Full Sail University

infobox University
name= Full Sail University


president= Garry Jones
established= 1979
type= Private, for-profit university
staff= 1,044
faculty=
students= 5,800
city= Winter Park
state= Florida
country= USA
former_names= Full Sail Real World Education (1979-2008)
campus= Suburban (178 acres)
website= [http://www.fullsail.edu fullsail.edu]

Full Sail University is a private, for-profit university located in Winter Park, Florida and geared toward the entertainment industry. It offers degree programs in Computer Animation, Digital Arts & Design, Education Media Design & Technology, Entertainment Business, Film, Game Art, Game Development, Music Business, Recording Arts, and Show Production & Touring, Web Design & Development. Full Sail awards associate's, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees after 12 to 21 months of an accelerated education.

The school is owned by Full Sail, Inc.

History

Full Sail was founded as Full Sail Real World Education by Jon Phelps in 1979 as a recording studio workshop. A film program was added in 1988, and the school was accredited to award specialized associate’s degrees in 1990. A third degree in Digital Media was added in 1995, followed by Game Design and Show Production & Touring in 1998.

Full Sail received additional accreditation in 1998, allowing the school to issue associate of science degrees, and 1999 saw the addition of a Computer Animation associate’s degree. In 2003, Full Sail added its first bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Business (designed to be combined with an additional Full Sail associate’s degree), followed quickly by the Game Design & Development program. The company was originally called Full Sail Recorders, Inc., subsequently Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts, and finally the name was changed to Full Sail, Inc. in 2000. [http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2003/d2003-0502.html]

In 2005, three programs – Computer Animation, Digital Arts & Design (formerly Digital Media), and Film – were expanded and accredited to be offered as Bachelor of Science degrees. In 2007, the Entertainment Business Bachelor's Degree Program was altered to become the Music Business Bachelor of Science Degree Program [http://www.fullsail.com/index.cfm?fa=news.story&contentid=5225] , and the school introduced its first master's program, in Entertainment Business [http://www.fullsail.com/news/5224-a-historic-milestone-full-sails-first-masters-program.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1&filter=none] . In June 2007, a Graphic Design Associate of Science Degree was announced [http://www.fullsail.com/index.cfm?fa=news.story&contentid=6364] .

In August 2007, Full Sail announced its first online degree program - an online version of the Entertainment Business Master's Degree [http://www.fullsail.com/news/7483-introducing-an-online-masters-degree-for-the-real-world.html] .

In January 2008, Full Sail introduced a second master's degree program in Education Media Design & Technology, as well as new bachelor's degree programs in Game Art and Web Design & Development.

On March 24, 2008, Full Sail changed its name to Full Sail University after attaining university status from the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education. [ [http://www.fullsail.com/press-room/press-releases/12030-full-sail-announces-university-status.html Full Sail press release] , 2008-03-24] At the press conference announcing the change, they also unveiled a convert|1700|ft|m|sing=on-long backlot, which includes 18 different city facades. [ [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-bk-fullsail032408,0,3428704.story Seafood and Fishing Industry - OrlandoSentinel.com ] ]

Academics

Degree programs

As of August 2008, Full Sail is offering the following degree programs:

Campus

* Master of Science in Entertainment Business
* Master of Science in Game Design
* Bachelor of Science in Computer Animation
* Bachelor of Science in Digital Arts & Design
* Bachelor of Science in Game Art
* Bachelor of Science in Game Development
* Bachelor of Science in Music Business
* Bachelor of Science in Film
* Associate of Science in Recording Arts
* Associate of Science in Show Production & Touring
* Associate of Science in Graphic Design

Online

* Master of Science in Entertainment Business
* Master of Science in Education Media Design & Technology
* Master of Science in Internet Marketing
* Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Business
* Bachelor of Science in Internet Marketing

Full Sail has become known for offering an “accelerated” education – the school’s degree programs can be completed in less than half the time of a typical college degree – the associate’s programs are 12 months long, the bachelor’s programs are 21 months long, and the master's programs range from 12-13 months long.

cheduling

Full Sail has gained a reputation for having a challenging lab and class schedule. The school essentially operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with students in class or lab for 4 hours at a time; lectures generally take place between the hours of 9:00am and 9:00pm, while labs run throughout the day.

