Ex'pression College for Digital Arts
Encyclopedia
Ex'pression College for Digital Arts is a private
, for-profit college
located in Emeryville, California
, geared toward the entertainment industry and known for its around-the-clock schedule and five week classes. It offers six Bachelors of Applied Science degrees: 1) Animation and Visual Effects, 2) Digital Filmmaking, 3) Game Art & Design, 4) Interactive Audio, 5) Motion Graphic Design and 6) Sound Arts. Ex'pression awards bachelor's degree
s after 36 months (two and a half years) of accelerated education.
, to help design the facility which houses the school. Building began in November 1998.
On September 9, 1998, Ex’pression received temporary approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
(BPPVE) to operate, and to offer course instruction in digital visual media and sound comprehensive programs. The BPPVE granted Ex’pression temporary approvals to operate and offer diploma, associates and bachelor degree programs in September 1998. In January 2001, Ex’pression was granted approval to operate, and renewed the approval to operate in October 2005.
On January 11, 1999, 48 students began classes in Sound Arts and Digital Visual Media, the first two programs offered by the school.
In 2004, the school had more than 500 students enrolled. The same year, its name was changed from Ex’pression Center for New Media to Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. The change reflects a stronger emphasis on Bachelor degree level learning and more accurately describes the core focus of the College’s curriculum in digital arts.
In April 2005, the school became an accredited college with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
In August 2005, Ex’pression was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and approved to participate in the Title IV Federal Student Aid programs such as Stafford Loan
, Pell Grant
, and PLUS Loan
.
In November 2006, Ex’pression was approved by the State of California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education to offer its fourth BAS degree in Game Art and Design
In December 2006, Ex'pression received approval to offer the Game Art and Design BAS program from the ACCSCT.
In early 2007, Ex’pression expanded its facilities adding an additional 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²), creating several new classrooms. Work is currently taking place on further extensions to this wing.
Ex'pression’s degree programs start monthly. Throughout the course of a program, the average Ex'pression 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 five weeks long, and new courses start every five weeks. This schedule allows Ex'pression a fluid, if intense, operating method. If a student fails a class, they will be allowed to take it again with no charge, one time. Further class retakes are not covered, and must be paid for by the student.
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.
Ex'pression does not have on-campus student housing but works with Collegiate Housing Services to offer housing for students. CHS offers a shared housing program for new and current students. CHS will also help students find alternative housing through their referral program. Most students live within 5 miles (8 km) of the school in apartment complexes in the immediate area, often with roommates.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
, for-profit college
For-Profit School
For-profit education refers to educational institutions operated by private, profit-seeking businesses....
located in Emeryville, California
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
, geared toward the entertainment industry and known for its around-the-clock schedule and five week classes. It offers six Bachelors of Applied Science degrees: 1) Animation and Visual Effects, 2) Digital Filmmaking, 3) Game Art & Design, 4) Interactive Audio, 5) Motion Graphic Design and 6) Sound Arts. Ex'pression awards bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s after 36 months (two and a half years) of accelerated education.
History
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts was founded by Gary Platt, a sound recording engineer and educator, and Eckart Wintzen, a Dutch venture capitalist and media arts enthusiast. A 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) building was purchased in Emeryville, California to house a new school to be called "Ex’pression Center for New Media". Ex’pression hired architect John StorykJohn Storyk
John Storyk, a registered architect and acoustician, is a founding partner of Walters-Storyk Design Group. He and the firm’s associates have provided design and construction supervision services for the professional audio and video recording community since the 1969 completion of Jimi Hendrix's...
, to help design the facility which houses the school. Building began in November 1998.
On September 9, 1998, Ex’pression received temporary approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education was a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs whose purpose was to protect students by establishing academic standards for of private institutions of higher education in California...
(BPPVE) to operate, and to offer course instruction in digital visual media and sound comprehensive programs. The BPPVE granted Ex’pression temporary approvals to operate and offer diploma, associates and bachelor degree programs in September 1998. In January 2001, Ex’pression was granted approval to operate, and renewed the approval to operate in October 2005.
On January 11, 1999, 48 students began classes in Sound Arts and Digital Visual Media, the first two programs offered by the school.
