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Major in Visual Effects

Create film special effects • Learn digital design • Impact the industry

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Learn how to create expert visual effects.

When filmmakers can't physically shoot something with a camera, they'll turn to you to augment footage or create something entirely from scratch. With hands-on experience and state-of-the-art technology, you'll build a marketable film reel and develop the skills you need to impress industry professionals.

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Learn hands-on

You'll have intensive, hands-on tutorials with industry professionals who provide detailed feedback on your designs to help you learn. We keep our courses up-to-date with the latest technology and industry trends because we work alongside industry professionals.

Enjoy stellar curriculum

The JBU VFX curriculum covers multiple subjects with a focus on tools, processes, and workflow, utilizing software such as Blender, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, SynthEyes, Substance and more. 

Develop your portfolio

Graduate with an industry-standard, professional portfolio of work to show potential employers, developed with input from your professors and industry professionals.

Enhance your VFX skillset at JBU.

About visual effects

The visual effects major gives students the chance to engage with faculty one-on-one to create impressive augmented footage by working with state-of-the-art, industry-standard technology and software.
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What to expect as a visual effects student at JBU

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Use a professional studio space

As a student at JBU, you'll work in a professionally equipped studio using the latest tools and techniques and be part of a team on high-quality creative projects. 

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Enjoy incredible facilities

Our three art buildings provide over 45,000 sq. ft. of two state-of-the-art computer labs, multiple green screen areas, student innovation labs, a cutting edge VR lab and best in the area cyc wall and studio.

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Receive one-on-one mentoring

JBU faculty pay attention to your individual areas of interest, your specific flare and your niche and we train you to hone your own unique style and talents in the field of VFX.

What can you do with a visual effects degree?

The visual effects department wants to give students the resources and training to launch them ready for any area in the industry.

CG supervisor

A CG (computer-generated) supervisor is in charge of everything 3D. You’ll lead a team (or teams) of artists from modeling through rendering as well as being the one ultimately held accountable for the quality of their work.

VFX technical director

If you’re an FX TD, you’ll be in charge of designing and creating any effects such as explosions, fire, smoke, water, dust, clouds, debris and so on.

Digital matte painter

When you’re working as a matte painter, you can expect to spend most of your time in Photoshop. You’ll do everything from digital painting to image manipulation and compositing.

Visual effects producer

When your VFX studio is working on a big-budget film, its producers expect someone to be on set on a daily basis—someone who can interact with and manage the progress of the shots. 

Compositing artist

Working as a compositor, you’ll be expected to seamlessly integrate elements of a shot, merging CG elements into live-action footage. This requires a good eye for detail and being able to spot when things look out of place.

Matchmover

Matchmovers are essentially the bridge between 2D and 3D, so you’ll need a knowledge of both. You’ll also need an advanced understanding of how trackers work and how you can troubleshoot when a track isn’t giving you the expected results.

Explore JBU's Visual Art Facilities

Windgate Visual Arts East

Art East features three faculty offices, a printmaking/screen printing studio, a conference room, student workrooms, a large multipurpose classroom, two large painting and drawing classrooms, cinema editing and audio recording suites and a student gallery.
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Visual Art Facilities

Immersive Studios

The Visual Arts Digital Cinema facilities include two private editing suites and a 5.1 surround sound mixing studio and recording booth in Art East. Visual Effects students learn about film and video editing using non-linear digital editing tools.
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Visual Art Facilities

Impressive Equipment

The digital cinema program has a full selection of the equipment used by professional filmmakers including Panasonic AF100 cameras with Chrosziel mattebox and follow focus rigs, Canon DSLR cameras with a complete RedRock Micro rig, Steadicam Scout, EZ Jib, Matthew's Doorway Dolly and track, Arri and Kinoflo light kits, Tascam and Sound Devices audio equipment and grip carts complete with stands, flags and rigging equipment.
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Visual Art Facilities

Visual Art Studios

JBU's Visual Arts Department has a variety of photographic equipment available for student use. This includes all manner of Canon cameras including the 1Dx MkII., all manner of Nikon cameras including the D5 professional series. Our studios include flagship camera models like the Pentax 645Z and Hasselblad X1D. Our studios are professionally equipped with Elinchrom, ProPhoto and Broncolor instruments.
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Visual Art Facilities

Mac Labs

The third floor of the Windgate Visual Arts West building features two Mac labs with the latest equipment and they are available to students 24/7. The Mac labs are equipped with a wide range of the latest software. This includes the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Apple's Final Cut Studio, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, ZBrush and Blender.
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Visual Art Facilities

Art Barn

Our newest building is a 10,000 sq. ft. "art barn" on the north side of campus with additional space for photography studios, drawing and painting, ceramics, a visual effects/virtual reality workspace, a woodshop and individual artist stations.
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Visual Art Facilities

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John Brown University

2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu

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John Brown University

2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761

479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu

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JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

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