Culture and Technology Studies Major

Culture and Technology Studies

What is Culture and Technology Studies?

Since the beginning of time, humankind has used technology in different ways, from simple tools to the digital age we find ourselves in currently. The more humans interacted with technology, the more they asked of their tools, and the relationship between humans and technology in turn was a powerful force in shaping culture more generally.

 

Why Culture AND Technology Matter

Today, technology allows us to stay connected instantaneously with one another, algorithms create curated social media feeds to present to us exactly what we want to see, and fake news runs rampant as every person can voice personal opinions to a wide audience. The connections between humanity and technology grow increasingly complex with every passing day.

Examples include:

  • Landline phones turned into handheld touch-screen cell phones = instant response time
  • Slow AOL internet servers turned into Alexa’s artificial intelligence = get answers anytime
  • Physical newspaper delivery turned into digital buzzfeed articles = find any news article
  • From America’s Funniest Home Videos TV turned into YouTube, Tik Tok and Reels = constant entertainment

 

Your Impact

With this in mind, we know it is important that our future leaders, innovators, and influencers have the knowledge, training, and expertise to manage ethical decisions and mobilize unique, creative problem-solving skills as we move toward a thriving digital future.

To do this, you’ll combine all the dynamic, creative possibilities of training in the arts and humanities with all the functional and technology fluency of studies in computer science for a powerful, unique, highly-in demand skill set to tackle the complex problems of tomorrow.

Program Streams

You will choose one stream to pursue, where you will focus on courses centered around:

  1. Performance, Making & Design: such as, digital technologies such as, 3D design, podcasting, & digital music, etc.
  2. Storytelling & Public Humanities: such as, digital storytelling such as, podcasts, video games, electronic literature, etc.
  3. Power, Identities, & Equity: such as, understanding the role of technologies in the analysis of power and methods of civic engagement, etc.

You will take courses across the Arts such as, History, English, Political Science, Studio Art, Sociology, Philosophy, and more.

 

Graduates of this program will be successful in careers such as, marketing, game design, social service, publishing, advocacy, education, web design, analytics, and more.

Students in the CTS program may also be interested in studying Computer Science, Psychology, Philosophy, English, History, Studio Art, or other majors.

To see all courses offered in this degree, visit our 2023-2024 Academic Calendar.

Gain Valuable Experience with Co-op 

The CTS co-op program is a four-and-a-half-year program, including up to four work terms. Students have access to companies and organizations in almost every industry due to the program’s connection to technology and the human experience through digital storytelling, communication, programming, design, art, music, media, writing, etc.

This wide range of interests and skills can be applied in many workplaces from government and non-governmental organizations, non-profit and community-based organizations and the private sector, with co-op granting you valuable experience to build your resume and career.

To see all courses offered in the co-op program, visit our 2023-2024 Academic Calendar.

Learn to Think Outside the Box

 Be Prepared for Your Career Before it Exists

The ability to connect the human experience with technology is quickly becoming the most sough-after skillset in the job market! This program will prepare you for a fast paced and evolving world, where jobs and technology are becoming obsolete as quickly as they are created. You will be ahead of the curve.

 Ask Important Ethical Questions

For example, is there such a thing as ‘privacy’ in a digital world? You’ll be challenged to think about each of the ways technology intersects with our lives and learn how to craft the future of technology in an ethical way, as well as our relationship to it.

 Pursue A Stream That Excites You 

You will choose between one of three streams within our program:

  1. Performance, Making & Design
  2. Storytelling & Public Humanities
  3. Power, Identities, & Equity. 

Culture and Technology Graduate Career Outcomes

Combined with your unique areas of specialization, the University of Guelph Culture and Technology degree provides you with flexible career pathways and empowers you to choose how you connect technology and digital tools with culture to impact society

 Here are a few career pathways our graduates have successfully pursued:

  • museum curator
  • librarian
  • web designer
  • game designer
  • digital publisher
  • information technologist

Admission Requirements

Explore admission requirements for Canadian, international, transfer, and mature students. Start your journey today!

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Scholarships & Bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial aid programs to assist with funding your education at the University of Guelph.

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