning.

Classroom and learning space for architectural acoustics and vibration studies.

The main acoustics classroom offers an intimate learning space for up to 20 students, and is located between the labs for architectural acoustics and vibration studies. Students also have access to top-of-the-line analog and digital instrumentation.

Work on projects at 14 production stations equipped with MBox Pro interfaces and an extensive suite of audio software, including Avid’s Pro Tools, Apple’s Logic, and Cycling 74’s Max. You can also record audio in the lab’s two professional voiceover booths.

Take accurate acoustic measurements or record your own dry, non-reverberant sample library in this room designed to absorb sound waves and vibration.

Collaborate with your peers or work individually on music, sound art, or sound-for-picture projects in these private setups.

Our studio facility includes four post-production control suites where small teams of students can work together on music, sound art, or sound-for-picture projects. Two of the suites are equipped with LCD monitors and 5.1 surround audio for Audio for Visual Media or Sound Art work. The other two suites are stereo-only environments and accommodate lab assignments for our studio recording classes.

This facility supports classroom and lab activities for students in the Live and Installed Sound major. Hardware includes a Digico SD8 console, which feeds a high-power 7.3 sound reinforcement/playback system, a 64-channel HD recording system, and a 12-mix high-output stage monitor system.

Fine-tune your skills in our professional-level music production facilities. Used for course projects and in-class instruction, we have three control rooms linked to two studio spaces, complete with absorption/diffusion panels for a variety of instrumental setups and access to the Audio Arts and Acoustics' musical instrument collection, including a Yamaha C7 grand piano.

Built from an old bank vault, our reverberation chamber is a unique opportunity for sound engineers and audio enthusiasts to record and measure audio. You can use the chamber as a recording space as well—it’s fully connected to our classrooms and recording studios via a high-resolution network.