The themed entertainment industry is widespread and diverse, encompassing everything from theme parks to aquariums, zoos, water parks, museums and more.
The Theme Park Engineering and Design club at Arizona State University, or ASU TPEAD, is a group of students in a variety of degree programs with a passion for the themed entertainment industry. ASU TPEAD has approximately 35 members, about half of whom are students in the university’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
The industry tends to focus on California and Florida, home to the most well-known theme parks owned by Disney and Universal, making it more difficult for students in Arizona to have access to career opportunities.
“A big part of our mission is to close the gap between our members and the themed entertainment industry and create opportunities for ASU students to pursue a career in the industry,” says Logan Harrison, head of ASU TPEAD. “Part of closing this gap is our association with the international organization called the Themed Entertainment Association, or TEA.”
Because the theme park industry is extraordinarily diverse — employing professionals from general fields such as mechanical engineers and architects to those in more highly specialized areas such as drone or kite-show designers — ASU TPEAD’s strives to present students with as many different career paths and opportunities as possible.
Read the full story on Full Circle.