Master of Arts in Illustration

at Academy of Art University USA

The MFA program provides advanced study for students pursuing a career in web design and new media. Progress in the MFA degree is measured through a rigorous process, both at the midpoint and final reviews.

Studio courses develop creative and technical acumen, with attention to mastering user experience design, while advanced courses provide a focused learning environment for building final thesis projects. Students will graduate with a portfolio and comprehensive thesis project showcasing their talent.

Graduate programs in the School of Fashion refine and focus your individual artistic vision with degree options in Design, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Costume Design, Footwear & Accessory Design, Fashion Product Development, Fashion Merchandising & Management, and Fashion Marketing & Brand Management. Studio courses hone your knowledge of industry standards, combining design excellence with the mastery of the latest digital tools. Graduate candidates are guided through Directed Study which culminates in the production of a final collection, portfolio, or project.

The MFA in Acting is rooted in a conservatory approach to acting. The program provides immersive training in multiple mediums preparing actors for film, television, stage, and musical theater productions. Students will hone a diverse set of professional skills in voice, speech, movement, improvisation, classical theater, and audition techniques. Students will graduate from the program equipped with an industry ready demo reel showcasing the actor’s ability to work in front of a camera with a professional crew on a sound stage. The MFA portfolio will also include a personalized marketing strategy exhibiting the actor’s preparedness to successfully compete in the entertainment industry.

The BFA program teaches students the creative and technical skills needed to thrive as career artists. Advanced instruction is offered in non-figurative and figurative fine art, including painting, sculpting, and printmaking. Our Sculpture department has one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in North America, and our state-of-the-art printmaking facilities merge traditional tools with cutting edge technology.

The Master of Fine Art program provides students a framework for advanced study in drawing and painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students are focused on technical and conceptual development in figurative, abstract or landscape work. The School of Fine Art provides graduate students with studio space, exhibition galleries, and world class facilities.

The Visual Development MFA program provides advanced coursework in still life painting, figure drawing, character design, concept painting, layout design for animation, and other core skills of professional visual developers. The goal of each graduate student is the completion of a signature thesis book showcasing design work for a story-based project.

Entertainment Art
Entertainment Art emphasis students will develop professional skills needed to provide intelligent and informative visuals for new market areas of web publishing, app building, e-publishing, and VR experiences. Students will create unique portfolios incorporating data driven visual problem solving as well as fluency in time based media. Beyond distinct style and problem solving skills, students will develop professional portfolios emphasizing conceptual skills, current digital tools, appropriate motion based imaging skills, and the ability to work individually and in teams for online applications and digital publications. Professional skills needed to enter and sustain a career in the online marketplace for both contract and staff work will be emphasized.

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 MA in Game Development program allows students to further their careers by synthesizing traditional art and design fundamentals with today’s groundbreaking technologies. Students prepare their career skill-set through hands-on prototyping of game mechanics and art creation, followed by creating a final project industry-quality portfolio.

The School of Animation & Visual Effects BFA program provides students with the skills necessary to master today’s digital technology.

3D Animation
The 3D Animation emphasis BFA is designed for students interested in acquiring skills in computer animation. Course works covers elements of movement, performance, and timing as well as  training in the software and hardware needed to achieve their goals.

The MFA in Illustration provides the skills to develop portfolios with samples in Children’s Book, Editorial, Licensing, Package Illustration, Concept Art, Book Covers, Preliminary Art, Advertising, or Institutional Art portfolios. Both representational and stylistic approaches for print and or web are taught. Students graduate with a portfolio created in a personal style and medium of choice that is market appropriate.

Comics
The MFA in Illustration with an emphasis in Comics program prepares students to focus on personalized Graphic Novels or work in Mainstream Comic. Students graduate with a portfolio created in a personal style that is market appropriate.