| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota |
| 2 | Full Sail University | Winter Park |
| 3 | University of Central Florida | Orlando |
| 4 | Florida State University | Tallahassee |
| 5 | University of Florida | Gainesville |
| 6 | University of South Florida | Tampa |
| 7 | The DAVE School | Orlando |
| 8 | Florida International University | Miami |
| 9 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville |
| 10 | Lynn University | Boca Raton |
Our 2025 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Florida. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) is Florida’s only post-secondary institution dedicated exclusively to teaching art and design. One of the school’s most popular programs is the Computer Animation BFA. Established in 1990, this 120 credit-hour program opens the door to coveted internships with places such as Pixar, DreamWorks, Sony Pictures, Nickelodeon, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Thanks to RCAD’s industry relationships, students also have the unique opportunity to engage in fourth-year critiques with professionals from these and other major studios.
Other program features include courses taught by animation industry veterans; guest speakers from major studios; real-world projects with area businesses; and participation in the RCAD initiative INDEX (Industry Experience). Developed in partnership with The Patterson Family Foundation, INDEX provides experiential learning opportunities from additional internships to competitions sponsored by major clients and brands. INDEX also helps students with resume and portfolio-building.
The Computer Animation BFA program at Ringling College of Art and Design highlights 48 credit hours in the major and the Media Arts First Year Community (MA-FYC) consisting of 18 credit hours. Course examples for the MA-FYC include 2D Design; Figure Drawing I-II; 3D Design; and Perspective Drawing I.
With 12 credit hours of open electives, BFA students can enhance the curriculum by developing skills in additional areas of art and design. Examples of required major courses include Computer Animation I-VI; Visual Development for Computer Animation I-II; Traditional Animation I-II; Story Development I-III; and Animation Preproduction.
The culminating experience for the RCAD BFA program is the Thesis Project in Computer Animation, which incorporates animation methods, technologies, and sound to demonstrate proficiency in all areas of computer animation. Students will present and defend their work.
For students seeking a program that explores animation and other areas of art and design, Ringling College of Art and Design has a Motion Design BFA that explores 2D and 3D animation, storytelling, visual effects (VFX), sound design, stop motion animation, and graphic design. Other program features include opportunities to develop creative projects in teams; participation in the ART Network Group; access to the state-of-the-art Studio 314; and the FutureProof Conference.
This week-long event, hosted by the Department of Motion Design, consists of workshops, presentations, technical demos, and other activities designed to enhance the Motion Design curriculum. Past and recent speakers include artists and others from places such as Nickelodeon, CNN, Disney Live Entertainment, Telemundo, FutureDeluxe, and Hornet.
The RCAD Motion Design BFA requires 120 credit hours, including 39 in the major, 12 regular electives, and 12 open electives. Other credits come from liberal arts, general education, art and design history, and First Year Community (FYC). Major course examples include Design in Sequence for Motion; 2D Animation; 3D Animation; Animation Techniques; Branding and Visual Systems; Design Fundamentals for Motion; Concept Development I-II; Advanced 2D Animation; and Advanced 3D Animation.
Elective examples include Persuasive Messaging in Motion; Digital Compositing for 2D; Experimentation in Motion; Digital Compositing for 3D; Styleframe Development in Motion; Project Mapping; Advanced Motion Design Techniques I-II; and Advanced Animation Techniques.
The culminating experience for the Motion Design BFA program at Ringling College of Art and Design is the senior project consisting of two courses: Production Studio and Experimental (with presentation).
Graduates of the Computer Animation and Motion Design BFA programs at Ringling College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue careers across all areas of animation, film, television, and other related fields. Program alumni can be found at places such as Pixar, MPC, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Weta FX, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks Animation, LAIKA, Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm, Nickelodeon, Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Reel FX, Hasbro, and Psyop.
Founded in 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit college that began as a collaboration between circus baron John Ringling and Dr. Ludd M. Spivey—then president of Southern College. The school launched as a remote branch of Southern College named The School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum. Around 75 students and 13 faculty members arrived for the school’s first class.
Today, Ringling College of Art and Design sits on a 48-acre campus that serves 1,666 students enrolled in 11 different majors leading to a BFA degree, two majors leading to a BA, and 10 minors. In addition, RCAD recently launched an undergraduate Artificial Intelligence (AI) certificate. This is the first program of its kind at an art and design college.
