Information on Master’s Degree Programs in Media Arts
Majors Overview February 29, 2016This article talks about master’s degree programs in media arts and their education requirements, coursework, career options, job and wage outlook, and continuing education options.
Master’s Programs in Media Arts
Students seeking to take advantage of emerging technologies to create works of art would benefit from enrolling in a master’s degree program in media arts. Program coursework covers topic areas such as human-computer interaction, psychology, and media theory. These programs also cover video game technology, storytelling in visual mediums, and production of commercial works of art. Students are allowed to opt for a concentration in a specific area, such as film, animation, or new media. Full-time students complete most programs within two years.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the media arts, such as computer science, film, or communication. In some programs, admission criteria require the submission of a portfolio of original work, apart from the completion of an original project in a specific field, such as short film or Web design. Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is a necessity while seeking admission to some media arts graduate programs at public institutions.
Coursework
Program coursework might cover core topic areas such as:
•Interactive design applications
•Media criticism
•Digital media motion
•Sequential narrative
•Advanced sound design
Students may also be required to complete a final project, such as an original short film, before they can graduate out of the program; in some programs, a thesis must be completed.
Career Options
Program graduates can choose from numerous career choices, including:
•Editor
•Special effects supervisor
•Producer
•Animation Director
•Production Assistant
Job and Wage Outlook
Animation and multimedia arts professionals are expected to see a job growth of six percent (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, multimedia artists and animators brought in an average annual wage of $63,630 (BLS).
Continuing Education Options
Program graduates who aspire to executive level positions with production and entertainment companies would benefit from enrolling in a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program. Program graduates who seek continuing education could pursue a doctoral degree in media arts offered by a small number of universities and colleges, and that could lead to careers in research and academia.
