Weaving Moments for Artists and Entertainers in Denver's Tapestry
Step into the vibrant world of entertainment and art, where creativity knows no bounds, and talent thrives. Our programs nurture aspiring artists, filmmakers, musicians and music industry executives, designers, and storytellers, providing them with the skills, resources, and industry insights needed to make their mark in the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment and artistic expression. Find your community of artistic exploration and professional growth—discover a path where every dream becomes a possibility, and every talent finds a voice.
High-Quality Programs with Industry Accolades
Across our programs, CU Denver boasts top rankings and industry recognition—six faculty and alumni are Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, or Guggenheim Creative Arts award winners. From being named the "Top Music Business Program" by Billboard Magazine to being recognized as the "Top Public Illustration Program in Colorado" by Animation Career Review and a "Top Film School" by Moviemaker Magazine, our programs stand out for their excellence and relevance in the entertainment industry.
Find Your Path
Through industry connections, guest lectures, workshops, and networking events, students gain valuable insights and forge meaningful connections with industry professionals. Whether you aspire to be an artist manager, singer/songwriter, graphic designer, animator, illustrator, or filmmaker, our programs equip you with the skills, knowledge, and professional network needed to thrive in your chosen career path.
Creative Diversity
Students in our Entertainment & Artistry programs become part of a vibrant and supportive creative community, where they can truly thrive. Working on group animation projects, participating in a group design challenges, or producing a short film with fellow students—you'll have the opportunity to work with peers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, gaining exposure to different styles and approaches.
Select Arts & Media Programs to Enhance Your Career
Define Your Path with Artistic Excellence
BS Music Business
College of Arts & Media
Dive deep into contemporary and commercial music while gaining invaluable insights into the industry's inner workings. Our top-ranked program, as recognized by Billboard Magazine, offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare you for a successful career in music management, marketing, publishing, and more. Immerse yourself in a vibrant learning environment where industry experts and alumni regularly share their knowledge, providing you with unparalleled networking opportunities. From our state-of-the-art facilities to our emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, we empower you to shape the future of the music industry.
- 120 credit hours
- Choose between audition and non-audition tracks.
- Study in one of the most vibrant music cities with world class venues, such as Red Rocks.
- Be prepared for careers in artist management, music publishing, concert promotion, and more.
“It's an honor to be recognized among such prestigious and storied music business programs. With our additional focus on advocacy, social justice, and leadership within the industry and local communities, I feel we have set ourselves apart from other programs,”
– Storm Gloor, Associate Professor, Music Business
BS Singer/Songwriter
College of Arts & Media
Are you passionate about music and storytelling? The BS in Singer/Songwriter program offers a unique blend of musical training and artistic expression, empowering you to become a versatile performer and songwriter. Our program provides you with access to world-class recording facilities and professional mentors who guide you through every step of your musical journey. Whether you aspire to be a performer, music producer, or studio musician, our holistic approach to music education ensures that you graduate as a well-rounded artist ready to make your mark in the industry.
- 120 credit hours
- Recognized as a top school for aspiring songwriters by the College Gazette.
- Launch your career in music publishing, advertising, and more.
- Access state-of-the-art recording studios and equipment to hone your craft.
“I was really touched by the support I received from everyone at CU Denver, and I’m so grateful to be at a school where I feel like my professors and peers really care about what I’m doing and want to help me succeed,” she said. “It feels like a collaborative environment rather than a competitive one, which is one of the main reasons I chose to come to CU Denver.”
– Finn O'Sullivan, Singer/Songwriter ’24
BFA 3D Graphics & Animation
College of Arts & Media
Are you fascinated by the world of animation and digital art? Our BFA in 3D Graphics and Animation program equips you with the skills and expertise to bring your imagination to life in the digital realm. Curriculum covers everything from modeling and texturing to animation and rendering. With access to the latest technology and top-tier facilities in our Digital Animation Center, students learn from industry professionals and collaborate day-to-day with talented peers, creating a cohesive creative community.
- 120 credit hours
- Recognized by Animation Career Review as a Top 40 Animation Program— Graduates are currently employed by LucasArts, Pixar, and Sony, and more.
- Study topics like 3D graphics and animation techniques, including modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, rendering, and compositing
- The Digital Animation Center is home to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including high-performance computers, industry-standard software, motion capture studios, and virtual reality tools.
“We’re starting to really see that the skills that we teach our students become applicable to lots of differen industries. In particular, the gaming industry is huge. We have many students who take their 3D animation skills and go on to have jobs in the gaming, defense, textile industries, and beyond!”
