Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Technologies (STEM)

at Academy of Art University USA

The MA program provides students an opportunity to work in 2D Animation & Stop Motion, 3D Animation, 3D Modeling, or Visual Effects, while focusing on storytelling with an emphasis on exhibiting technical skills and eliciting emotional responses.

The MA in Fine Arts can be completed with one of three emphases: Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, or Sculpture. This degree program provides students with the creative and technical skills needed to thrive in today’s art world. Students will leave with professional-level portfolios and an understanding of the business of art.

The Game Development BFA gives a well-rounded education in the arts with an emphasis on understanding and applying techniques including 3D modeling, animation and lighting in video game production.

Students graduate with a solid grasp of the fundamental game art principles, including knowledge of game engine technology and pre-production and production environments.

The Master of Arts Program in Fashion Journalism equips students with subject-area expertise to help communicate the rising complexity of the global fashion industry. M.A. students develop both: a deep understanding of social media for journalism and a strong fashion industry grounding that enables them to ask more informed questions, to situate fashion news and business of fashion events into a larger context, and to evaluate fashion collections with a critical, well-informed eye. Students learn to produce cross-platform stories that are nuanced and sophisticated for social, digital, mobile and print media. The M.A. program is fueled by a deep intellectual understanding of fashion, ethics, and the ability to professionally utilize social media - skills that are required of the leading fashion journalists of tomorrow.

The BFA in Fashion Product Development encompasses the process of fashion product development that requires understanding and knowledge of the consumer, market, and trends, textiles and raw materials, product concept and line development, and sourcing and manufacturing. Drawing from their design courses, students will apply a high level design aesthetic to develop products that are appropriate for a brand and their target customers.  Students will learn the hand drawing and drafting skills and the technical skills needed to produce detailed and accurate technical drawings and flat patterns using industry standard computer software. BFA graduates will be capable of working in various roles in a product development team.

The MA program provides advanced study for students pursuing careers in multimedia communications. Coursework focuses on short-form production, on-camera performance, multimedia writing, and journalism for broadcast as well as for streaming mobile devices, and entrepreneurship. Students graduate from the program with a comprehensive portfolio or reel that showcases their talents refined through a concentrated curriculum.

The MFA in Animation & Visual Effects program focuses on developing skills in any one of the many areas of expertise within the animation and visual effects industry. The program educates students in all aspects of animation and visual effects, from ideation to post production. Communication, collaboration, and time management skills are emphasized throughout the program to ensure graduates are acclimated to the intense professional culture that awaits them.

2D Animation and Stop Motion
This MFA in Animation & Visual Effects program focuses on developing skills in 2D animation and stop motion. The program educates students in all aspects of animation and visual effects, from ideation to post production. Communication, collaboration, and time management skills are emphasized throughout the program to ensure graduates are acclimated to the intense professional culture that awaits them.

The MA in Sound Design provides students with focused studio training in sound design, digital audio workstations, and industry standard practices in creating sonic worlds for visual media. Emphasis is placed on creative sound design techniques, and editorial practices in layering sounds in synchronization with visual media.

The MA in Photography program provides professional practice and intensive study of the photographic medium. Core curriculum covers historical perspective, in addition to advanced theoretical and conceptual development in traditional, experimental and digital photography capture, post-production and output with a focus on the development of a signature portfolio in the student’s area of interest (Fine Art Photography, Documentary, or Art for Commerce).

The Landscape Architecture MFA program provides advanced study for students pursuing a career in Landscape Architecture. Coursework emphasizes theories of open urban spaces, collaborative and interdisciplinary methods of design and implementation, sustainability, and advanced digital rendering techniques.