Ringling College of Art and Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Full Sail University (Full Sail) provides immersive programs in the entertainment, media, art, and technology fields. To support its programs, the school houses a large Hollywood-style back lot; more than 110 state-of-the-art studios; collaborative production environments; professional-level recording and game studios; and live venues that host concerts, festivals, and other events. In addition, Full Sail operates on a 24-hour-a-day basis, with labs that take place at any time during the day or night.
All Full Sail programs emphasize project-based training, allowing students across majors to gain real-world experience before graduation. Full Sail students also have access to the Project LaunchBox, which provides software and tools to create projects, and a secure place to store student coursework and files. Project LaunchBox can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For students seeking an animation degree, Full Sail University has a Computer Animation BS program with two tracks: online and on campus. The online track takes 29 months to complete. The campus track takes just 20 months to complete. Curriculums are identical, so students in both programs will learn how to navigate the same production pipelines used in today’s major studios.
Course examples for the program include 3D Animation; Animation Production; Technical Animation; Motion Capture; Technology in the Entertainment and Media Industries; Creative Presentation; Psychology of Play; Compositing and Scene Finishing; Industry Production; and Model Creation.
Students will also take two professional development seminar courses and seven project and portfolio courses covering computer animation and 3D arts. Additional professional development courses provide the opportunity for students to build their personal brand; interact with industry guest speakers; and learn about the innerworkings of the computer animation industry.
A Career Readiness course, completed in the final month of the BS program, allows students to create a strategy for approaching and engaging with potential employers. Throughout the course, students will create a targeted résumé, cover letter, and professional portfolio.
Full Sail University graduates are prepared to pursue careers in animation, film and television, game design, and advertising. Graduates will also have the skills needed to pursue careers in growing industries for animators such as augmented reality, science, architecture, medicine, law, publishing, geographical information systems (GIS), education, aerospace, training, and data visualization.
Graduates have been hired to work with major studios, networks, companies, and agencies such as NASA, Apple, Electronic Arts (EA), ESPN, Google, Sony, Disney, HBO, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, the NFL, Universal Studios, MTV, Warner Bros., Insomniac Games, PBS, Meta, NASCAR, the WWE, and Unity Technologies.
More than 45 Full Sail University alumni were also credited on numerous 2024 Grammy-Nominated projects; 100 graduates were credited on many 2024 Academy Award films; and nearly 200 graduates were credited on shows presented at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition, Full Sale alumni have worked on previous award-winning productions such as Everything Everywhere All at Once; Jurassic World: Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Lightyear, as well as Stranger Things 4, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ms. Marvel, among others.
Full Sail University launched in 1979 as a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio that provided workshops. Today, the school sits on a 210-acre campus less than 20 miles from downtown Orlando and Universal Studios. Serving approximately 21,000 students, Full Sail provides graduate certificates and degree programs at all levels. Full Sail University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
University of Central Florida is home to Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA). Developed in 2005 in partnership with the state of Florida, the City of Orlando, and UCF, the academy opened with just 12 students. Today, FIEA enrolls more than 130 students annually in its Interactive Entertainment MS program.
Housed in Nichols School of Communication and Media (in UCF’s College of Sciences), the FIEA MS program provides access to state-of-the-art facilities such as Studio 500. Launched in 2008, the studio houses a 3,300 square feet motion capture stage, which is one of the largest on the east coast. The studio also houses a 3,500 square feet soundstage. These facilities sit on what is known as UCF Downtown—a 7,000 student campus that focuses on film, games, communication, and interactive media.
Other FIEA benefits include internships and the opportunity to work in production teams mentored by industry professionals. Mentors provide instruction in areas such as 3D animation and modeling, game design, technical art, motion capture, software engineering, and creative collaboration.
The FIEA Interactive Entertainment MS program requires 30 credit hours of study, including 12 credit hours of core courses; nine credit hours in a specialization such as Art, Production or Programming; a practicum; and a capstone experience. The Capstone results in a large-scale project that will be presented at a special event for the FIEA community and invited guests.
