Associate of Arts (AA) in Sound Design
Academy of Art University
Key Information
Campus location
San Francisco, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,156 *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Jun 2024
* per unit for international students | $1,072 per unit for domestic students. Additional fees apply
Introduction
The AA in Sound Design provides a focused introduction to soundtrack creation for visual media. Emphasis is placed on recording, editing, and mixing soundtrack elements like dialog, sound effects, and ambiences. Students will learn foundational skills in digital audio workstations as well as layering and mixing techniques to create sonic worlds for visual media.
Program Outcome
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Critical Analysis
- Demonstrate an understanding of masterwork examples by applying the appropriate sound design principles to a variety of media projects
Sound Design
- Construct effective sound design elements for film, television, animation, games, and commercials
- Design soundtracks that support the emotional content of the visual image
- Create balanced sound mixes for final soundtracks
Production Techniques
- Demonstrate proficiency at recording on a digital audio workstation (DAW)
- Demonstrate familiarity with audio recording techniques, editing, and mixing
Professional Readiness
- Produce basic materials to create a portfolio that showcases skills and supports career opportunities
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Career Opportunities
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate careers in music production. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your chosen profession. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring music professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the music industry.
Score Composer
Compose original music to accompany narrative storytelling in visual media. Work with sound editors and mixers to balance music with other soundtrack elements, creating the sonic world in which characters live. Drive the emotions of the audience by crafting musical ideas that reflect the unspoken thoughts of a character.
Music Editor
Work closely with a composer to effectively create music scores that drive the emotion of the scene. Create temp scores. Edit music to fit specific cue lengths and effectively create just the right music cues to fit the scene.
Production Recordist
Manage the set and location sound recordings. Quality checks all recorded material from set and location. Assist the production mixer in all duties. Maintain equipment.
Re-recording Mixer
The last step in post-production is the final mix. Effectively balance music, dialogue, and SFX into a cohesive soundtrack that supports and enhances visual storytelling. Work on large format audio consoles with hundreds of audio tracks, and craft the sonic world for visual media.
Sound Designer
Be responsible for the overall aural concept of a film, game, or other media. Collaborate with other creatives to develop a cohesive sound and create specific sounds for visual media.
Sound Editor
Edit dialog, sound effects, ambiances, and other sounds to fit with the visual material. Use filters and plug-ins to transform audio for a specific setting. Work with the Supervising Sound Editor to deliver all audio assets for a given project, whether film, game or animation.
Gallery
Curriculum
Unit Requirements
Major Coursework | 15 |
Liberal Arts | 18 |
Core | 33 |
Total | 66 |
Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
- 1 Sound Design Historical Awareness
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Curriculum
Semester 1
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 106: Edit 1: The Art of Editing (Major)
- MUS 102: Soundtrack Industry Overview (Core)
- MUS 125A: Audio Production A (Core)
Semester 2
- LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MPT 105: Cinematic Storytelling (Major)
Recommended for summer - MPT 225: Sound Design (Core)
- MUS 125B: Audio Production B (Major)
- MUS 170: Music Production 2 (Core)
- MUS 258: Creative Perspectives in Sound Design (Core)
Semester 3
- LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
- MUS 105: Pro Tools User Certification Preparation (Core)
- MUS 179: History of the Recording Industry (Core)
- MUS 320: Creative Sound Design for Visual Media (Core)
- N/A: Any LA Course (Liberal Arts)
Semester 4
- LA 150: Introduction to Radio/Podcasting (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MUS 195: Sound Design for Games (Core)
- MUS 205: ProTools 2 Operator Certification Preparation (Core)
- MUS 222: Ableton Live Certification Preparation (Major)
- MUS 330: Production Sound Recording (Major)
- MUS 370: Music Editing for Visual Media (Core)
Admissions
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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