Degrees Offered At Full Sail University
Full Sail University appears in our ranking of the 50 Accelerated Masters in Sports Management Online.
Full Sail University is a for-profit university located in Winter Park, Florida. The school offers a variety of degrees, mostly centering around the entertainment industry. These degree programs include 16 certificate programs. Certificates are offered in subjects, like video game design, creative writing, instructional design, audio arts, intensive English and business.
The school also offers 24 bachelor’s degrees. These include degrees in subjects, like video game art, video game design, video game development, audio production, computer animation, creative writing and sports broadcasting. Finally, Full Sail has 12 master’s degrees. These include degrees in game design, instructional design and business intelligence.
The university has both online and on-campus degrees. Degree programs are intensive, with the average undergraduate degree taking 20 months to finish. It takes about 12 months to complete a master’s degree and four months to complete most certificate programs. About 15,000 students are enrolled in Full Sail’s degree programs.
Online students are required to do an orientation. This orientation covers time management, tech troubleshooting and other issues that affect online students specifically.
The university’s goal is to mimic the pace of the entertainment industry. This means that the school is open 24-hours a day and labs can take place day or night. Students are in class and the associated labs between 32 and 40 hours a week.
About Full Sail University
Campus life at Full Sail University is vibrant and creative. Orlando is just a stone’s throw away, allowing students to both unwind at places, like Universal Studios Orlando and Disney World.
Full Sail provides students with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing them to develop professional-level skills. On campus, there is a film backlot, sound stages and over 100 studios for students to work in. Student assignments are project-based and many of them are tied to the professional world. Assignments can include collaborations with professional organizations, like the Vans Warped Tour and the WWE.
FSU school doesn’t have on-campus housing options. However, it does have a housing office that can connect students with housing opportunities in the area. There are also other colleges in the area, giving the town a college town feel.
Additionally, Full Sail University students can get to know other students in class, via campus clubs and events, and by collaborating with them on creative projects. Students can bring a car to campus, but don’t necessarily need one. The Orlando area has excellent public transportation options, which students can take advantage of.
The school has been ranked in the top 50 schools for game design and film. Graduates of Full Sail University have gone on to work on projects, like the films “Ready, Player One” and “The Dark Knight” and video games, like “Call of Duty.” They’ve gotten jobs at CNN, HBO Studios, Pixar, ESPN, Universal Studios and DreamWorks.
Students have opportunities to participate in career events on campus. These allow them to network with industry professionals who make campus visits. The school’s Hall of Fame event draws former students and other industry professionals to the school for a week-long celebration.
Full Sail University Accreditation
Full Sail University receives its accreditation from the Commission for Independent Education by the Florida Department of Education. This accreditation allows the school to offer degrees from the associate’s level to the master’s level.
Full Sail Application Requirements
Due to the structure of classes at Full Sail, students can apply for acceptance year-round. Most of the school’s degree programs offer coursework monthly, meaning that students can get accepted one month and begin their studies a month or two later.
Despite being a full-blown art school, there is no portfolio requirement for entrance at the bachelor or master level. However, students applying for a master’s degree must have studied a subject similar to the one they are applying for. If they haven’t, they can petition the school with a resume and a letter of intent for admission. It’s also possible for some students to test into some programs if they have enough professional experience in the field.
Students are required to come into their studies with at least a 2.0 GPA. The school does not require graduate students to submit a GRE with their transcripts. It costs $75 to apply to the school (as of this writing). Full Sail applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
Additionally, students who are applying to the Computer Science, Simulation & Visualization and Game Development departments must have a foundation in the following subjects: algebra II and pre-calculus. They must have also taken trigonometry. The school also recommends that these students have taken some introductory classes in computer programming.
Finally, students who plan on applying to the Game Art or Computer Animation Departments should have taken classes in traditional art forms, like drawing, painting, and sculpture. These students can take art history courses through their degree programs at Full Sail.
Tuition And Financial Aid
Tuition rates vary, depending on the degree program that a student undertakes. Tuition rates range from $525 per credit hour to $850 per credit hour.
Tuition prices aren’t necessarily based on the degree being undergraduate versus graduate. The graduate-level film production degree costs just over $500 per credit hour, while many of the undergraduate programs cost almost $700 per credit hour. The intensive English certificate is the least expensive program at $389 per credit hour.
Books, media materials, lab fees, and supplies are included in the price of tuition. The school’s accelerated learning time also means that students can enter the job market quicker than graduates of many other schools.
Students can also get a discount for the Project LaunchBox™ tech package. This package provides Full Sail Students with media creation software and a laptop at a discounted price.
Students can submit a FAFSA to be considered for loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study money. The school offers a number of scholarships to help students offset the cost of their education. Full Sail University also has programs for members of the military.