Profiles of Schools/Colleges in Virginia (VA) Offering Animation, Design, Gaming, and Media Related Programs

Virginia State University is one of the only HBCU-designated universities (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) offering an animation program. That’s a big deal for many reasons, not least of which is because animation relies on the backgrounds, experiences and creative voices of a diverse group of artists. The vision for developing the Animation BFA at VSU was thanks to numerous individuals, including a band of dedicated students (many of whom graduate this year) and one man who wouldn’t let them down.

New media artists use elements of computer science, design, editing, film, photography, reporting, and even special effects to convey messages to specific audiences. These creative, tech-savvy professionals understand that effective message design is the key to capturing clients’ target demographic. Because new media artists play a vital role in advertising, marketing, and public relations, they are in high demand in just about every field.

Media artists have a variety of exciting careers to choose from. A typical media arts program prepares students for a career in radio broadcasting, advertising, film, television production, and public relations, to name a few. In the State of Virginia, media arts graduates eventually end up in a major city such as Virginia Beach, Norfolk, or Chesapeake where you’ll find a variety of employment options at creative agencies, production studios, media and communications firms, and more. Just a few options include The Martin Agency (Richmond), LM&O Advertising (Arlington), TriVision Studios (Chantilly), and New Millennium Studios (Petersburg).

The State of Virginia is big (12th largest in the country), bold (Virginia is known as the birthplace of the nation), and beautiful (The Natural Bridge and Blue Ridge Mountains are breathtaking). These are just a few reasons why more than 8 million people are proud to call Virginia home, and more than 2 million come to visit each year.