Online Special Effects School Programs

In this article, we look at how to get started with special effects school. In the multimedia world there are a wide range of positions for people who have taken special effects courses.

Special effects animators and multimedia artists are work in the special effects we see in movies and on television. Visual effects are needed in a wide range of productions and there are ranges of courses that can teach you the essential skills to help your creative side bloom into a wonderful career. There are many areas that require the use of these visual effects and special effects classes are available at various levels. If you are interested in gaining formal qualifications you will need to have successfully passed courses at postgraduate levels and show a keen flare for design and technology. Some of the courses available are: Associates in Special Effects Degree, Bachelors in Special Effects and also Masters in this type of course.

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Communications & Media Arts Degree Programs

Walden University

• Bachelor - Communication: New Media
• Bachelor - Communication: Online Work & Communities
• Bachelor - Communication: Public Relations

Kaplan University

• B.S. Communication / Technical Writing
• Advanced Start BS in Communication
• BS in Communication
• BS in Communication / Organizational Communication
• BS in Communication / Technical Communication

University of Phoenix

• AA in Communications
• BS in IT - Multimedia and Visual Communication
• B.S. in Business/Communication
• B.S. in Communication/Communication and Technology
• B.S. in Communication/Culture and Communication
• B.S. in Communication/Marketing and Sales Communication

Full Sail University

• Bachelor
  • Computer Animation
  • Digital Arts & Design
  • Film
  • Game Art
  • Game Development
  • Recording Arts
  • Show Production
• Master
  • Entertainment Business
  • Game Design

International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) and International Academy of Design & Technology Online (IADT Online)

• Associate of Science in Building Information Modeling
• Associate of Science in Graphic Design
• Associate of Science in Information Technology
• Associate of Science in Web Design & Development
• Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media Production
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Production
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Internet Marketing
• Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development

• Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication (BABC)

• Communications (Bachelor's)

The Los Angeles Film School

• Associate of Science in Film
• Associate of Science in Game Production
• Associate of Science in Computer Animation

The Los Angeles Recording School

• Music Production
• Digital Recording
• Audio Post production for Film and Television

Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts

• Digital Film making
• Photography
• Graphic and Web Design
• 3D Animation
• Audio Production
• Web Development

The Art Institutes and Art Institute Online

• BS in Graphic Design
• BS in Game Art and Design
• BS in Media Arts and Animation
• BS in Web Design and Interactive Media

American InterContinental University and American InterContinental University Online

• Bachelor - Media Production
• BFA in Graphic Design
• Associate's (AABA) - Visual Communication

Westwood College

• Bachelor Degree in Visual Communications
• Bachelor of Web Design and Multimedia

DeVry University

• Bachelor's - Business Administration: Technical Communication
• Bachelor's - Technical Management: Technical Communication

Jones International University

• BABC in Communication Management

Grand Canyon University

• Bachelor's - Multimedia Design and Development
• Bachelor's - Multimedia Design and Development: Graphic and Multimedia Design
• Bachelor's - Multimedia Design and Development: Graphics and Multimedia Management

Media & Communication Colleges in Canada

University of Canada West

• Bachelor of Arts - Media and Communication
• Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications

Special Effects Education and Training

You will need to decide if you wish to pursue a career in digital or mechanical effects before deciding upon your choice of degree at the special effects school of choice. During the courses some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study are: Theatre history, Digital Theatre Design, Costume Design, 3D Modeling, Computer Generated Imagery, Storyboard Techniques, Design Fundamentals, Safety Strategies and Regulations and Engineering.

Special effects animation training teaches students how to use computer applications and imaging techniques in order to manipulate film, video, photographs, digital video and audio, and soundtracks. Special effects animation degrees offer classes in equipment operation and computer programming.

Special effects school courses may include: Business Management, Visual Theory, Cartooning, Film Editing, Film Production. Photography, Human-Computer Interaction, Color Theory, Ad Design, Printmaking, Illustration, Drawing, Design, Painting, Animation and Motion Studies, Computer Graphics, Sound Design and Editing, Multimedia, and Television Production.

In addition to your degree from special effects school you may be required to undertake a pyro-technicians course to make sure you have the safety and knowledge required to be granted a license by the Government. These courses can be taken after your degree at special effects school or as a part time area of study on top. This will only be necessary if you wish to get involved in the mechanical rather than digital and animation works.

Careers with Special Effects Training

At special effects school, you will be given the opportunity of having hands on experience in theatres and studios of local television and film companies. Once you have qualified depending on your chosen field of expertise, you may be required to obtain a pyro-technicians commercial license with hazmat endorsements.

As a special effects technician, you will need to keep up with the newest software and be prepared to go for regular training sessions on the latest technology to help to keep you at the top of the game. You will have a high level of competition however the games industry is growing at an incredible fast pace. This means there are more opportunities to get involved in this enjoyable job.

As a special effects designer, you may be able to gain employment in the making of films and television productions as well as jobs in the gaming industries. Job titles which you can apply for include the following: Pyrotechnic Operator, Model maker, Prosthetics Designer or Sculptor.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The salaries will be widely dependent upon the scale of the project that you are employed in. Your experience and level of skill will also be taken into consideration. The median salaries at the time of publishing are: Model maker 49,000 dollars per year, Special Effects $57,000 per year, Pyrotechnic $44,000 per year, Sculptor $31,000 per year and Prosthetics $55,000 per year.

Television and film are still reliant on the skills of the artists. And the Internet is another platform which will want to use your level of skill in their marketing campaigns and shows made especially for that platform in a variety of special effects jobs. Hence, attending special effects school will help you determine the career path to take in the film or television industry.

Online special effects school and animation degree programs