Technology continues to be evolving in the fields of audio production and engineering, live entertainment and graphic design. Today, people have to wear multiple hats when it comes to establishing a career in these fields. To prepare students for these growing career opportunities, Millikin University's College of Fine Arts has established a new major called Arts Technology.
The Arts Technology major fosters creative skills and provides hands-on learning experiences in live entertainment technology, audio, video, graphic design, digital photography, animation and web-based digital design and communications.
"Arts Technology majors start with overview courses where they learn some graphic design, web design, audio production and lighting, digital photography and some videography," said Jessa Wilcoxen, educator of digital media at Millikin. "The students are learning all these technical skills, and are also learning to problem solve and think creatively. They'll have to choose one concentration, but they'll still have this broad base of other technical skills and business skills."
Students can choose a concentration in one of four areas: Visual Media, Audio Engineering and Production, Live Event Technology and Video Production. First-year student Richard Carter, from Oak Lawn, Ill., has aspirations of becoming a music producer and says the Arts Technology major is teaching him more than just music.
"It's a fast process but I've already learned so much," said Carter. "One part that I've enjoyed learning is coinciding lighting with music in terms of timing – it feels good to know that I can do more than just music in the program. I never expected that I would be doing these types of projects."
Wilcoxen, who is predominantly teaching visual media, says, "Students like Richard will be able to use all of these skills. He may want to be a music producer, but with the way the music industry is, he might have to wear a lot of hats and he'll also be able to do design promotion and website work which are very marketable skills."
The Audio Engineering and Production concentration prepares students for career opportunities in professional audio by utilizing Millikin's own recording studio (Millitrax) and performance venues such as Kirkland Fine Arts Center.
Students interested in becoming entertainment technicians can engage in the Live Event Technology concentration where they learn how to set up and operate lighting and projection equipment for live entertainment presentations.
