Visual Effects Colleges & Universities

A Career in Visual Effects
Visual effects are images or animations featured in film, television or other media, which are often combined with live action footage in order to enhance a commercial or movie. The field of visual effects is one populated largely by artists or those with special creative talents. As it weds creativity with technology, it is a competitive field that requires the command of a number of skills.

The creation of visual effects often entails mastery of computers and complicated programs that allow a user to create graphics. Programs that a student at a visual effects college can expect to learn to use include:
  •   Adobe Master Collection
  •   Autodesk Maya
  •   Nuke
  •   Cinema 4D
  •   RenderMan
  •   Houdini

These programs are used to generate many of the effects seen on everyday commercials and some films.

Proficiency with computers is a must for anyone pursuing visual effects degrees, which are offered by some schools at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with BFA, MA and MFA degrees offered.

Visual Effects Curriculum
The curriculum at visual effects colleges consists largely of specialized courses in esoteric facets of visual effects, like Photorealistic Rendering and High Dynamic Range Imaging. Other courses entail that students build a visual effects portfolio, for presentation to potential employers.

Career Opportunities
With a degree in visual effects, you may be eligible to work in a variety of settings that include advertising and computer systems design services. Motion picture and television industries are an ideal setting for the ambitious visual effects artist, but are perhaps the most competitive industries. Specific jobs that a visual effects degree can prepare you for include but are not limited to those of:
  •   Digital effects animator
  •   Computer graphics supervisor
  •   Technical director
  •   Shader writer
  •   Location supervisor
  •   Digital environment artist