4-YEAR UG Professional Program
Creative and Applied Computation
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Design in Creative and Applied Computation (CAC) employs creativity and technology to bring ideas to life, especially ideas that make you wonder, “Is this even possible?” It goes beyond designing screens or interfaces. It empowers one to experiment, think differently, and blend technical skills with scientific principles and creativity to bring ideas to life that one might not have thought were possible otherwise.
Vision
CAC is open to anyone eager to learn with no prior coding background. The program grounds computational exploration in core design principles, encouraging students to combine aesthetic sensibility, critical inquiry, and technical logic. Throughout the program, you will apply algorithmic thinking and Human-Centered design to complex problems, testing and refining ideas through iterative making.
LEVEL
Undergraduate Degree
AWARD
Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
DURATION
4 Years / Full-time
Last Day to Apply
15 March 2027
Course Structure
The curriculum comprises of different ways of learning as follows:
- Foundation introduces students to basic principles and tools of Art, Design and Technology as methods, tools and processes.
- Disciplinary Studios are learning spaces where students develop core disciplinary capabilities, while navigating a trans-disciplinary environment
- General Studies is a common and compulsory programme of study that integrates Humanities, Sciences, Maths, business and finance. Development and Policy Studies and also offers Languages (Spanish, French and German)
- Interim is an immersive introduction to practice in new and emerging areas of art and design and environmental exposure
- Electives are of three kinds – this program allows students to expand their skills, develop the interests as well as provide opportunities for travel exchange
- Internship/Apprenticeship is compulsory work experience done over the summer-break between the 6th and 7th semester
- Project based learning involves the application and synthesis of capabilities acquired. Two projects, pre-thesis and thesis, is culmination of the 4-year undergraduate program, which allows for demonstration of an integration of values, positions, capabilities and practice.
For More information, please contact Professor Vivek Garady at vivek.garady@manipal.edu
Learning Approach
The program emphasizes attention to emerging technologies and frameworks, encouraging the customization and extension of tools to execute specialized tasks. Throughout the course, you will apply computation in diverse contexts, using practical testing to ensure success and add insight and value. Students will develop practical skills through hands-on and experiential learning by making and exploring. Analytical abilities through mathematical and algorithmic approaches, data contextualization, and interdisciplinary tools and applications are also honed. The CAC students learn to utilize and explore new technologies, languages, and libraries and combine the physical and digital using hardware and code.
For More information, please contact Professor Vivek Garady at vivek.garady@manipal.edu
Capabilities
Upon successful completion of this course graduates will have developed the following capabilities:
- Identify ways in which processes can be represented using parameters and manipulate these algorithmically using computational tools.
- Learn emerging technologies and frameworks using online resources and documentation, and use them to build applications.
- Manipulate and represent media and data to gain insights into their structure.
- Build, customize or extend tools to execute specialized tasks.
- Combine the physical and digital using hardware and code to make objects capable of communicating and behaving in new ways.
- Apply computation in diverse contexts to add insight and value.
- Verify by testing that applications work as intended and find cases that they may fail in.
No prior knowledge of a programming language is required.
CAC looks at technology as an extension of design thinking. At its core, all programming during the course is seen as a medium to improve or express ideas and principles. This approach allows students to ideate first and learn the programming languages needed to execute their visions second. Rather than a software engineering focus, making, experimenting, and collaborating through computation is highly encouraged.
SMI Engage, a novel platform where industry partners, alumni, faculty, and students collaborate on real-world projects, internships, and placements. This dedicated ecosystem holds immense potential to streamline opportunities and secure successful career outcomes for our students.
Thanks to the integration of computation into a vast range of industries, most CAC students find themselves able to integrate themselves in a large number of industries. In recent years, CAC students have occupied positions in the following fields:
– Research and Development
– Academia
– UI/UX
– Software Development
– Game Development
– Ecology