Themed Entertainment Design
This major is only available at the Purdue University in Indianapolis campus.
Would you love a job creating and designing themed attractions and experiences that will bring stories to life? What if you could create for the likes of Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios Creative, the Smithsonian, or another themed destination such as a theme park, zoo, aquarium, trade show or museum?
Themed Entertainment Design is a flexible experience that prepares you for a variety of careers. You will learn the history and current resources of the industry, try your hand at creating all kinds of experiences and then specialize in one of a few distinctive areas to prepare you for your career in the themed entertainment industry.
As you move along your learning journey you will be guided by dedicated faculty and a wealth of industry connections (think of Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios, the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Zoo and more). You will also have the opportunity to get connected to some of the largest industry organizations out there including an opportunity to attend IAAPA, the largest attractions conference in the world.
The Purdue Polytechnic Institute has one of only programs like this in the country and is tightly connected to an industry that is dedicated to creating experiences that will amaze and delight audiences of all ages.
Innovative major draws student to Purdue University in Indianapolis
Industry internships, flexible class schedules and supportive professors are just a few of the things that Carys George, a Purdue themed entertainment design student in Indianapolis, loves about her major. Riding roller coasters as part of her education? That’s just a bonus.
Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, opened in the late 1800s and is considered the second-oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. It’s home to 68 rides, including 18 world-class roller coasters. George has ridden them all.
“Last summer, I was a ride audit intern at Cedar Point working in the operations office,” she says. “There were just two auditing interns, so we were pretty busy.”
What exactly is a ride audit? It’s one of Cedar Point’s methods of making sure that rules and safety procedures are being followed. Every park in the Cedar Fair chain, which owns Cedar Point, is certified under a specific operations protocol. It was George’s job to help ensure the system was being followed.
“Checking seat belts, checking lap bars, announcing the rules to guests, it’s all part of it,” she says. “If employees don’t do it correctly every time, it’s ‘not compliant’ or ‘minimal compliance,’ and I would mark that down on the audit.”
Plan of Study
Themed Entertainment Design WebpageTransfer to Themed Entertainment Design
Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue's overall transfer criteria, as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Contact Information
Director of Recruiting, Polytechnic
765-494-4935
techrecruit@purdue.edu
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Careers in Themed Entertainment Design
- Animatronics Designer
- Concept Designer
- Motion Designer
- Interaction Designer