Master of Fine Arts in Visual Development

at Academy of Art University USA

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 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.

3D animation
This MFA in Animation & Visual Effects program focuses on developing skills in 3D animation. 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 BFA in Music Production provides more in depth study of principles introduced in the AA program. Students will gain a complete overview of the music production process, learning the latest in music production software, as well as recording, editing, and mixing. BFA students will complete a demo reel in their final year, highlighting their best music production for visual media (film, animation, games, and web media).

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 School of Industrial Design's MFA program provides advanced study within focused fields of physical design. In addition to classroom and collaborative coursework, each student works toward producing a final thesis project.

The MFA program focuses on advanced techniques and theory of interior architecture and design. The curriculum—designed and taught by industry professionals—focuses on research, concept and design development, traditional and digital media, innovative ideas, and global issues.

The interior design program leading to the Master of Fine Arts [MFA] in Interior Architecture & Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Master of Fine Arts [MFA] in Interior Architecture & Design granted by Academy of Art University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).

Visual Merchandising is the physical method of promoting product and services to the customer for the purpose of increasing sales.  Visual merchandisers actively engage in developing floor plans, window displays, in-store presentations, store lighting and graphics.  Visual merchandisers work collaboratively with retailers to ensure that retail space is best utilized to maximize sales.  The Bachelor in Fine Arts degree will give students training in technical and conceptual skills to plan, design and manage visual merchandising and brand presentations for various fashion businesses.  Students will develop their ability to design and install in-store presentations, merchandising and displays, and to execute visual projects from concept to delivery to support companies’ goals and sales.  They will enter the field with an industry-ready portfolio that demonstrates proficiency in color and design, material selection and manipulations, concept development and execution, excellent oral and visual presentation skills, collaboration and current software applications.

The School of Industrial Design's BFA program gives students the freedom to pursue their personal design visions within a structured and supportive academic environment. Led by a faculty of industry veterans, students are taught to approach their work with equal regard for aesthetic, business, and societal considerations.

The Fashion Marketing M.A. program offers future fashion marketers and managers a firm foundation to gain strategic consumer and market insights and knowledge on the fast-changing fashion industry, and to identify emerging trends in fashion business, marketing, technology and consumer in a global context. Through hands-on projects and courses that emphasizes research and analysis, students will learn both strong foundation in theory and creative and analytical skills to develop real world applications to discover global trends and digitally connected consumers.

The BFA program provides students with a comprehensive education in the principles of modern web design and new media. Taught by a faculty that works in the San Francisco Bay Area creative industry, our students are provided a unique opportunity to learn from teachers immersed in the field. The curriculum focuses on visual design, user experience, design strategies, web design, and motion graphics.