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frequently asked questions

general

Tuition to earn a one-year certification in Digital Animation and Visual Effects or Game Development is $26,000. This does not include fees, both required and optional. Tuition for the two-year Associate Degree program Digital Marketing and Design is $52,000, not including fees.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Active military, veterans, and military families may be able to use their GI Bill at DMI. Payment plans are also available and can be customized to fit your needs.

For all further questions about financial aid or tuition, please contact DMI.

Yes! Merit based, financial need scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Please contact us for more information on how to apply.

Yes! DMI accepts the GI Bill. For more information on education benefits for veterans and military service-members, please visit this link.

DMI is located at 2031 Kings Highway in Shreveport, LA and offers all classes online

 

No. DMI would be happy to recommend housing in the area, though the school does not provide housing. 

Graduates of the Digital Animation and Visual Effects program and the Game Development program are awarded a certificate. Graduates also leave DMI with a professional demo reel and are offered job placement assistance services. 

Graduates of the Digital Marketing and Design program are awarded with an Associate Degree in Occupational Studies. Graduates also leave DMI with a professional portfolio and are offered job placement assistance services.  

All graduates can access the DMI Flex Lab for one year after their date of graduation.

It is recommended that you do not attend another school while at DMI. The programs are structured to be intensive so our students can complete any of our programs in 1 or 2 years.

DMI is capable of accommodating most students with disabilities. We ask that you disclose your disability on our application, and, if possible, please submit a current college level IEP (Individual Learning Plan for the learning disabled) or other documentation during the enrollment process.

The staff and administration at DMI are focused on improving the quality of the education and experience of our students. We value our students’ input and work to resolve any complaints. Students are encouraged to comment on all aspects of the experience, including: instruction, curriculum, facility, administration, and campus life. 

 

DMI’s Procedure for Responding to Student Complaints

Step One:

The person in charge of the area at issue should be the first one informed. So, if there were a problem with the classroom or equipment therein, the instructor would be the first person a student should speak to. Issues or complaints cannot be addressed during instructional periods. Students wishing to address an issue must schedule time outside of the instructional time to discuss it with the instructor.

Step Two:

Should the issue remain unresolved; the student will be asked to fill out an official complaint form (the Administrative Assistant will provide form upon request) that will be referred to a director of DMI. Should the student or group of students feel more comfortable using a representative from the class as the voice, that will be acceptable.

The Director and administration will respond to your official written complaint in writing and meet with impacted parties in person to work to resolve it.

If the student has unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the matter with the school, they may proceed to step three.

 

Step Three:

If the student has not resolved the issue using steps one and two, they are encouraged to seek the advice of the Louisiana Board of Regents. Student complaints relative to actions of school officials shall be addressed to the Louisiana Board of Regents, 1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 342-4253

Complaints may also be addressed to the Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350. Toll-Free 800-917-2081 www.council.org.

requirements

Prospective students must first fill out an online application and submit an application fee, a letter of intent, and an official high school transcript.

Once your application is received, we will send you a link to our online assessment. After the score is evaluated, the prospective student will be asked to attend an interview with DMI administrators. The prospective student will then receive an admissions decision.

Students at DMI come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Some attend the Institute immediately after graduating high school, while others may have already earned a college degree or worked in the industry.

Regardless of their prior education or age, DMI students share the goal of embarking on new career paths or enhancing their current career skills.

Courses

DMI students graduate with extensive training in industry-standard programs and applications.

The Digital Media Institute offers three programs. Starting with our two certificate programs, Digital Animation and Visual Effects and Game Development.

The Digital Animation and Visual Effects program encompasses 11 months of in-class instruction and lab time, and students must complete two terms to earn their certificate. Students receive a well-rounded education in animation and visual effects for film, television, and gaming. The class sizes are small, and students are able to have an immersive and interactive classroom experience with their other classmates, the instructor, and a teaching assistant. During the program, students often work in teams to complete a demo reel, a 2D final project, and a 3D final project.

The Game Development Program is 11 months of in-class instruction and lab time. Students get an in-depth education in C# programming and learn how to use the Unity Gaming Engine. The class sizes are small, and students are able to have an immersive and interactive classroom experience with their other classmates, the instructor, and a teaching assistant. During the program, students work towards completing multiple fully functional games.

DMI also offers one Associate Degree program: Digital Marketing and Design. This degree program is 2 years of in-class instruction with a summer break. Students learn the fundamentals of modern digital marketing and a mastery of the Adobe Creative Cloud. The class sizes are small, and students are able to have an immersive and interactive classroom experience with their other classmates, the instructor, and a teaching assistant. Upon graduation, students create a professional portfolio highlighting their design skills.

Career Fields

What kinds of jobs are available to me after I graduate?

Skills obtained at DMI can apply to a variety of fields. Some students at DMI are searching for a new career, like working in a studio. Others are looking to enhance their skills to be more versatile in their current roles. Some may even want to start their own businesses doing pre and post production work.

A few career possibilities:

Digital Animation and Visual Effects

  • 3D Modeler
  • 3D Texture Artist
  • Interactive Content Designer
  • CG Generalist
  • Animator
  • Motion Graphic Designer
  • Compositor
  • Rotoscope Artist
  • Scene Layout Artist
  • 2D Compositing Artist

Game Development

  • Software Development
  • Interactive Content Creation
  • Game Programmer
  • Level Editor
  • Technical Artist
  • Game Designer
  • VR/AR Developer
  • Medical AR
  • QA Tester

Digital Marketing and Design

  • Graphic Designer
  • Digital Designer
  • Advertising and
  • Promotions Manager
  • Brand Designer
  • Product Designer
  • User Experience Designer
  • App Designer
  • Website Designer

Supplies

What books/resources do I need?

All required supplies are issued at the beginning of the program. 

Depending on the program, students may need:

  • Textbooks
  • Drawing supplies
  • A Wacom tablet
  • A portable hard drive
  • A USB flash drive
  • A high performance laptop

Students who already possess a high performance laptop or PC are not required to purchase another computer from DMI.  Students are able to keep all supplies after graduation.