Graduates of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at University of Central Florida are prepared to pursue careers at major studios across the U.S. and abroad. To date, more than 250 companies have hired UCF FIEA graduates. Examples include Google, Electronic Arts (EA), Marvel, Sony, Gameloft, Microsoft Studios, Walt Disney Imagineering, Lockheed Martin, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Universal, Riot Games, Zynga, Ubisoft, Apple, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Hasbro, Unity, Bungie, Gearbox Software, YouTube, Bethesda Softworks, and Naughty Dog.
The College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) at UCF has several additional programs for animators. Housed in the college’s School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) is the Emerging Media program with BFA and MFA options. Though not animation, SVAD also houses a unique Immersive Experience Design track within its Art BA program.
The Emerging Media BFA has two relative tracks, including Animation and Visualization (formerly Experimental Animation), and Character Animation. The Emerging Media MFA has an Animation and Visual Effects track. Animation and Visualization, and Character Animation are highly-competitive, portfolio-based tracks that take place in a professional studio environment. Other program benefits include faculty mentors; courses, research, and activities led by faculty members who have collaborated on projects with companies such as Unreal, Wacom, Autodesk, Unity, and Adobe; access to state-of-the-art facilities; and professional internships.
Course examples for the Animation and Visualization track include Introduction to Animation; Drawing Fundamentals I-II; Intermediate Animation; Modeling for Visual Language; Stop Motion Animation; Digital Effects and Compositing; Procedural Animation; and Animation and Visualization Workshop. The Animation and Visualization track culminates with the Animation Thesis Exhibition.
Course examples for the Character Animation track include Introduction to Animation; Visual Storytelling and Visual Development; New Imagery in Motion Workshop; 3D Textures; Digital Production in Artificial Environments; Advanced 3D Animation; and Character Animation Portfolio Review. This track culminates with the Capstone project.
Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, and Electronic Arts (EA) are just a few recent employers of Emerging Media BFA graduates. Some program alumni also go on to launch their own independent studios and freelance businesses.
The Immersive Experience Design track within SVAD’s Art BA program explores areas such as immersive storytelling, design, illustration, and drawing. Course examples for the program include Design Fundamentals-Three Dimensional; Introduction to Computer Art; Drawing Fundamentals I-II; Art as Interface; History of Immersive Experience; Advanced Design Lab; and Professional Practices. The program culminates with the Art BA Capstone.
The Animation and Visual Effects track within the Emerging Media MFA is a specialized program that takes place in an environment designed to operate like today’s professional and independent studios. Students in this program benefit from first-year production courses; co-directing opportunities; and access to state-of-the-art labs and studios. This competitive terminal degree requires 60 credit hours of study completed over three years, full-time.
The culminating experience for the Emerging Media MFA-Animation and Visual Effects program is the Thesis Film. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles at film studios, produce their own independent films, or launch their own studios. Program alumni are also prepared to pursue roles in emerging fields for animators such as simulations, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), real-time rendering, medical animation, virtual production, environmental animation, and artificial intelligence.
Emerging Media MFA graduates are routinely hired at major studios, gaming companies, and organizations such as Pixar, Epic Games, DreamWorks, Lockheed Martin, Electronic Arts (EA), NASA, Walt Disney Animation Studios, the U.S. Navy, Weta FX, Framestore, Lightbox, MPC, Titmouse, Netflix, Reel FX, Nickelodeon Animation, Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, and Blur Studios.
University of Central Florida was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University (FTU). Roughly five years later, the school opened with just under 2,000 students. Today, University of Central Florida serves approximately 69,820 students, making it the largest university by enrollment in the state of Florida, and one of the top 10 largest universities in the U.S. More than 13,130 faculty, adjuncts, and staff members deliver close to 600 degree programs across 13 colleges and dozens of departments. University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Florida State University (FSU) is home to the College of Motion Picture Arts, which houses the Film School. Within the school is a limited access, Motion Picture Arts BFA program that allows just nine students per class. This collaborative four-year program has an Animation and Digital Arts concentration that includes three full years of immersive animation coursework.
Courses and projects take place in an environment that functions like an industry-standard production studio with 24/7 access. Spaces include an animation and visual effects studio; development rooms; sound stages; post-production facilities; color and sound suites; screening theaters, an equipment room, and director’s prep rooms.
