Broadcast and Filmmaking students work on a short film in Saudi Arabia

Communication & Creative Media

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Turn your passion for art, writing, games, music, film, and more into an exciting career; you'll build strong professional skills while nurturing your creativity.

Each major in the Division of Communication & Creative Media (CCM) integrates academic excellence with professional know-how, emphasizing innovation, creativity, technological expertise, and critical reflection. You will gain firsthand experience in and out of the classroom, studying with professionals in the field and engaging with our strong network of industry partners. Our on-campus Centers of Experience offer a variety of exciting and résumé-building paid internships working with real clients.

Presentations from prominent industry professionals, artists, authors, and scholars complement classroom instruction. And through the Upside-Down Curriculum, you'll start building your professional portfolio and résumé in your first semester—enabling you to be ready for internships in your field much sooner than students at other creative art schools. You will graduate prepared to think and act as an empowered citizen of our media-engaged and interconnected world.


Communication & Creative Media Undergraduate Majors

BFA in Animation

The Champlain Animation major is a bold exploration into the center of fine arts, media, and storytelling that challenges students to transform imagination into animation using applied theory, advanced tools and technology, and traditional artistic training. Study new animation and illustration techniques on industry-standard software, while learning how to tell a full story through storyboarding, character development, sound editing, and more.

BS in Broadcast Media Production

This major gives you the tools you need to work in television, radio, and independent production companies. Learn by doing in our digital editing suites, computer labs, and audio studios, as well as in the field. Multiple internship opportunities help you build all the skills you need to uncover, explain, and produce stories that capture the hearts and minds of audiences.

BFA in Creative Media

This unmatched major teaches you to be creatively fearless: You’ll work in three disciplines simultaneously (choose from Creative Writing, Game Media, Interaction Design, Moving Image [Film & Video], Sonic Arts, and Visual Art & Design) to define and develop your unique self-expression. All the while, you’ll master the business of interdisciplinary artistic endeavor including branding and entrepreneurship.

BFA in Filmmaking

This powerful major combines conceptual engagement, technical skills, and artistic experimentation with in-depth training in the business aspects of filmmaking, such as budgeting, funding, and marketing. Using the latest technology in our computer labs, soundstage, and studios, you’ll learn to create films from start to finish, exploring different production roles including director, cinematographer, sound designer, and editor.

BFA in Game Art

Learn from game-industry experts at a Top School for Video Game Design, as named by The Princeton Review. Graduate with a portfolio of models, animations, sculptures, and concept art that will set you apart from other creatives in your field. Our Game Studio gives you firsthand understanding of how creative teams collaborate to develop game assets and coordinate them into a functional game.

BS in Game Design

Taught by a faculty of experts with deep experience in game design, this thorough major will give you the skills to map, develop, and create the gameplay that defines a player's unique game experience. The Game Studio experience will help you excel in the complex and interdependent parts of the game production cycle including system, level, and narrative design.

BS in Game Sound Design

Champlain's Game Sound Design major will prepare you to enter this competitive and growing field with four years of relevant experience. Collaborating on game projects in the Game Studio, you'll learn all aspects of sound design so you can create a well-rounded auditory experience for game players.

BFA in Graphic Design & Visual Communication

Use graphic design skills to communicate effectively with any audience. Bridging tradition and innovation, you'll gain a unique blend of fundamental art and design principles, comprehensive liberal arts studies, and active practice in emerging technologies. You will graduate with a professional-level design portfolio that's been rigorously critiqued by a panel of guest designers from top design firms.

BS in Interaction Design

Exploring user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, you'll build skills in programming, design, and psychology to create successful interactions between humans and devices. You can concentrate on Implementation or Visual Design—or create your own niche within this in-demand field.

BS in Interactive Narrative for Games & Digital Media

One of the first academic programs of its kind, the BS in Interactive Narrative for Games & Digital Media is all about exploration and imagination. As you learn to design interactive, nonlinear narratives and content for various platforms and media, you’ll also learn how to influence action. You’ll question what makes a person take action on what they see, why the color or tone of an interface is important, and understand how to design for engagement.

BS in Marketing Communication

The line that separates marketing and communication is increasingly blurred—organizations have to be agile as media platforms and customer expectations evolve. Taught in close partnership with the Stiller School of Business, this interdisciplinary program prepares you to succeed in today's dynamic media environment. 

BS in Writing & Publishing

In addition to learning the fundamentals of writing and editing, you'll be introduced to a range of forms and styles that will expand your abilities and your marketability. Customize your degree for a multimedia world with classes in web development, filmmaking, graphic design, publishing in the 21st century, and marketing. Dig into specialized writing, like travel writing, food writing, digital storytelling, and journalism.

Experience-Based Learning

At Champlain, you'll do so much more than you would at a typical art college. Our interdisciplinary approach emphasizes creative problem solving and fosters innovation and lifelong learning.

Get involved in our on-campus Centers of Experience, where you'll collaborate with others in studio-like environments and put your classroom knowledge to the test on professional projects.

Emergent Media Center (EMC)
The EMC is a place where you'll think critically, collaborate effectively, and leverage media strategically for business, artistic and social purposes. You'll work on exciting projects for industry and nonprofit clients and develop new concepts and applications for games and other new media.

The Game Studio at Champlain College
The Game Studio is a launchpad for careers in the game industry. Students in the five game majors come together to learn essential professional social skills, master the latest game development expertise, and become prepared to jump into the best jobs in the industry with a full understanding of how a professional game studio team functions. 

JUST THE FACTS

THE BEST


The 2021 Fiske Guide to Colleges selected Champlain as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

THE MOST


Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth consecutive year in its "America's Best Colleges" ranking of universities in the North.

88%


Of 2019 graduates from the Division of Communications & Creative Media are either employed or continuing their education within six months of graduating.

Plus, you can also think about

Internships

Thanks to our Upside-Down Curriculum, many Champlain students become internship-ready early in their college career. Nearly 90% of our students complete one or more internships by graduation—many of which take place at international locations. 

Study Abroad

In addition to our home in Vermont, we have campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland—plus a mission and curriculum that encourage international study. More than 50% of our students spend time outside the United States, and many also intern during their semester abroad!

Sign Up To Get Stickers + Helpful Info

Student working on a laptop covered in Champlain stickers

Ready to be inspired? Fill out the form and sign up to receive helpful information about Champlain College—plus, we'll send you a full sheet of high quality stickers designed by one of our recent Graphic Design & Visual Communication graduates.

Nice to meet you!

Thanks for getting in touch—stickers and information will be on their way shortly. Please reach out anytime if you have any questions about Champlain; you can call or text us at 802.625.0201 or email us at admission@champlain.edu.

In the meantime, check out our list of majors, schedule your visit or event, and enjoy The View, for the latest news and updates from the College!