In 2004, the school had more than 500 students enrolled. The same year, its name was changed from Ex’pression Center for New Media to Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. The change reflects a stronger emphasis on Bachelor degree level learning and more accurately describes the core focus of the College’s curriculum in digital arts.
In April 2005, the school became an accredited college with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
In August 2005, Ex’pression was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and approved to participate in the Title IV Federal Student Aid programs such as Stafford Loan
Stafford loan
A Stafford Loan is a student loan offered to eligible students enrolled in accredited American institutions of higher education to help finance their education...
, Pell Grant
Pell Grant
A Pell Grant is money the federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree or who are not enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating...
, and PLUS Loan
PLUS loan
A PLUS Loan is a student loan offered to parents of students enrolled at least half time in eligible programs at participating and eligible post-secondary institutions or graduate and professional students at participating and eligible postsecondary institutions.-Similarities with Stafford and...
.
In November 2006, Ex’pression was approved by the State of California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education to offer its fourth BAS degree in Game Art and Design
In December 2006, Ex'pression received approval to offer the Game Art and Design BAS program from the ACCSCT.
In early 2007, Ex’pression expanded its facilities adding an additional 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²), creating several new classrooms. Work is currently taking place on further extensions to this wing.
Degree programs
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Motion Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Animation and Visual Effects
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Game Art and Design
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Sound Arts
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Interactive Audio
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Filmmaking
Scheduling
Ex'pression 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. Many classes will have a three hour lecture, a one hour break, and then a four hour lab.Ex'pression’s degree programs start monthly. Throughout the course of a program, the average Ex'pression 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 five weeks long, and new courses start every five weeks. This schedule allows Ex'pression a fluid, if intense, operating method. If a student fails a class, they will be allowed to take it again with no charge, one time. Further class retakes are not covered, and must be paid for by the student.
Student life
Student life, like the school itself, is different from a typical college. Since a new class starts every five weeks, classmates who start at the same time frequently stay together throughout the program (and sometimes assign a name to their group). This is desired, as one of the school's focuses is putting out small teams of graduates who know each other and have worked together, so that they can get group internships. Class sizes vary from 10 to 35 students, with a maximum number of 50 students in classes where students from different degree programs are combined, mostly the core curriculum subjects.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.
Ex'pression does not have on-campus student housing but works with Collegiate Housing Services to offer housing for students. CHS offers a shared housing program for new and current students. CHS will also help students find alternative housing through their referral program. Most students live within 5 miles (8 km) of the school in apartment complexes in the immediate area, often with roommates.
Tuition
Ex'pression college's tuition is currently set at $84,320 along with several non-refundable fees. If the tuition is not paid in full at the time of enrollment, then the student is subject to a periodic tuition increase, which has been occurring almost annually. Tuition was increased to $19,900 per academic year on April 13, 2009, and again on April 12, 2010 to $21,080 per academic year.Accreditation
Ex'pression 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.accsc.org/Content/StudentCorner/Transfer%20of%20Credit/Transfer%20of%20Credit%20Policy%20Agenda.pdf). The ACCSCT's accredditation review process "relies heavily on the integrity of the information submitted by institutions... through a process of self-evaluation."Notable faculty and alumni
- Spencer NilsenSpencer NilsenSpencer Nilsen is a video game music composer. He is best known for his soundtracks to the Sega Mega-CD versions of Batman Returns, Ecco the Dolphin, Ecco: The Tides of Time, Jurassic Park, The Adventures of Batman and Robin and The Amazing Spider-Man vs...
(School President) - Video Game Music ComposerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
- John ScanlonJohn ScanlonLieutenant Colonel John Joseph Scanlan, DSO and bar was an Australian Army officer during the First World War and the Second World War. He led Lark Force at Rabaul and was taken as a prisoner of war.-Notes:...
(Sound Arts Program Director) - Sound Engineer - Yael Braha (Motion Graphic Design Program Director) - Graphic DesignGraphic designGraphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
er, Filmmaker - Jack DouglasJack Douglas (record producer)Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
(Teaches Studio Etiquette) - Record ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
External links
- Ex'pression Official Site
- Ex'pression Official Youtube - A YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel showcasing student work - Ex'pression Official Myspace
- Ex'pression Students - A student run forum and art-sharing community
- CineSource Magazine - Local Film Schools: A Plethora of Riches