The Film School also provides access to Torchlight Center for Motion Picture Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Home Torchlight Studios and Torchlight Cinematheque, the Center houses a state-of- the-art LED virtual production volume (LED stage), that provides the opportunity for students to learn about virtual production.
Course examples for the Motion Picture Arts/ Animation and Digital Arts BFA program include Character Animation; Reality and Illusion in World Cinema; History and Practice of Visual Effects and Animation; Visualization I-III; Motion Picture Editing; Story Development and Screenwriting; Film Aesthetics; Character Art; Advanced Filmmaking; Lighting, Texturing, and Rendering; Production Management; and Digital Studio Department Leadership.
FSU Animation and Digital Arts students may also take electives such as Marketing and Exhibition; Portfolio Production; and the Professional Internship.
Throughout the Animation and Digital Arts program at FSU, students will complete four major films. This includes the culminating Thesis film. All enrolled students in the College of Motion Picture Arts may also participate in the Torchlight Program, which provides instruction in the financing, marketing, and distribution of films.
Graduates of the Animation and Digital Arts BFA program at Florida State University are prepared to pursue positions in the animation, film, television, games, and advertising industries, among others. Program alumni are Animators, VFX Artists, Riggers, Art Directors, Modelers, CG Lighters, Animation Supervisors, and Storyboard Artists at independent, local, and major studios. Some alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses.
Founded in 1851 and serving approximately 44,600 students, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida and one of the largest universities in the state. With more than 100 campuses, centers, and institutes across the state and around the world, FSU provides close to 300 degree programs across 16 colleges and schools.
Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Florida (UF) is home to the College of the Arts (COTA). Established in 1925, COTA houses the fully accredited schools of Music, Dance, and Theater and Dance. Accreditations include National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST); and National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
COTA also houses the Center for Arts in Medicine and the Digital Worlds Institute. Founded in 2001, the Digital Worlds Institute began as a partnership between COTA and the College of Engineering. Today, the Digital Worlds Institute has expanded to include six additional colleges, with a focus on advanced media systems.
Within the Digital Worlds Institute at University of Florida is the Digital Arts and Sciences BA (BADAS) and the DAS minor. Both programs are ideal for aspiring animators. The 15 credit-hour minor can be added to most UF programs. Students in this option will have the opportunity to work in collaborative teams on animation, game design, experience design, and production projects. Course examples for the program include 2D Digital Animation Techniques; 3D Character Animation; and Digital Storytelling.
The Digital Arts and Sciences BA program explores the 12 principles of animation; industry-standard techniques and tools for interactive games, media, and film; game content creation and system development; and the entire process of pre-production, production, and post-production.
The program takes place in a project-based learning environment, allowing students to gain hands-on experience and team-building skills. Students also can select elective courses from the Institute's offerings in animation, game design, and experience design and production. Other program benefits include high-tech classrooms; access to state-of-the-art studios and facilities; internships at major production studios; and participation in the study abroad program.
Students may also take electives outside of the UF BADAS program. The remaining courses include BADAS core requirements and general education. BADAS core courses explore areas such as 2D and 3D animation; digital technologies; mobile games; digital storytelling; game content creation; design; writing for interactive media; digital visualization; and production.
Course examples include 2D Digital Animation Techniques; 3D Animation Techniques; Digital Storytelling; 3D Character Animation; Advanced Digital Animation Techniques; Advanced 2D Digital Animation Techniques; Motion Design; 3D Modeling and Texturizing; Design and Production Studio I-II; Production of Immersive Environments; Project Methodologies; and Writing for Interactive Media.
The BADAS program at University of Florida culminates with the Senior Project in DAS and Digital Portfolio courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as animation, game design, filmmaking, television, advertising, science, and technology.
Digital Worlds Institute graduates have been hired at major companies and studios such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks Animation, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Epic Games, HSN, Sony Music Entertainment, Insomniac Games, the PGA Tour, Trip Advisor, and Hawke Media. Some Digital Worlds alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
University of Florida was founded in 1858 as Gainesville Academy. The school opened with just over 100 students. Today, this public land-grant institution serves approximately 69,465 students across campuses in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Orlando, Florida. More than 300 programs are provided across 16 colleges and schools. University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of South Florida (USF) is the first public university to be invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU) in nearly 40 years. The school is the fifth youngest and one of only six AAU universities to be founded after 1950. USF is also one of only two institutions from the State University System of Florida to serve as an AAU member.
