The Sound Design BA is an interdisciplinary audio production degree that prepares students for a wide variety of sound design careers and applications. Built upon a robust foundation in audio theory and systems, recording and production, and hearing and perception, the major offers branches of study in applied sound design in the Audio Arts and Acoustics, Cinema and Television Arts, Interactive Arts and Media, and other departments.

The degree structure allows students to cross between applied fields during their course of study and as they advance in their professional lives, preparing them to work in multiple industry verticals. Career paths include sound design for cinema and television, game and other interactive media, and sonic object- and process-oriented enterprises, such as sound effect and sample library creation, sonic interaction design, and product-sound and sonic branding.

As a result of successfully completing program requirements, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of the theories, processes, and practices essential to sound and sound design: contextualized storytelling structures and forms; audio production and post-production processes and workflows; basic acoustics, hearing and perception, and analog and digital audio theory; and contemporary technologies and tools of sound design, including programming;
2. create, shape, and evaluate individual sonic elements (assets and layers) as well as complete, full-length productions (e.g., soundscapes, soundtracks, game audio, and live shows) in at least one applied media or performing art form;
3. work independently and as part of a team to complete sound design projects, understanding and adhering to production pipelines and timelines associated with chosen media and performing arts forms;
4. exhibit and share a substantive body of work (portfolio/reel/etc.) that reflects creative application, exploration, iteration, and growth in sound design and that is built to the distinct needs of the represented media form(s) and industry verticals.