Emerson College has announced a significant reorganization of its academic structure, elevating the Department of Visual Media Arts (VMA) to a newly established School of Film, Television, and Media Arts. This change is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.
Associate VMA Professor and Department Chair Shaun Clarke will assume the role of Interim Dean for the new School, marking a pivotal moment in the college’s commitment to enhancing its offerings in the arts and communication.
College President Jay Bernhardt emphasized the importance of this transition in a message to the Emerson community. He stated that this move not only recognizes the VMA program’s prominence but also reinforces Emerson’s dedication to becoming a global leader in storytelling and the arts.
“The creation of this new School reaffirms Emerson’s ongoing commitment to global leadership in communication and the arts,” Bernhardt noted. “This is an overdue recognition of our largest academic program that has long shaped global storytelling and has produced some of the most talented creators and professionals in the entertainment industry.”
Clarke voiced his enthusiasm about the school’s establishment, highlighting the curriculum’s adaptability to the industry’s rapid evolution. He remarked, “We recognize the need for an ever-evolving curriculum and student experience to match the fast-paced changes in the film, television, and media arts industry of the future.”
The new School aims to provide a contemporary educational experience, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, innovative hands-on curriculum, and instruction from industry experts. Students will gain access to virtual production studios and courses that delve into emerging technologies, with certification opportunities for ARRI professional-standard film equipment.
Following the transition, the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies will replace the VMA department within Emerson’s School of the Arts. According to Bernhardt, this change is intended to optimize the college’s resource allocation while enhancing its core academic offerings.
As part of the transition, major requirements, courses, and various academic programs under the VMA Department will be integrated into the new School. Courses offered will tackle a variety of topics, including the production of music videos, games, and feature films, as well as critical examinations of media in the context of social justice and the emergence of artificial intelligence.
Rising senior Nandan Nair, who served as the President of the Student Government Association, expressed strong support for the establishment of the School. He stated, “It honors the incredible work of our faculty and students, past and present, to pioneer new trends and further the art of filmmaking.”
Nair also emphasized a shared hope for the expansion of academic offerings, career preparedness opportunities, and a diversity of majors within the School. His insights reflect the feedback he received during his tenure as SGA President, affirming the need for a comprehensive curriculum that aligns with the evolving demands of the film industry.
He remarked, “With this jump from a department to a now full-blown school of its own, I definitely think it’s worth looking into so that we truly follow through on this intent to elevate the department, honor the efforts of our alumni and ensure we continue to uphold and empower our students to push boundaries and keep raising the standard in film and television around the world.”
Nair is among approximately 200 students who will be heading to Emerson Los Angeles in the fall, and he is eager to see how the new School will shape the campus’s course offerings, further solidifying Emerson’s reputation as a powerhouse in the film and television sectors.
However, not all students view this transition positively. Recent VMA graduate Caden Lisa expressed frustration regarding the timing of the announcement, having already completed his studies. He described the decision as a “slap in the face,” reflecting on his own experiences at the college.
Lisa shared his disappointment about the limited course offerings, mentioning, “When I was graduating high school and went to Emerson College, I had the expectation and the desire to work in television.”
He noted the curriculum’s shortcomings, particularly a deficiency in television production classes during his time there. “In hindsight, it is baffling that they only had one TV production class, among other complaints that I have from what I thought was a lackluster curriculum,” he said.
Reflecting on his education experience, Lisa expressed a desire for future VMA students to benefit from improved curriculum clarity and increased opportunities to learn practical skills.
The college’s commitment to enhancing student experiences is part of the broader “Extraordinary Emerson 2030” initiative, which aims to develop various academic innovations designed to bolster career preparedness and create collaborative research opportunities for arts and communications professionals.
Bernhardt revealed that these announcements are merely the beginning of a series of changes aimed at positioning Emerson for the future. He noted that further information would be shared in the upcoming weeks regarding additional changes and financial management decisions, all aimed at addressing the challenges faced by higher education today.
“Although some of these issues will be challenging, we remain guided by our mission, vision, and shared values, which are rooted in creativity, innovation, inclusion, curiosity, equity, expression, and collaboration,” Bernhardt concluded.
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