Specialized Programs Help Students Find Niche
Published Apr 07, 2003
Students at Watkins College of Art & Design Film School shoot footage on 16mm film for a Production III project.
Some people find out at an early age what they want to be when they grow up. They might get their first spaceship toy and feel drawn to the stars. They might take their first art class and discover a hidden talent for drawing or sculpting. They might get their first video game system and become fascinated with computers.
Tennessee has a wide range of specialized higher education institutions to help students achieve individual goals. Those interested in art, design, science, space or technology can find a program that fits.
One such school is the FedEx Technology Institute at the University of Memphis. One of the state’s newest programs, the institute is a joint venture between FedEx Corp. and the University of Memphis. The $25 million, 95,000-square-foot facility is expected to welcome its first classes in spring 2004. The institute will feature a 200-seat forum, computer labs, collaboration suites, cyber café, exhibit area, and labs for the development of hardware and software.
The institute blends traditional academic work with individualized training in solving real-world problems. University of Memphis students will have access to the most up-to-date information technology for learning and research. Also, professors will be able to teach interactively around the world through state-of-the-art equipment via the Internet and videoconferencing.
“A 21st-century student deserves a 21st-century education, and the FedEx Technology Institute delivers this … to bright and curious minds from around the world,” says Eric Cromwell, associate director of business development for the institute.
“The FedEx Technology Institute will conduct world-class interdisciplinary research, produce a digitally savvy workforce, and serve the community as a dynamic resource for students, faculty and businesses at large.”
Another alternative for the science-minded is the University of Tennessee Space Institute, which offers graduate education and research programs located about 10 miles from Tullahoma, adjacent to the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center. The internationally recognized institution offers programs in space, engineering, physics and mathematics.
About 1,750 graduate degrees, including about 230 doctorates, have been awarded through UTSI, and its alumni include several astronauts. In addition to the space focus, the institute does research in other areas including aerodynamics, aircraft flight testing, biophysics, lasers and quantum optics.
For the left-brainers, schools in Nashville, Franklin and Memphis have much to offer.
Located in the historic district of Franklin, O’More College of Design is a nontraditional, accredited college awarding bachelor’s degrees in interior design, fashion design, and merchandising, graphic design, and advertising. The curriculum is taught by professors who are also practicing professionals in their specialized design fields.
“O’More offers a unique experience in design education,” says Christina Rodgers, admissions representative. “It was planned that way. Our student-faculty ratio is 3-to-1, enabling us to provide personal attention to each student.”
O’More students are expected to produce professional-quality work. They take field trips to New York City, Atlanta and Chicago to meet designers and learn more about their profession. Each student is also required to participate in an internship during his or her studies.
Watkins College of Art and Design is located on a new 13-acre campus with 60,000 square feet of space near downtown Nashville. Watkins offers bachelor’s degrees in five different areas: film, fine arts, graphic design, interior design and photography.
Watkins is also home to Watkins Film School, which offers a curriculum that explores the artistic, technical and business side of independent filmmaking. The school’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film has concentrations in producing, directing, screenwriting, cinematography and editing. In addition to film coursework, the students are required to complete a fine arts foundation along with liberal arts courses. The film students take film courses their first semester and begin production within their first or second year, depending on their program of study.
Memphis College of Art is the only independent, regionally and nationally accredited art college in the South to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree. The degree, established in 1987, is offered in two areas – computer arts and studio art.
The MFA degree normally takes two years to complete and requires 60 semester credit hours distributed in liberal studies, major studio and elective studio. Studio art majors can focus on fiber, painting, papermaking, printmaking, sculpture, surface design or weaving. Computer arts majors can choose their work in design arts for the print media, interactive multimedia or 3D animation.
One program in particular combines the rigors of science with the creative impulse. The Renaissance Center in Dickson introduced its 3D University, a computer animation curriculum, in 1999. The program is recognized as an authorized post-secondary training facility by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and attracts 200 to 300 aspiring animators each year. Course options range from 12-week “boot camps” that cover software basics to intensive eight-month classes for animation professionals.
Story by Nancy Humphrey
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