The DAVE School is excited to announce two new diploma programs designed for students eager to explore advanced visual effects production and simulations and immersive technologies, like VR, AR, and XR. These 18-month programs—FX Production Diploma and Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology Diploma—build on our existing curriculum and provide focused training in FX simulations, VR/AR development, and interactive design for film, television, games, and real-world applications.

FX Production Diploma: Explore Advanced Visual Effects Simulations

What Is FX Production?

The FX Production Diploma combines the full Visual Effects Production curriculum with two additional quarters focused on advanced FX simulations using Houdini, a key tool in the VFX industry.

Students begin with a strong foundation in:

• 3D Modeling & Sculpting: Build hard surface models (vehicles, props) and organic assets (creatures, characters) using tools like ZBrush.
• Animation Techniques: Learn rigging, motion capture, and camera animation with Maya and Unreal Engine.
• Compositing & Motion Tracking: Use Nuke for node-based compositing, green screen keying, 2D/3D motion tracking, and integrating effects into live-action footage.
  

The final quarters/blocks focus on creating dynamic FX simulations with Houdini, including realistic explosions, fire, smoke, and destruction effects. Students graduate with a professional FX portfolio that meets the demands of film, TV, and video game studios.

Software Taught

• Houdini
• Autodesk Maya
• ZBrush
• Nuke
• Unreal Engine
• Substance Painter
• Adobe Photoshop and After Effects
  

Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology Diploma: Build Real-World Interactive Simulations

What Is Simulation and Immersive Technology?

The Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology Diploma is a new program that expands on our foundational Game Production curriculum. It adds two quarters dedicated to Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and simulation design, preparing students to build interactive environments for gaming, military training, and medical applications.

Why Orlando is the Perfect Place to Study Simulation

Orlando is known as the “Simulation Capital of the World”, home to a billion-dollar simulation industry that supports a variety of sectors:

• Military Training: Orlando hosts the U.S. Department of Defense’s simulation headquarters, where immersive technology is used to develop advanced training systems for soldiers.
• Healthcare: Simulation tools are transforming medical training by creating virtual patient care scenarios and surgical practice environments.
• Entertainment & Education: From theme parks to educational VR applications, Orlando’s technology ecosystem drives interactive experiences that push the boundaries of innovation.
  

The city’s industry presence offers students proximity to key players in simulation and immersive technology, creating unique opportunities for networking, collaboration, and career exploration.

What You’ll Learn

Students begin by developing core game production skills and progress into immersive simulation design:

• Game Design Fundamentals: Build 3D models, modular environments, and textures using Maya and Substance Painter.
• Level Design & Gameplay Mechanics: Use Unreal Engine to create playable levels, game interactions, and real-time simulations.
• Immersive Technologies: Develop VR/AR simulations for practical applications, focusing on user interaction, interactivity, and optimization.
  

Graduates complete the program with a simulation-ready portfolio that showcases their skills for industries like gaming, military simulation, and medical technology.

Software Taught

• Unreal Engine
• Autodesk Maya
• Substance Painter
• ZBrush
• Adobe Photoshop and After Effects
• Quixel Suite

Portfolio Highlights

• VR/AR simulations for gaming, training, and healthcare.
• Real-time projects featuring dynamic environments and interactive systems.

Why Choose These New Programs at The DAVE School?

The FX Production Diploma and Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology Diploma offer hands-on training designed to reflect real-world production environments. Students gain:

• Industry-Standard Tools: Training in software like Houdini, Unreal Engine, and Nuke.
• Studio-Based Experience: Courses mimic professional workflows to prepare students for collaborative production pipelines.
• Portfolio Development: Projects highlight skills in FX simulations and VR/AR design, helping graduates stand out in the job market.
  

Located in Orlando, on the Backlot of Universal Studios Florida™, students also benefit from the city’s billion-dollar simulation industry, making it an ideal place to learn and explore opportunities in gaming, simulation design, and visual effects.

Start Your Journey in Visual Effects and Immersive Technologies

If you’re ready to bring your creativity to life in FX simulations or immersive design, explore our new diploma programs at The DAVE School. Gain hands-on experience, build an industry-ready portfolio, and learn in the heart of Orlando’s thriving simulation and entertainment industry.

About The DAVE School

The DAVE School was founded on June 8, 2000. Today, The DAVE School offers specialized training in Visual Effects and Game Production with extensive practice under industry-level supervision.

Located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida®, The DAVE School has a facility of over 17,000 square foot space that includes studio lab classrooms and lecture theater and secure student access.

NUC University (NUC) is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. NUC’s NUC University – IBC Technical Division (NUC-IBC), NUC University – Florida Technical College (NUC-FTC), and The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School) are included in this accreditation. NUC’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on 2019 was to reaffirm accreditation.  MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.