Sound Design—BA

Jets rip overhead. Gunfire shatters the room. Radios squeal in pilot headsets. A charge explodes from the sea, a roaring geyser falling in on itself with a massive splash. The sound is immersive, epic—the environment feels so real you could touch it, even though you know it’s an illusion.

Sound designers make it happen. Sound is critical to the success of storytelling in films, TV, theater, video games, and theme parks; it makes or breaks recorded music. Sound is the first sense we develop in the womb and remains one of our most primal and powerful means of communication.

Michigan Tech prepares students to enter the world of sound as content creators in any context. Many of our students walk right into high-level jobs after graduation. Sound designer Steve Green's first job was lead designer on the successful video game Abzû. 

Other sound programs in other places offer training in a fraction of the discipline. Our program is comprehensive: tools, techniques, theory, and training in music theory and composition; the full spectrum of audio production, from recording to mixing and mastering; narrative analysis and story structure; and the technical arts that form the backbone of this advanced disciplinary field.

  • Our production facilities include several surround-sound mixing rooms for cinema, theater, and gaming production.
  • Unlike most audio programs, facilities and equipment are available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Spend as much time as you need to hone your craft.
  • Hands-on begins Day One. Record original content, compose original music, work in theater, on concerts, and in numerous projects and productions on our culturally vibrant career-focused campus. 
  • Our class sizes are small for a reason—we give you one-on-one contact with faculty who work professionally in sound all over the world.

Smart meets Art

  • Record, create, and design original sound effects for theater, film, and other projects.
  • Make original music studio recordings as engineer and producer.
  • Compose and conduct original music, including a full scoring session for cinema with a live orchestra.

Being a Husky

Connections

  • Sound program grads from Michigan Tech work throughout the industry, just like the faculty who help prepare you for your career. Their network of companies, professionals, and jobs provide a pathway.
  • We're not located in a big city, but we keep you connected to the industry. Students attend major professional events several times yearly—from the Audio Engineering Society national conference to the United States Institute of Technical Theater convention. Make your own professional contacts, present your work to industry leaders, and be ready to navigate the complex world of the entertainment industry the moment you graduate.

Career Advising

One-on-one student advising keeps you progressing toward your goals. Every semester you meet with a faculty member to evaluate where you're at and where you're headed. You'll consider summer internships, jobs résumé and portfolio preparation—everything you need to line up the kind of work you want and build the career you desire.

Careers in Sound Design

  • Sound Designer, Mixer, Editor—Films, TV, Video Games, Theater
  • Recording Engineer/Producer
  • Live Sound Engineer
  • Sound Effects Recordist
  • Foley Artist
  • Tour Manager
  • The possibilities are limitless