University of South Florida is home to the College of Design, Art, and Performance. When it launched back in the 1950s, the college was known as the Division of Fine Arts and one of the first four colleges at USF. The division became its own school in 1971. Today, the College of Design, Art, and Performance, houses the Institute for Research in Art, along with the Schools of Architecture and Community Design; Music; Art and Art History; and Theatre and Dance.
The School of Art and Art History at USF provides four paths to study animation including the Studio Art BA, BFA, MFA, and minor. All programs allow students to specialize in Animation and Digital Modeling. Across programs, areas explored include 3D modeling, visual storytelling, concept design, motion, composition, acting, 3D printing, and lighting. Students may also combine any program curriculum with other disciplines in the School of Art and Art History.
Course and elective examples across programs include Principles of Animation; Visual Design for the Internet; Computer Animation; Digital Dinosaurs; Motion Design; Character Animation; The Real World; Advanced Animation; Selected Topics in Film and Video; Animation Process; Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture; Digital Modeling; Visual Storytelling; Digital Drawing; and Professional Practices.
USF BFA students will complete several self-directed projects, a professional internship, and/or a study abroad experience, and the senior thesis. The Studio Art BA highlights extended studies; internships and apprenticeships; The Paris or London Middlesex Program; participation in public art exhibitions; museum internships; and community art project. This broad degree culminates with a final project.
The Studio Art MFA features private studio spaces where students can complete projects, research, and other studio work while working closely with faculty as graduate assistants. MFA students also have opportunities to travel to Miami art fairs, and participate in the field trips to Paris, London, Venice, and New York through the Summer Art Program. The culminating experience for this terminal degree program is the MFA research project.
Graduates of the Studio Art-Animation and Digital Modeling programs at University of South Florida are prepared to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, game design and development, advertising and marketing, architecture, television production, or just about any field that requires the production of visual materials. USF alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Disney, Universal, Google, Dell, Microsoft, P&G, Walmart, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), Tropicana, Publix, and DHL.
Founded in 1956, University of South Florida serves more than 50,000 students across campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. The school houses 14 colleges that provide 240 undergraduate majors and degree programs at the graduate, specialist, and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The DAVE School consists of an 18,000 square feet facility that sits on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida. The learning environment features 24/7 access to interactive labs; a Vicon motion capture system; 3D printing and VR/AR labs; and a dedicated virtual and real-time production stage. With a focus on games and digital animation and visual effects (DAVE), the school provides formal programs in FX Production; Game Production; Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology; Visual Effects Production; Virtual Production; and Digital Arts.
Ideal options for animators include the Digital Arts and Technology BS with concentrations in Visual Effects (VFX) Production, Game Production, and Virtual Production; and the VFX Production, Game Production, and Virtual Production diploma programs. The VFX Production and Game Production diplomas take 12 months to complete. The Virtual Production diploma takes 18 months to complete. The BS takes 36 months to complete. All options are fully on-campus, with winter, spring, summer, and fall start times.
The Digital Arts and Technology BS requires 125-129 credit hours of study. The program begins with general education courses such as Cultural Studies; Public Speaking; Ethics and AI; Psychology of Emotion and Motivation; Visual Culture: Media, Art, and Technology; 3D Geometry; Communication in Cultural Settings; and Cyberpsychology. While courses may vary between concentrations or overlap, all students will complete 3D Animation: The Art of Motion.
VFX Production students will take other courses such as Advanced VFX Pipelines and Studio Production; Drawing for Animators; AI Principles in CGI Production; and Motion Picture Editing and Workflow. Game Production students will take other courses such as Game Asset Creation and Immersive Technologies; Character Animation; Real-Time Technologies and Studio Production; and Creature Creation and Animation.
Virtual Production students will take courses such as Compositing and VFX: Principles of Integration; AI Principles in CGI Production; Unreal Cinematography; and On-Set Virtual Production. Across concentrations, students will complete several projects, a professional portfolio, and demo reel to graduate.
