Entertainment Degrees

The careers in entertainment

Here are some of the jobs and the 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 qualifications. 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.