In 1998, Full Sail University was one of the earliest schools to offer a show production degree program. This is a school that is unique, both in its history and continued commitment to the future of modern events. With its high-tech campus, Full Sail is a virtual playground for creatives and entertainment industry hopefuls.
Graduates have gone on to work in show production with pop culture icons like Sir Paul McCartney, Lizzo, AC/DC, and Madonna, Broadway hit Hamilton, and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The school has also been named one of the Best Film Schools in the US & Canada by MovieMaker Magazine, Top 50 Film Schools 2021 by TheWrap, and Top 25 Music Schools by The Hollywood Reporter.
So if you're considering a career in show production or working behind the scenes at live events, here are a few things to know about Full Sail's degree program and what makes it different.
Show Production Bachelor's at Full Sail University
This bachelor's degree is a 20-month, on-campus degree. The instructors are experts in the industry with experience working with big acts, professional sports, remote video production, and more. Courses focus on practical skills, creativity, and problem solving that help take a live performance to the next level.
Show Production course highlights
Audio Measurement Systems: In this course, students learn to optimize sound system software and hardware measurements by controlling and analyzing audio in real time in a variety of environments.
Mixing Techniques: This course explores how audio processors and mixers shape quality mixes with lessons in blend, contrast, space, and dynamics. Students build on their gear knowledge and listening skills to create dynamic sound.
Project & Portfolio VII: Show Production: Throughout the degree program, Project and Portfolio courses allow students to demonstrate what they've learned with hands-on projects tailored to their interests. In this final course, student production team members will produce and record a live concert event in a professional venue, covering areas like designing, managing, and engineering the show, marketing, stage management, visual media, and more.
Students take each course in a specific order, building on their knowledge while collaborating with the same cohort of students throughout the program. Full Sail degrees follow a set schedule so that instructors and students are aligned on their learning journey.
Throughout the program, they're also given opportunities to work on real-world projects. For example, Show Production students have worked on live orchestral productions at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando, on live tapings of WWE NXT on campus, or produced the university's own Hall of Fame ceremony.
An Action-Packed Campus
Learning hands-on is a pillar of how Full Sail University prepares students for the real world. To give their students that opportunity, the campus is full of diverse live event venues where students can hone their skills in sound, lighting, broadcasting video, and creating audience experiences.
That includes the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress, the largest collegiate esports venue in the US. The 500-person capacity venue boasts 11,200 square feet of gaming, a 360-degree video rig, LED displays, and dynamic sound reinforcement systems. Other facilities like Full Sail Live, outdoor concert areas, and the Treehouse allow for a variety of hands-on experiences producing live events, from intimate concerts to award ceremonies, esports competitions to grad panels.
Most recently, the school opened the doors to Studio V1: Virtual Production. This cutting-edge studio on campus combines practical filmmaking with real-time special effects and virtual environments on a massive LED backdrop.
Ready to learn more?
Check out Full Sail's Show Production bachelor's degree page here.