The VFX Production diploma program at The DAVE School skips the general education courses and dives right into studio learning with project-based workflows. Students in this 60 credit-hour program will explore 3D animation; organic modeling and digital sculpting in ZBrush; the art and science of lighting, texturing, and look development; and the principles of hard surface modeling. The top software programs for this program include After Effects, Unreal Engine, and Maya.
In the last three months of the DAVE School VFX Production program, students will complete pre-production, production, and post-production for two projects. Students graduate with a demo reel and professional portfolio.
The 60 credit-hour Game Production program also begins with major courses and in the same areas of exploration as the VFX program. Students will also learn about character, prop, and environment modeling; rigging; level design; and visual effects. Utilized software includes After Effects, Maya, and Unreal Engine, among others.
At the end of this collaborative program, students will work in teams on the development and pre-production of a game through the Alpha, Beta, and Gold Production levels. Projects result in a final in-house game release that will become part of the students’ permanent demo reel.
The Virtual Production diploma is the DAVE School’s flagship program. Consisting of 90 focused credit hours completed over 18 months, the curriculum for the VP diploma is a combination of all coursework from the VFX Production and Game Production diploma programs. In the final six months of the program, students will develop two VFX projects. Students will also complete a game project from conception to in-house release. Final projects culminate with a professional demo reel.
DAVE School graduates are prepared to pursue any role in the entertainment or games industries. Program alumni have been hired at major studios such as MPC and Brown Bag Films. Some DAVE School alumni have also gone on to launch their own independent studios or freelance businesses.
The DAVE School was founded as the Digital Animation & Visual Effects School on June 8, 2000 by two industry executives. Today, the school serves around 1,000 students enrolled in six programs leading to a bachelor’s degree or diploma. As an academic unit of NUC University, The DAVE School is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MCSHE).
Florida International University (FIU) is home to the College of Communication, Architecture and The Arts (CARTA), and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media. Both provide paths to study animation. CARTA houses the Department of Art and Art History, which provides a Digital Arts BFA with an Animation major. Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media houses a Digital Communication and Media BS with an Animation Media major.
The FIU Department of Art and Art History is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The department’s Digital Arts-Animation BFA is an interdisciplinary program that provides intensive study in animation, storytelling, character design, new media, and video production. Students in this 120 credit hour program will complete 60 credit hours of upper division requirements such as Advanced Experimental Video Art; Research and Development; Advanced Digital Art Lab; and Creative Practice.
Consisting of 24 credit hours, lower-division preparation courses consist of requirements such as 2D Design; Java Programming; Beginning Figure Drawing; 3D Design; and Art History Survey I-II. Students can enhance the degree through the required nine credit hours of electives.
The Digital Arts BFA program at Florida International University culminates with the Thesis I-II courses, worth six credits. FIU Digital Arts-Animation alumni are prepared to pursue careers in animation, motion graphics, digital audiovisual artworks, prototype design, digital photography, and digital fabrication.
The Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media employs faculty members with professional experience in digital media, journalism, and broadcasting. They have worked with national and international media organizations such as FOX, Univision, CNN, The New York Times, NBC, and The Miami Herald. Lee Caplin faculty bring this extensive experience into the classroom, which greatly benefits students in the Digital Communication and Media BS.
Other program benefits include hands-on, experiential learning; off-campus internship opportunities; and access to professional facilities including advanced computer labs, a virtual reality lab, a broadcast TV studio, and a newsroom.
The career-focused BS degree is designed for students transferring from the Miami-Dade College MAGIC program with an AS in Animation and Game Art. With permission from the Department Chair, students from other programs at FIU may be admitted. In addition to Animation Media, BS students may major in Digital and Interactive Media; Game Media; and Digital TV and Multimedia Production.
All students in the 120 credit hour Digital Communication and Media BS program will complete core courses such as Visual Design for Globalized Media; Writing for Film; Global Media and Society; and How We Know What We Know. The Animation major consists of 27 credit hours. Course examples include Introduction to 3D Content Creation; Animation Media Lab 1-3D Lighting and Shading; Introduction to Digital Media; Animation Media Lab 2-Digital Compositing and Visual Effects; Animation Development Project; Digital Theories; and Animation Media Workshop 1-Character Rigging.
