MSU Media Summer Camps are pre-college exposure programs for high school and middle school students in media and technology topics including game design, 3D animation, web design, digital cinema and TV production. Each camp includes five full days of interactive and intensive instruction with MSU faculty and staff, culminating in a showcase of student work on the final day. Students may participate in day-only instruction or stay overnight as a visiting residential student.
Highlights from Middle School Camps
Middle School Summer Camps use games and tools students already know and love. In this program, students learn college-level concepts, making skill development easier. Watch what the experience is like for students in our Middle School Camps.
Students check in the Sunday night prior to the start date of camp.
Students check in the Sunday night prior to the start date of camp (7/8/2018).
The 2018 Scholarships applications are now open!
2018 Media Camps Scholarship Form
There are a limited number of camp scholarships available each summer. The majority of scholarships awarded are partial scholarships that cover a portion of the camp tuition. A full scholarship is considered the instructional day-only rate ($725). A partial scholarship is considered anything less than the instructional day-only rate.
Scholarships are awarded based on illustration of financial need and student's ability to communicate how attending MSU Media Camps will be meaningful for him or her.
Application cycles are open January 1 - April 30 of the relevant programming year. All submissions, including application, recommendation letters and materials, are due April 30 for scholarship consideration. The scholarship committee will review applications after the close of the current programming cycle, and notify applicants within two weeks of this date of their award status. Award recipients must notify the scholarship committee within 10 days of whether they will accept or decline the award.
Letters of recommendation can be mailed to our offices at:
MSU Media Summer Camps
Department of Media and Information
College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Michigan State University
404 Wilson Road Room 412
East Lansing, MI 48824
Students may not register for camp without payment. Students requiring scholarship in order to attend may not register and hold a seat in the hopes they will be a scholarship recipient. Our most popular programs may fill up before scholarship applications are reviewed. Students that register and pay for camp are guaranteed a seat in the program, and are still fully considered for scholarships should they apply.
We hold a few seats in each camp for students that require full scholarships to attend. Scholarship winners will be sent a separate registration link with their award notification.
Currently, most media camp scholarships are internally funded by Michigan State University Pre-College Programs/Department of Media and Information. Consider being a sponsor so we can offer more scholarship opportunities to students. Please visit our Sponsorships tab for more information.
What is the program cancellation/refund policy?
Please view the University Policies page for a complete overview of MSU Media Camps' cancellation and refund policy:
There is a non-refundable, non-transferable processing/holding fee of $100. Those who have enrolled in camp, but have not made payment within 48 hours of registration will be removed from the registration roster. Your seat is not reserved until payment is received. Camp payments, less the $100 non-refundable processing/holding fee, are refundable up until 6 weeks prior to the start of the confirmed camp week/session. No refunds will be issued for cancellations or withdrawals within 6 weeks of the start of confirmed camp week/session.
When does registration close?
Programs are open on a rolling basis until the section is full.
What are the dates for 2018 MSU Media Summer Camps?
Summer programs take place June 25-29, July 9-13, and July 16-20.
Do you have a detailed copy of the program you can share with me?
All publishable details of MSU Media Summer Camps can be found in our Program Handbook.
Where do camp residential students stay overnight on campus?
Our students stay in Shaw Hall, just three blocks NE from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences where students attend class daily. Overnight students check-in the Sunday before camp instruction begins at Shaw Hall.
Where is the student showcase the last day of camp?
Families and friends are welcome to see what students made during their camp experience by attending the student showcase the final day of camp in the Communication Arts and Sciences Auditorium, Room 147. The Communication Arts and Sciences College is located at 404 Wilson Road in East Lansing, Michigan. Visitors may find parking at the garage ramp located at the corners of Red Cedar and Trowbridge roads one block south of the Communication Arts and Sciences building, across from the MSU police station. Please park at metered spots only. Non-metered spots are reserved for faculty with permits. You will be issued a ticket if you park in a non-metered spot.
What kinds of food are available for students who attend the residential program?
Michigan State University offers a variety of healthy food options that account for students with food allergies, intolerances or religious observations, including menu items to support ovo-lacto vegetarianism, vegan, gluten-free and kosher diets, among others. All food items are labeled with a listing of ingredients. Students are encouraged to confirm with MSU chefs which available food choices adhere to individual dietary restrictions. You may review MSU food dietary information here.
When will I hear if I receive a scholarship?
We accept scholarship applications until May 1st. Our scholarship committee reviews applications and notifies individuals who receive a scholarship the last week of May of that programming year. Recipients must accept or deny the scholarship within 10 days of notification.
How can I maintain my skills once camp ends?
Stay involved by following us on Facebook. We regularly post news and resources that can help you maintain and continue to develop your skills. You can also access tutorials, games, assets and a community of fellow game design students here. Here, you can upload and download games and provide and receive feedback on your work.
I am interested in pursuing these kinds of programs in college. Who do I contact to get more information about related majors and questions I have about college?
Send us an inquiry at mediacamps@msu.edu. We can connect with MSU's college counselors, faculty or advisors who can help you as you navigate your college and career choice.
Thank you for your support! Your contribution supports student scholarships, programs and activities related to pre-college programs offered by the Department of Media and Information.
Although there are varying sponsorship levels, each with their own rewards, we welcome any donation size. You may sponsor as a corporation or as an individual. Your contribution is tax deductible, which the University will acknowledge by sending you appropriate forms once your contribution is received.
For your convenience, MSU will gladly accept your donation through our safe and secure payment system through the University's Giving-To Website. Please select Department of Media and Information Pre-college programs to designate your support for MSU Media Summer Camps.
