{"id":699592,"date":"2026-04-15T15:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=699592"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:31:32","slug":"new-interdisciplinary-department-of-sound-arts-and-engineering-699592","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/new-interdisciplinary-department-of-sound-arts-and-engineering-699592\/","title":{"rendered":"URochester launches interdisciplinary Department of Sound Arts and Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"

The collaboration between the Eastman School of Music and Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences bridges audio technology and artistry.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The University of Rochester<\/a> has launched the Department of Sound Arts and Engineering<\/a>, a new interdisciplinary academic department bringing together two of URochester\u2019s world-class schools\u2014the Eastman School of Music<\/a> and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences<\/a>. The integrated department advances research, education, creative practice, and public engagement at the nexus of sound, technology, and the musical arts.<\/p>\n

The Department of Sound Arts and Engineering unites Hajim programs (the bachelor of science in audio and music engineering<\/a> and the bachelor of arts in audio arts and technology<\/a>) with Eastman\u2019s Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media<\/a>, which houses the master of music in contemporary media\/film composition<\/a>, as well as future programs in music creation and technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur newest department continues the story of the University of Rochester\u2019s longstanding history of research and teaching excellence in engineering, music performance, and innovation,\u201d says University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. \u201cBy leveraging the strengths of two of our groundbreaking schools, we begin our latest chapter as leaders in creating and sharing music with new audiences and through new technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe history of music is full of technology-driven disruptions and adaptations, from when the gramophone drove the dawn of the music recording industry to today\u2019s advancements in artificial intelligence,\u201d says Wendi Heinzelman, the John and Barbara Bruning Dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. \u201cFusing the strengths of the Hajim School and the Eastman School allows us to create a one-of-a-kind program to prepare bright and talented students to lead the future of AI and creative practice, immersive audio, sound for games and film, and digital arts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy leveraging the strengths of two of our groundbreaking schools, we begin our latest chapter as leaders in creating and sharing music with new audiences and through new technologies.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cEastman and Hajim have long been celebrated for excellence in their respective areas, and this new unified department bridges the gap between these two distinct but immersive areas\u2014music and engineering\u2014offering a multitude of career paths for future students,\u201d says Kate Sheeran, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. \u201cWith established programs and exciting forthcoming degree paths, we are poised to lead the future world of music, technology, and engineering, with endless possibilities for learning, creativity, research, performance, and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of fall 2025, the Hajim School enrolls 62 students in its audio and music engineering and audio arts and technology programs, while Eastman\u2019s Beal Institute enrolls 15 students in its film music and contemporary media graduate program. The newly formed department will grow enrollment and will soon announce new degree programs.<\/p>\n

Chaired by Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mark Bocko<\/a>, the department will be composed of faculty from both schools, providing students with opportunities to learn from both areas of expertise, engage in collaborative projects, and take courses at both campuses.<\/p>\n

The sound arts and engineering department offers state-of-the-art facilities across both campuses, including audio engineering spaces, audio production facilities, labs for acoustics, immersive audio, and sound design, mix rooms, and performance and synthesizer labs. Future space for this department includes the recently announced Beal Innovation Hub<\/a> on Eastman\u2019s campus, as part of the Beal Institute expansion\u2014a collaborative center being built that will include 6,000 square feet of additional labs, creative spaces, classrooms, teaching studios, and a recording studio.<\/p>\n

The department also serves as the academic home to faculty engaged in SoundSpace<\/a>, a new transdisciplinary center advancing the University\u2019s leadership in music and technology in partnership between both schools.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The collaboration between the Eastman School of Music and Hajim School of Engineering bridges audio technology and artistry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1202,"featured_media":699642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[42242,42822,3286,18632,18032],"class_list":["post-699592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-news","tag-beal-institute-for-film-composition-and-contemporary-media","tag-department-of-sound-arts-and-engineering","tag-eastman-school-of-music","tag-hajim-school-of-engineering-and-applied-sciences","tag-mark-bocko"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nURochester launches interdisciplinary Department of Sound Arts and Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The collaboration between the Eastman School of Music and Hajim School of Engineering bridges audio 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