Electronic Arts

Career Preparation

The Electronic Arts program at MSU is a highly-selective, interdisciplinary major designed to prepare students for professional careers in a variety of electronic arts industries, including computer animation, audio and video production, multimedia design and music recording. The curriculum enables majors to build a professional portfolio which demonstrates their expertise in at least one area of the curriculum (computer animation, multimedia, audio or video studies); to develop the communication skills required to work successfully within a creative production team; and to acquire the technical, aesthetic and problem-solving skills necessary to pursue a successful career in the electronic arts. The success of this program is illustrated by the many national and regional awards that electronic arts students have won since the program was started.

Facilities

Electronic Arts majors have an opportunity to pursue their degree in a variety of state-of-the-art production facilities located across the MSU campus. Video and audio production students work in the department's Avid® Media Composer and DigiDesign Protools® non-linear editing labs, surround sound / music recording studio and digitally-equipped television studio. Music composition and recording students do additional work in facilities operated by the Music department and located in the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Computer animation and multimedia production students work in Mac and Windows -based labs operated by the Art and Design department using a variety of software application including: Newtek Lightwave 3D®, Adobe Photoshop®, Adobe After Effects®, Adobe Director®, Adobe Dreamweaver®, and Adobe Flash®.

Faculty

Courses in the Electonic Arts program are taught by faculty from three departments: Art and Design; Music; and Media, Journalism & Film. These faculty members specialize in computer animation, audio and video production, interactive multimedia design and electronic music. In addition to teaching in their area of specialization within the program, the faculty continue to produce award-winning work as professional artists, composers, directors and web designers.

Academic Programs

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electronic Arts is a non-comprehensive 37 hour major requiring a minor in a related field. The program consists of a 19 hour core taken by all majors, with an additional 18 hours in either Audio, Video, Computer Animation or Multimedia Studies.

Although students may declare as Electronic Arts majors when they enter the University, they will not be formally admitted to the program until they complete three of the four pre-admission core classes and pass an initial portfolio review. Once admitted, all majors must successfully pass a junior and senior portfolio review and complete a year-long senior thesis project. The 19 hour electronic arts core is designed to introduce all majors to the essential technological, aesthetic, design and communication issues deemed critical to the successful creation of a professional electronic arts project. Armed with this common vocabulary, students then pursue a specialization in audio, video, computer animation or multimedia design. During their final year, electronic arts majors will form production teams to design and produce an original, broadcast quality project.

Career Opportunities

The Electronic Arts career field is experiencing a rapid expansion at present. Students graduating with a degree in electronic arts will be in a unique position to take advantage of the many career opportunities opening up due to an increasing reliance on electronic communication in business, education and the arts. Students will be well prepared to pursue traditional career paths in television, radio, advertising, recording studios and graphic arts. Graduates also will be able to work effectively in many areas of new technology including interactive multimedia design, world wide web construction, computer animation and audio or video digital post-production. The program's interdisciplinary emphasis on basic visual and aural aesthetics, advanced technologies and small group communication skills, as well as the students' demonstrated ability to function efficiently within large-scale production teams on long-term projects should make Electronic Arts graduates particularly attractive to potential employers.

Scheduling Courses

It is recommended that students enroll in three of the four pre-admission core classes (ART 100/110, MUS 216, MED 290, and MED 365) as soon as possible since application to the major cannot occur until three of these classes have been successfully completed with a "B" average or better. Ideally, students should complete this core requirement by the end of the first semester, and no later than the second semester of their sophomore year. Once accepted into the major, students should complete ART 300: Fundamentals of Collaboration in electronic Arts as soon as possible. Please note that ART 300 is open only to accepted majors and must be completed before majors can enroll in the year-long senior thesis project (ART/MED 498). As they work to complete the core, all majors should simultaneously pursue their minor and complete 18 hours in either Audio, Video, Computer Animation or Multimedia Studies. This means that students should plan to take a minimum of 6 hours in the Electronic Arts curriculum, and 3-6 hours in the minor each semester following acceptance into the programm. Prospective and accepted majors are strongly encouraged to meet with their electronic arts advisor to review their requirements and to work out a sample course schedule by semester once accepted into the program.

Admissions to the Major

All students majoring in Electronic Arts must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:

1. Reach Sophomore or Junior status.
2. Preadmission Core: Complete 9 hours with a GPA of 3.00 or higher from the following Electronic Arts preadmission core courses: ART 110(3) or 100(3); MED 290(3), 365(3); MUS 216(3). Core courses in the student’s chosen option must be completed before applying.
3. Initial Portfolio Review: Portfolio must include a minimum of two and a maximum of three examples of audio, video, multimedia, and/or computer animation work, with at least one example coming from a core course. Students seeking admission to the Electronic Arts program in the area of Computer Animation Studies must include at least one work from ART 230 or ART 330. Specific guidelines are required for portfolios.

The Electronic Arts program maintains a dedicated website with detailed information regarding admission requirements and curriculum. Visit the Electronic Arts website at http://ea.missouristate.edu.