Full Sail’s degree programs start monthly. Throughout the course of a program, the average Full Sail student will have two courses at one time, with one course occurring on three days a week and the other course occurring on two or three depending on the class. This course load can fluctuate, however, according to the student’s program and month.

Courses are generally four weeks long, but some are longer, and new courses start every four weeks. This schedule allows Full Sail a fluid, if intense, operating method. If a student fails a course for poor grades (as opposed to poor attendance), they can take the course over again the following month at no additional cost, as long as the schedule for the degree is maintained. If a student fails a class for poor attendance, however, they must pay the course cost again to retake it.

Costs

Unlike many colleges, Full Sail’s tuition prices cover all expenses for a degree program. Course manuals (sometimes created by the school for the specific courses) for all classes are provided at no additional cost, and any art supplies or other materials are provided at no cost upon entering the course requiring them.

Tuition costs range from $33,000 to $80,000 for the entire degree program. In 2007, the school introduced a new program called Apple Launch Box - every non-Game Development student in the school now receives an Apple MacBook Pro, where Game development students get HP Laptops. [http://news.softpedia.com/news/Apple-and-Full-Sail-initiate-Project-LaunchBox-53813.shtml] [http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13494/] . The cost of this computer is an institutional fee which is currently $3,100, but may be higher or lower, depending on the program and software configuration. This cost is "separate" from tuition, as students possessing a laptop of equal or higher value are permitted to opt-out of the Launch Box program. Game Development students receive a Windows-based laptop with all software necessary for the course, but its cost is not included in tuition.

tudent life

Student life, like the school itself, is different from a typical college. Since a new class starts every month, classmates who start at the same time frequently stay together throughout the program. Class sizes vary from 20 to 85 students, with a maximum number of 120 students in classes where students from different degree programs are combined. There are several groups and clubs within the different degree programs of the school, each oriented toward student interests. Students in the relevant degree program generally manage the groups, with an instructor providing support. Full Sail does not have on-campus student housing. Most students live within convert|5|mi|km of the school in apartment complexes in the immediate area, often with roommates. The school has a housing department, which provides prospective students with information about local apartment complexes, and keeps track of students who are looking for roommates.

Notable Full Sail alumni & productions

Full Sail alumni have contributed to the following projects, among others:

Games

* - Billy Welch, Sound Editor: THQ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491165/]
* The Outfit - Billy Welch, Sound Editor: Relic Entertainment [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491678/]
* Saints Row - Billy Welch, Voice Over Editor: Volition Inc. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477848/]
* - Billy Welch, Sound Editor: THQ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484895/]
* Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter - Justin Drust, Sound Designer: Red Storm Entertainment [http://www.fullsail.com/recording-arts/grad-features/1135-justin-drust.html]
* Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty, - Chance Glasco, Animator: Infinity Ward [http://www.fullsail.com/computer-animation/grad-features/1106-chance-glasco.html]
* I & II, - Jameson Durall, Associate Game Designer: EA Redwood Shores [http://www.fullsail.com/game-development/grad-features/1128-jameson-durall.html]
* , - Shaun McCabe, Sound Programmer: Insomniac Games [http://www.fullsail.com/game-development/grad-features/1130-shaun-mccabe.html]
* - Nina Straccialini, Lead Technical Artist: Turbine, Inc. [http://www.fullsail.com/computer-animation/grad-features/1112-nina-straccialini.html]
* Dark Age of Camelot - Arturo Pulecio, Character Animator: EA Mythic [http://www.fullsail.com/news/236-arturo-pulecio-detours-to-camelot.html]
* Wolfenstein Next-gen (in development), Quake IV - Jim Shepard, Gameplay Programmer: Raven Software [http://www.fullsail.com/game-development/grad-features/1361-jim-shepard.html]
* The Matrix Online - Maegan Walling, Character Artist: Monolith Productions [http://www.fullsail.com/news/268-maegan-walling-jacks-into-the-matrix-online.html]
* , - Chris Clay, Game System Designer: Turbine, Inc. [http://www.fullsail.com/digital-arts/grad-features/1116-chris-clay.html]
* Rise of Nations and - David Clyde, Programmer: Big Huge Games [http://www.bighugegames.com/team_dclyde.shtml] and Jason Jurecka, Programmer: Big Huge Games [http://bighugegames.com/team_jjurecka.shtml]
* Eragon and The Spiderwick Chronicles (video game) - Jason Citron, Programmer: Stormfront Studios and Clayton Vaught, Programmer: Stormfront Studios
* - DJ Hirko, Programmer [http://www.volition-inc.com/Staff/DJHirko] ; Matt Greene, Technical Artist [http://www.volition-inc.com/Staff/MattGreene] ; Clay Mathews, Animator [http://www.volition-inc.com/Staff/ClayMathews] ; Josh Davidson, Audio Designer [http://www.volition-inc.com/Staff/JoshDavidson] - Volition, Inc.
* Chron X - Matt Holden, Technical Director : Darkened Sky Studios [http://www.darkenedsky.com]
* Dead Space (video game) - Clayton Vaught, Software Engineer II : EA Redwood Shores

