Located in Waltham, MA, the Center for Digital Imaging Arts (CDIA) is a Boston University affiliate and host to a variety of unique certificate programs in film and media. CDIA was founded by Bob Daniels and Bob Frasier in 2005, motivated by the idea of creating a digital oriented school that focuses on the hands-on aspect of education, rather than pure theory. With a high instructor to student ratio, the faculty is able to attend to the individual and provide personal support, while still granting the freedom and flexibility of larger schools.
When the director of the filmmaking program, Federico Muchnik, was asked what separates CDIA’s curriculum from other institutions, he said, “As far as I know it’s the only school in the New England area that has a module-based certificate program in the span of 7 to 9 months. The different divisions of the school, such as the filmmaking, recording arts and 3-D animation programs, have been known to work together on the same projects.”
At this time there are roughly 70 students enrolled in the filmmaking program, including both full and part-time students. Graduates even have open access to the equipment room at the Waltham campus long after they finish the year, allowing for potentially greater production value on later ventures without having to pay to rent the needed equipment.
“As it stands now,” Muchnik said, “the filmmaking program is designed to teach real-world and practical skills that are applicable to professional film environments through intensive learning with specific goals.”
After extensive career oriented instruction, students are prepared to enter the ever-changing and advancing world of the arts. With an additional campus already opened in Washington, DC, CDIA is host to programs in various evolving fields. Whether someone is pursuing specialized education in photography, 3-D animation, graphic and web design, audio production, web development, or filmmaking, the Center for Digital Imaging Arts is a growing institution with a bright and promising future.
Click here for a video about CDIA from the students’ perspective