Send your donation directly to the University's account services:
MSU Media Camp Sponsorship
Michigan State University
Department of Media and Information (MI)
Communication Arts and Sciences
404 Wilson Road, Room 409
East Lansing, MI 48824
Sponsors one or more student for an overnight/residential camp stay. This includes the day camp of their choice, on-campus stay in a dorm for 5 nights (Sunday-Thursday nights), 3 meals per day and night activities.
Sponsors one student for the day camp of his or her choice, or partial scholarships.
Sponsor receives:
Sponsors one student for the day camp of his or her choice, or partial scholarships.
Sponsor receives:
During the summer, the Department of Media and Information within the College of Communication Arts and Sciences hosts weeklong Media Summer Camps for pre-college age students. Participants receive hands-on instruction and create their own projects adapted from related college majors and professional areas. Students gain exposure and experience that will help inform their college choice and field of study. Camp topics include Game Development and Interactive Media for Web and Mobile Applications, Introduction to Computing, Web Design, Television Broadcasting, 3D Animation and Digital Cinema.
We believe these programs offer a substantial resource to the community, as well as provide a meaningful pre-college experience to students exploring future fields of study and careers. As a result of attending these programs, students gain useful technology skills, spend time becoming familiar with a large research institution, learn about future career options and develop relationships with current University faculty and college-age students.
Media Camps are STEAM-based programs (programs related to science, technology, engineering, art and math) and are examined closely for their ability to impact students' knowledge base and increase preparation for higher education.
Please consider donating funds to assist students who cannot afford to attend pre-college programs. Every year, we receive letters from students and parents whose financial hardships exclude them or their children from attending MSU programs.
Camp sponsorship can help provide a meaningful college experience through faculty and college student mentorship interaction, intensive learning and skill development that increases students preparedness for college. Students who are able to attend pre-college programs are eligible for additional scholarship, programming opportunities and receive added consideration on their admission to MSU. We hope to transform lives through these experiences, and your support will help us reach many more students!
If you have questions, you can email mediacamps@msu.edu or call 517-432-9841.
From all of us in the Department of Media and Information, and from future Media Summer Camp attendees, we thank you.
The University holds a set of operational requirements for MSU Media Summer Camps that all participants and youth programs are accountable for that you should be aware of before registering for any pre-college program.
The University must collect and retain the following forms to enroll your student in MSU pre-college programs:
Parents must review completely and agree to all terms set forth in these documents for each participating student.
All parents are equipped with an electronic handbook that includes comprehensive program and university information, available on the homepage of our website.
MSU faculty and instructors retain the right to update or make adjustments to MSU summer camps program curriculum as needed based on classroom dynamics or assessment of student skill level. Please understand, many programs are beginner oriented and do not require prerequisites. Some students come to programs with more experience, others need additional assistance to get caught up to perform tasks. We’ll do our best to standardize and cater to individual student needs, but it can impact the collective pace or focus of the program. Our primary responsibility is to provide college exposure opportunities for students interested in media and technology fields of study. Once registration is complete, students and parents will be expected to honor the program cancellation and refund policy guidelines.
Our mission is to provide all participants with an authentic college experience that is hands-on, skills-oriented, high-energy, unique and above all SAFE! The University strives to offer a safe and enjoyable educational environment for all minors attending programs on its campus. In support of this goal, MSU summer camps hold a set of operational requirements that should bring parents peace-of-mind.
All our faculty, staff and volunteers complete a mandatory criminal background and sexual offender check, not just once but before every programming year. Each staff member goes through a series of trainings, and are certified in the following areas:
Our Media Summer Camp staff is selected based on performance, compliance review and professional endorsements. 100% of our faculty has worked with our student assistant instructors and mentors, confirming their academic excellence. We regularly review the quality of our programs, from our curriculum to our instructors, to ensure we are delivering an exceptional experience to all.
Students evaluate our instructors and programs as well at the end of camp! Feedback directly impacts the future direction and offerings of MSU Media Summer Camps.
All parents and students should be aware of the following policies before enrolling.
Every camper has an assigned chaperone, instructor and assistant instructor. Our programs have a limited enrollment so we can maintain a high teacher/chaperone to student ratio to foster personalized learning, adult accessibility and meaningful relationships at the University.
Need to get in touch with your child? Unexpected change of schedule, scheduling conflict or family emergency? Our program director is available 24/7 during programming dates to assist families with special requests or emergencies. Call 517-432-9841.
For each week of camp and for each camper, there is a non-refundable, non-transferable processing/holding fee of $100. Those who have enrolled in camp, but have not made payment within 48 hours of registration will be removed from the registration roster. Your seat is not reserved until payment is received.
No refunds will be issued for early withdrawal due to absences (for any reason, including sickness), behavioral dismissals, power failures, unforeseeable events not within the control of the MSU Media Summer Camps or other acts of nature. If students leave camp early for ANY reason, the tuition is NOT prorated and no refund will be issued.
Camp payments, less the $100 non-refundable processing/holding fee, are refundable up until 6 weeks prior to the start of the confirmed camp week/session. No refunds will be issued for cancellations or withdrawals within 6 weeks of the start of confirmed camp week/session.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing and submitted to the MSU Media Summer Camp office no later than 6 weeks prior to the start of camp. Please note that refunds will not be issued without written confirmation from parent or guardian, stating that the camper's parent/guardian is aware of MSU Media Summer Camp's cancellation policy and they understand that the processing/holding fee amount is non-refundable. The processing/holding fee amount for the MSU Media Summer Camps is $100 per camp per student.
Cancellation notification may be emailed. To cancel via email, send your notification to mediacamps@msu.edu. Please note in the subject line "Camp Cancellation" and make sure to include camper name, camp name and camp dates.
If MSU Media Summer Camps must cancel a program offering and cannot find a suitable alternative programming option that the registered student would like to attend, we will issue a full refund.
Inquire about group visit, or our online interactive game development network.