I have never heard of this degree before and am not sure I fully understand what it is. Can you give me a general overview?

AET offers one undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science, that equips graduates with the technological mindset needed to achieve their creative goals across the fields of visualization, sound, games, storytelling, and immersive experiences, in both digital and real physical spaces.

Working proactively with an advisor, you will navigate a series of Foundations courses and then be able to pursue more specialized topics within interactive design, immersive media, and themed entertainment.

A Brief History: In 2016, the Bachelor of Science in AET was created to offer students industry-aligned coursework in arts and entertainment fields. The primary mission of AET was, and continues to be, to prepare students for entry level career opportunities in entertainment technology fields.

Arts and Entertainment fields are not new. Before the creation of AET, a student might need to seek out classes from a variety of departments to graduate with the skills needed to enter the entertainment tech job market. For example, prior to AET, a student might have enrolled in art, theater, music, film, graphic design, and computer science courses to learn what they needed. However, AET's cross-disciplinary approach and commitment to industry standards, takes creative, design-thinking and directly links it to technical know-how, right here, in the only Bachelor of Science awarded by the College of Fine Arts.

Our cross-disciplinary focus on designing human experiences makes us pretty unique among our peer institutions.

I like the idea of a degree with some flexibility, but how will I know what courses to take?

AET Students are supported by mandatory academic advising each semester. AET fields are evolving with society. Therefore, coursework is frequently updated to keep pace with latest trends and provide you with new opportunities to expand your knowledge across the creative tech spectrum. We work closely with industry partners to ensure course content is up-to-date, interesting, and professionally relevant, so you can stay on track for your career goals.

Who should choose a degree in AET?

If the idea of working at the intersection of coding, digital art, audio, music, and lighting to create experiences excites you so much that you need to know about all these things in order to achieve your career goals, AET might be a good fit for you.

Our cross-disciplinary, tech-driven degree prepares people to work in entertainment technologies, which means that, though we use many of the same programming tools that you’ll find in computer science, music composition, or digital art and graphic design classes, we are preparing designers of the whole experience, rather than a narrowly focused discipline.

Our most successful and satisfied AET students are those who get involved in the community and take advantage of every opportunity the Department, the College of Fine Arts, the University, and the City of Austin have to offer.

Can I focus on illustration, animation, graphic design, or concept art in AET?

At the core of AET is user-centered design, code, and content to create interactive and immersive experiences. Illustration, animation, graphic design, and concept art are used in many courses as part of the pre-production and production processes. However, there is no dedicated course sequence that solely supports these disciplines. AET is about creating the whole experience, not just the visual or audio components.

Will I be able to find a job with my degree?

Finding a job involves many factors beyond earning a degree.

In AET, your career path begins as soon as you start your coursework. In AET courses, there is a heavy emphasis on documenting your processes and projects and compiling them into a professional portfolio, which you share and update each semester, and which showcases your growth and potential in AET.

In addition to technical skills, AET graduates demonstrate important “soft skills” that are attractive to prospective employers. They are strong team collaborators. They display leadership potential because they are organized, motivated, and can manage time and tasks.

AET has a dedicated Industry Relations team that will help connect you to mentorship and opportunities, as well as COFA Career Services, which will provide resources and coaching. However, the most powerful thing an AET student can do to succeed in the job market is to make the most of their time at UT by getting involved, networking with professionals, and creating and maintaining an outstanding professional portfolio well before graduation.

How may I internally transfer into the B.S. in AET degree?

Please see our admissions section for pertinent info.

Can I have two majors (AET and something else) or do a minor in another department?

Yes, the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) officially allows simultaneous majors. Please note that this does not change the admissions requirements for AET or other programs.

UT also offers many minors and Bridging Disciplines Certificates that complement the AET degree, such as Design Strategies, Business, Elements of Computing, Museum Studies, Studio Art, foreign languages, and many study abroad opportunities.

For those interested in pursuing a double major, a minor, or a certificate, be sure to meet with your academic advisers in each area to ensure you can complete the requirements.

Can I minor in Arts and Entertainment Technologies?

AET does not offer a minor. We do offer a Bridging Disciplines Certificate in Digital Arts and Media. Students should talk to their academic advisor about options for officially recognized minors and Bridging Disciplines Certificates offered at The University of Texas at Austin.

Who can I contact with questions about my degree plan and courses?

For more information on degree advising and course registration in AET, please contact your Undergraduate Academic Advisor Additionally, our faculty and administration are excellent resources.

This degree sounds very technical. What hardware and software will I need to get started?

To fulfill the requirements of our degree plan, incoming students will need a personal computing device and software that meets our technical specifications. Our recommendations are evaluated annually to align with our coursework and the latest industry technology. We want our students to be set up for success from day one with the right tools at their fingertips.

Campus Computer Store

Once new students have been issued their official UT Austin student identification cards, they are eligible to purchase computers with educational discounts at the campus computer store. Students with paid tuition and fees receipts for the semester are eligible to purchase the software.

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