– Jeremy Brown, Program Director, 3D Graphics & Animation
BFA Digital Design
College of Arts & Media
Our BFA Digital Design program equips graduates with versatile skills applicable across various industries. Whether you aspire to become a graphic designer, UX/UI designer, motion graphic artist, or video editor, our top-ranked programs offer a comprehensive curriculum that meets modern demands. Experiential learning, real-world projects, and networking opportunities with industry professionals, students graduate ready to make their mark in the ever-changing world of design.
- Digital Design stands out as the top school for UX, UI, graphic design, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) via Animation Career Review.
- Students apply knowledge in real-world scenarios, from client-based projects to collaborative design challenges.
- Graduate with strong connections to industry professionals through guest lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews, internships, and networking events.
- Alumni work at IBM, Mercedes-Benz, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Hewlett Packard, and more.
“Having professors that would push me on a project so much that by the end it’s a nearly perfect project or giving an insight into how the work we do can impact the world is truly inspiring. It shows what I could be doing in the future when I think that these professors and designers, we look up to were in the exact same place as we are.”
– Hayden Knoll, BFA Digital Design ’23
BFA Illustration
College of Arts & Media
Ranked as the top program of its kind in Colorado, the BFA Illustration blends traditional and new-age techniques to prepare graduates for the range of careers available within the illustration industry. From publishing graphic novels to medical illustration and visual development for animation, our graduates are making waves across various fields. With a curriculum focused on anatomy, digital painting, graphic novel creation, and typography, students develop the skills needed to thrive in the competitive illustration landscape.
- BFA Illustration program is the top public illustration program in Colorado via Animation Career Review.
- Coursework includes Anatomy for the Artist, Digital Painting, Graphic Novel Workshop, and Typography Studio, preparing students for successful careers in many fields.
- Students learn traditional and digital illustration methods, applying their skills to different industries and contexts.
- Graduates find careers in illustration, marketing, healthcare, engineering, gaming, entertainment, and more.
“CU Denver's Illustration program prepared me for a wide variety of professional and artistic challenges that started my career. It is hard to know what a professional career in the arts looks like, but I feel as though the many opportunities within the program and on the campus enabled me to handle whatever came my way. This preparedness eventually landed me as Meow Wolf's Denver Artist Liaison, and as a current Redline Satelite Studio Resident at Alto Gallery.”
– Brandon Vargas, BFA Illustration ’18
BFA Film & Television
College of Arts & Media
Recognized as one of the "25 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada" by MovieMaker Magazine, the BFA Film & Television program offers an unparalleled hands-on education in film production. Under the guidance of industry professionals, students write scripts, edit films, operate cameras, and bring stories to life across various platforms. With access to industry-standard facilities, equipment, and exclusive resources, including sound stages, editing software, and screening theaters, our graduates emerge as skilled filmmakers ready to leave their mark in the dynamic world of film and television.
- 120 credit hours
- Explore every aspect of film production, from scriptwriting and editing to digital effects and TV studio production.
- Hollywood Internship Program, Bollywood Connections Study Abroad, Summer Program, and Industry Pathways Apprenticeship Class provide avenues for professional networking.
- Screen your work at our bi-annual student film festival, Cinefest.
“After being in the program for over a year, I know I couldn’t have found a better fit for me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I was able to find a community of passionate people who are learning alongside me, all working together for success.”
– Angellina Fioretto, BFA Film & Television ’26
If you want to tell stories through film, television, or documentary, this is a wonderful place to be. From the hands-on experience with top-of-the-line film equipment and computer software to the professional experience of the professors and instructors to the relationships that you make with your cohort, this program has given me the knowledge and confidence to enter the competitive film industry.
— Tim B., BFA Film & Televison ’24
One thing that I think really makes us stand out is that, yes, we teach the hard skills, but often we push the focus to soft skills: the ‘why’ behind everything, the social techniques beyond the intricacies of whatever particular software we’re using.
— Jeremy Brown, Program Director, 3D Graphics & Animation
The dizzying pace of advances in digital technology such as AI, the constantly evolving social media landscape, and the rapid globalization of the industry requires an agility in critical thinking that our program at CU Denver is uniquely and specifically designed to foster. I am delighted that the ‘bible’ of the music business has chosen to recognize us for this.
— Matthew O’Brien, Assistant Professor, Music and Entertainment Studies
I initially started out animating for film, but as I built up my understanding of the industry and what I enjoyed, I was drawn to story development and character creation. As the years went on, film stopped resonating as much with me and I realized I wanted to lean in to interactive experiences. A lot of that was motivated through story-based classes, through script writing classes with Roma Sur, to the Digital Animation Center's classes revolving around story development and VR storytelling taught by Professor Howard Cook. It really connected me to this whole world of using the animation industry to create tools for education.
— Chilli K., 3D Graphics & Animation ’21