Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Sound Design
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The BFA in Sound Design provides more in depth study of principles introduced in the AA program. Students will gain a complete overview of the soundtrack creation process, learning the latest in digital audio workstation workflows, as well as recording, editing, and mixing. BFA students will complete a demo reel in their final year, highlighting their best sound design for visual media (film, animation, games, and web media).
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 professional media projects
Production Techniques
- Demonstrate proficiency in audio recording, editing, and mixing in the creation of soundtracks
- Demonstrate proficiency in digital tools for sound design in a digital audio workstation (DAW)
Sound Design
- Produce original sound design elements for film and other visual media
- Design soundtracks that support the emotional content of the visual image
- Create compelling and balanced sound mixes for final soundtracks
Professional Readiness
- Demonstrate professional achievement through the creation of 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.
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.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 42 |
| Liberal Arts | 45 |
| Elective | 9 |
| Core | 36 |
| Total | 132 |
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 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
- 1 Sound Design Historical Awareness
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 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 - LA 142: Film Music Appreciation (Liberal Arts)
- MPT 105: Cinematic Storytelling (Major)
Recommended for summer - MPT 225: Sound Design (Core)
- MUS 125B: Audio Production B (Major)
- MUS 258: Creative Perspectives in Sound Design (Core)
Semester 3
- GAM 107: Game Engines (Major)
- 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)
Semester 4
- LA 182: Genres in Film (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 330: Production Sound Recording (Major)
- MUS 370: Music Editing for Visual Media (Core)
Semester 5
- COM 150: Introduction to Radio/Podcasting (Major)
- LA 104: Respect for Acting (Liberal Arts)
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story (Liberal Arts)
- MUS 285: Session Recording 1: Protocols and Practices (Core)
- MUS 425: Experimental Sound Design & Synthesis (Major)
Semester 6
- LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion (Liberal Arts)
- LA 171: Western Civilization (Liberal Arts)
- LA 282: Film History 2: 1940-1974 (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MUS 222: Ableton Live Certification Preparation (Major)
- MUS 430: Dialogue Editing (Major)
- MUS 498: Collaborative Project (Major)
- N/A: Any Course (Elective)
Recommended for summer
Semester 7
- COM 250: Podcast Production and Promotion (Elective)
- LA 368: Experiencing Culture: Anthropology for Today's Artist (Liberal Arts)
- LA 407: The Beatles in the Visual Arts (Liberal Arts)
- MUS 110: Harmony 1 (Major)
- MUS 415: The Music Mix (Major)
Semester 8
- COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery (Elective)
Recommended for summer - LA 131: History of Gaming (Liberal Arts)
- LA 382: Film History 3: Contemporary Cinema (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MUS 480: Music Demo Reel (Core)
- MUS 498: Collaborative Project (Major)
- MUS 500: Internship in Music for Visual Media (Major)
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