Department Overview The broadcast design program prepares motion graphics students for professional practice in the digital, broadcast, design, television, film and video industries. Students are equipped with skills that enable them to contribute anywhere graphic content in motion is broadcast or communicated. The undergraduate program provides students with the technical skills needed for success, combined with solid artistic fundamentals, honed through a curriculum that includes design, drawing, writing and numerous courses in the humanities. In addition, students work collaboratively within a framework of cooperative activity that reflects the industry they are preparing to join. Students are encouraged to take electives in other areas including graphic design, traditional fine arts, visual effects, interactive and Web design, animation, photography, and film and television. In the graduate program, students develop professional design management skills and pursue theoretical and methodological studies, enabling them to realize their potential as leaders in both practice and management. The program combines taught and self-directed studies and includes critical approaches to spatial and material culture, project management, design methodology, research, communication and design theory. Graduate study culminates in production of a broadcast design thesis project accompanied by a researched, written component. Computer studios offer both undergraduate and graduate students ready access to high-end, industry-standard equipment and software. The facilities consist of an intranet of Macintosh, PC and Silicon Graphics Inc. (Unix) workstations configured with a diverse range of hardware and software. Students learn on the same high-end 2-D, 3-D and compositing tools used throughout the profession. These tools include the Adobe product line, including After Effects and Premiere; Animo; Macromedia Flash, Director and Dreamweaver; Alias/Wavefront Maya; Avid Softimage/XSI, Symphony and Xpress DV; Discreet 3ds max, flame, flint, combustion and smoke; Pixar's RenderMan; Side Effects' Houdini products; and Shake. Hardware and software are continually updated to include new technology. Career options include producer, director, art director, creative director, designer, motion designer, new media designer, Web designer, graphic designer, editor, compositor, freelancer/business owner and professor for the fields of film, broadcast, new media, Web, print and education. Graduates may work in feature film studios, production facilities, post houses, advertising agencies, creative boutiques, broadcast/network studios and universities or may own their own businesses. Among the major production houses employing alumni are Digital Domain, Sony, Turner Studios, The Weather Channel, MTV, CNN, the Sundance Channel, Rhythm & Hues and numerous others. back to top