Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is home to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Within CLAS is the Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA). An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the VMA Department serves nearly 700 students enrolled in five programs leading to ten different degrees.
Students in all programs may participate in campus exhibitions; independent study programs; and experiential learning such as internships, study abroad, and field trips. Organizations that have offered internships to VMA students include Flix Premiere, Externa CGI, TruVision Studios; Mosaic Film Experience, Coastline Studios, Paris Films, Michael Lynn Animation Studio, Green Sky, and Voyage Pictures. Students have also interned or studied abroad places such as the UK, Australia, France, and Spain.
All VMA students also benefit from access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities designed for work in traditional and new media; interactions with regular visiting artists; participation in several student organizations; and the opportunity to present off-campus screening events.
The Department of Visual & Media Arts at GVSU also has two paths to study animation: BA and BS degrees in Film and Video Production. Both options explore animation, film studies, new media, scriptwriting, fiction, sound design, documentary, and nonfiction. The BA requires proficiency in a foreign language, while the BS requires three courses in Computer Information Systems, History, or Statistics.
Across programs, courses and projects are led by working professionals in the field, with opportunities to work on productions for clients outside of the classroom. Course examples for the program include Animation I and II; Film and Video Art; Digital Post Production; History of Animation; Experimental Film and Video; Media Production I and II; 3D Computer Animation; Lighting for Film and Video Production; and Survey of Media Production Modes.
At the advanced level, students will complete the Advanced Film Practicum – Summer Film Project; Post-Production Practicum; Producing for Clients; and the Senior Thesis Project.
The Film and Video Production program at Grand Valley State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Graduates are prepared for careers in all areas of film, television, and video; advertising; illustration; game design; architecture; publishing; and many other areas. GVSU Film and Video Production alumni have worked with studios and production houses such as DreamWorks Animation, Detroit Public Television, Voyage Pictures, Match Frame Creative, M-1 Studios, Contact Light Films, 52 Watt Studios, A2 Creative, Coastline Studios, Allied Productions, and D-Squared Creative.
Grand Valley State University was established in 1960. With eight regional campuses and centers, GVSU serves approximately 22,270 students enrolled in more than 140 degree programs across seven schools and eight locations in Michigan. Grand Valley State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).