Online and Distance Learning

Entertainment degrees can get you into various jobs in the entertainment industry, from administration to video games.

Generally, it's very hard to get into the entertainment industry - but a degree can help you. There are several interdisciplinary fields of study that you can take depending on the sort of job you want in entertainment. These would include the creative fields, e.g., animation, video games, and multimedia, as well as the business fields, e.g., being an agent, marketing, and business education.

This page has information about these career fields, and also about the programs you need to take in order to improve your chances of getting into these fields.  Links to suitable schools are provided.  Some programs can be taken online degrees, which give you the flexibility to study whilst working.

Where can you study entertainment degrees?

The following list shows selected schools with programs related to the entertainment industry.  You can use the search box to find others.  Remember to apply for details from several schools so that you can compare them.

• Full Sail University
  • BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment
  • BS in Computer Animation
  • BS in Digital Cinematography
  • BS in Entertainment Business
  • BS in Game Art
  • BS in Game Design
  • BS in Music Business
  • BS in Music Production
  • BS in Mobile Development
  • BS in Web Design and Development
  • MFA in Creative Writing
  • MFA in Media Design
  • M.S. in Education Media Design & Technology
  • M.S. in Entertainment Business
  • M.S. in Internet Marketing
  • M.S. in New Journalism

• Westwood College
  • Associate of Graphic Design and Multimedia
  • Bachelor Degree - Animation
  • Bachelor Degree - Game Art
  • Bachelor Degree - Game Software Development 

• International Academy of Design & Technology Online
  
  • Bachelor of  Digital Media Production
  • Bachelor of Game Production
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Game Production

• The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online 
  • Bachelor of Game Art and Design

• University of Phoenix Online
  • B.S. in Multimedia and Visual Communications

The careers covered by entertainment degrees

Here are some of the jobs and the entertainment degrees that you'll need for each one.

Agent

As an agent you will have to understand the business aspects of the entertainment industry. You will also need to negotiate people's interests, whether it's facilitating between game developers and publishers, or recording artists and record labels. That's why an online communication or business program is one of the useful entertainment degrees. You'll learn about business communication, as well as media and culture, diversity and intercultural communication. Just as important, you'll learn about conflict resolution, law and ethics.

Animation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in animation will grow 15% through 2014. The entry qualifications are animation degrees or similar entertainment programs. College and university animation courses include life drawing, rendering techniques, special effects, and audio and video production techniques. You'll also learn how to use different industry standard tools and packages, e.g., PhotoShop, SoftImage, Maya, Macromedia Flash, 3-D Studio Max, and Adobe AfterEffects.

Video games

Video gaming is a flourishing business. A degree in video game development and design or similar entertainment programs are your entry qualification into positions such as game and interactive software tester, game maintenance administrator, abd documentation writer. In your degree you'll be able to select a specialty, such as 3-D modeling and animation, digital illustration, 3D animation, broadcast graphic design, advergaming and storyboard art.  Check here for information on Video games education.

Multimedia

The convergence of text, graphics, photo, animation, audio and video is redefining 21st Century entertainment. You can learn to create multimedia through graphic design, video game design, information technology, multimedia, visual communication degree programs or similar entertainment programs. Click here for multimedia degrees that explore the interface between business, communication and technology.

Marketing

In 2007, U.S. entertainment advertising spending alone totaled $284 billion (Plunkett Research). A degree in marketing is the base qualification. But most of all you need to demonstrate that you have a passion for the entertainment industry, are articulate (both oral and written communication skills), and have the ability to work in a fast-paced working environment on several projects simultaneously. 

With digitization, the convergence of media, and bigger audience fragmentation, there are a lot of new questions in the marketing industry. These questions can tackled in online entertainment masters degrees.

Business

The business element has always been a key component in some of the industry’s biggest successes. Click here for business degrees with a focus on entertainment that are designed to give you a practical, real-world entertainment business education. By learning the core fundamentals of business as well as concepts that are more specific to the world of entertainment, you are well prepared to be part of this ever-evolving industry.

For more information

Check here for information on Video Games Education

You also use this link to search online degree programs.

If you don't find what you want here, you can use the search facility on this site using entertainment degrees as your topic.