TV & movies

* The Lord of the Rings film trilogy - David Farmer, Sound Designer [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0267736/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/193-winning-oscars-with-the-lord-of-the-rings.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "" - Michael Comly, Lighter [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1278930/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/262-full-sails-academy-awards-wrap-up.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "Spider-Man 2" - Michael Comly, Technical Director [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1278930/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/262-full-sails-academy-awards-wrap-up.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "Superman Returns" - Michael Comly, Technical Director [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1278930/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/262-full-sails-academy-awards-wrap-up.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "" - Michael Comly, Digital Artist [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1278930/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/262-full-sails-academy-awards-wrap-up.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "The Matrix Revolutions" - Michael Comly, Technical Director [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1278930/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/262-full-sails-academy-awards-wrap-up.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "Crash" - Marc Fishman, Sound Re-Recording Mixer [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0279892/] [http://www.fullsail.com/recording-arts/grad-features/2399-marc-fishman.html]
* "King Kong" - David Farmer, Sound Designer [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0267736/] [http://www.fullsail.com/news/193-winning-oscars-with-the-lord-of-the-rings.html?section=campusGeneral&pg=1]
* "Lost" - Steve Cainas, Production Coordinator [http://www.fullsail.com/film/grad-features/1126-steve-cainas.html] [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128977/]
* "Saw II", "Saw III", and "Saw IV" - Darren Lynn Bousman, director [http://www.fullsail.com/press-room/press-releases/3321-full-sail-film-graduate-directs-saw-iii.html Full Sail Film Graduate Directs Saw III] ]
* "" - Digital Model Development and Construction Artist: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "" - Tim Naylor, Lead Creature Technical Director: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "Hulk" - Tim Naylor, Creature Rigger: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "" - Tim Naylor, Creature Technical Director: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "" - Tim Naylor, Lead Creature Developer: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "The Day After Tomorrow" - Tim Naylor, Creature Rigger: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "Transformers" - Tim Naylor, Creature Supervisor: Industrial Light & Magic [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1808536/]
* "Five Across The Eyes" - Greg Swinson, director [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0888019/]
* "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" - Brett Voss, Supervising Foley Editor [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1916276/]

Radio

* JD Harmeyer, Media Producer "- The Howard Stern Show

Feature Films Shot At Full Sail

Views of Full Sail

Accreditation

Full Sail is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, which is a national accreditor of primarily vocational schools and career schools within the United States. Most four year colleges and universities in the U.S. are regionally accredited, and do not recognize national accreditation such as ACCSCT (see [http://www.accsct.org/Content/StudentCorner/Transfer%20of%20Credit/Transfer%20of%20Credit%20Policy%20Agenda.pdf] ). Regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools would be required for Full Sail credits to be transferable to traditional four-year colleges throughout the United States. Requirements for regional accreditation would involve switching to a more conventional semester-hours based schedule, requiring a wider variety of general education credits, and utilizing teaching faculty with Master's or Doctorate degrees (see [http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/PrinciplesOfAccreditation.PDF] ).

Full Sail maintains a website with notable industry activity by alumni, called [http://www.fullsail.com/index.cfm/fa/news.gradsonthemove/grads-on-the-move Grads on the Move] .

References

External links

* [http://www.fullsail.edu/ Full Sail's official site]
* [http://alumni.fullsail.com/ Full Sail Alumni site]
* [http://www.fullsail.edu/fs1/catalog/ Full Sail's catalog of courses]
* [http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/full_sail/ Apple - Full Sail Real World Education]
* [http://www.fs911.us/ FS911 - Full Sail Unofficial Online Community]
* [http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/17/Floridian/Showbiz_U.shtml Showbiz U] – "St. Petersburg Times"