Master of Arts in Fine Art

at Academy of Art University USA

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 provides a specialized focus in acting for the camera. Students will develop a specific set of professional skills in voice, speech, movement, 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 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 School of Motion Pictures & Television’s MFA program offers in-depth, advanced training in the various areas of film and television production. Depending on the area of specialization, the MFA program culminates in a thesis film or professional reel/portfolio. Areas of study include directing, producing, cinematography, editing, production design, and screenwriting. Students are prepared to compete for work in the industry or to teach, as the MFA is a terminal degree.

The BFA in Sound Design provides more in depth study of principles introduced in the AA program. Students will gain a complete overview of the soundtrack creation process, learning the latest in digital audio workstation workflows, as well as recording, editing, and mixing. BFA students will complete a demo reel in their final year, highlighting their best sound design for visual media (film, animation, games, and web media).

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 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.

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 MFA program in Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media will fine-tune your ability to deliver compelling stories, characters, and scripts that grab the reader’s attention. The MFA is an intensive program that concentrates exclusively on writing, pitching, and the business side of being a professional writer. Complete a portfolio of feature and television scripts that can be used to market your skills as a writer.

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.