In the Animation Development Project course, students will have the opportunity to research, develop, and produce a prototype for an original animation project in any format. The program culminates with the Advanced Multimedia Production Capstone course, which covers advanced techniques in design, digital storytelling, interactive media production, usability theory, and current best practices.
Graduates of the Digital Communication and Media BS are prepared to pursue careers in area such as animation, television production, filmmaking, virtual reality, multimedia production, advertising, software development, and education. Potential job titles include Character Animator, Game Artist, Technical Animator, Motion Graphics Designer, VFX Artist, Character Modeler, and Texture Artist.
When Florida International University opened in 1972 with 5,667 students, it was the largest opening enrollment in U.S. collegiate history. Today, FIU serves more than 56,000 students making it one of the nation’s top ten largest universities. Known as Miami’s public research university, Florida International University provides more than 190 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Many programs can be completed 100% online. Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Jacksonville University (JU) is home to the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts and Humanities (Stein College of Fine Arts), which houses the Schools of Art and Design; Humanities; and Performing Art. Across schools, students benefit from the annual Creative Arts Series, which features speakers, exhibitions, and concerts across the visual arts, literature, theater, and more.
The schools also feature professional internships with Walt Disney World Orlando and partner companies in the LA film, television, and entertainment industry; access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studios; the guest artist series; and the JU Study Abroad Program, with options ranging from two weeks to a full year in places such as France, Africa, and Canada.
Within the School of Art and Design in the Stein College of Fine Arts is an Animation program with BFA, BS, and minor options. The minor consists of 18 credit hours (six courses). This includes Digital Art; Basic Computer Animation; 3D Modeling and Design; Character Modeling and Animation; Animation Drawing; and Animation Production.
In addition to most courses for the minor, Animation BFA students will take Foundations Seminar; Animation Effects; 2D Art Foundations; Time-Based Arts; Advanced Production; Editing; 3D Art Foundations; Animation Rendering; Drawing I; and Art History. Students in the Animation BS program will take most of the same courses, as well as Design Process and Prototyping; Production I; Design Thinking; and Game Design. A professional internship is required for both BS and BFA students.
Graduates of the Animation and Visual Arts Programs at Jacksonville University are prepared to pursue programs across the entertainment, television production, and game design industries. Program alumni hold titles such as Animator, Visual Effects Artist, Modeler, Game Animator, CAD Artist, Character Animator, Motion Graphic Artist, Texture Painter, and Creative Director.
Founded in 1934, Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit doctorate university that serves approximately 4,240 students. The school provides more than 100 academic majors, minors, and programs are across seven colleges and institutes. Jacksonville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Lynn University (Lynn) is home to the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn College of Communication and Design (College of Communication and Design), which focuses on new and emerging media. The college houses 18 programs leading to an AA, AS, BA, BFA, MS, MFA or certificate. For students interested in animation, the College of Communication and Design provides a Computer Animation BFA and a STEM-designated Virtual Production and Visual Effects Animation MFA
The MFA features an immersive, multidisciplinary curriculum that can be completed in as few as four semesters. The BFA features two tracks: Animation and Game Art.
In addition to track options, the Computer Animation BFA provides a foundation in studio arts, with coursework that prepares students to work in today’s top animation studios and production houses. The Animation track explores areas such as 3D animation, comics, filmmaking, motion graphics, storyboarding, visual effects, and sequential art. Course examples include 3D Animation I-II; Film Production; Storyboard Process; 3D Rigging; Motion Capture; Digital Lighting and Texture; Comics and Sequential Art; Drawing Anatomy; Compositing and Visual Effects; Figure Drawing I-II; Motion Graphics 3D; and Digital Painting.
In the final year of the Computer Animation BFA program at Lynn University, students will complete the Computer Animation Portfolio and Career Preparation courses. The Career Preparation course combines activities focused on resume preparation, interviewing skills, and business etiquette with guest speakers and site visits.
Graduates of the Computer Animation BFA program at Lynn University are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as animation, visual effects, live-action films, game design, and television production. Program alumni have been hired at places such as MTV and Univision
The Virtual Production and Visual Effects Animation MFA at Lynn University explores areas such as compositing, advanced visual effects, motion capture, rotoscoping, and motion tracking. Coursework also covers topics in emerging fields for animators and visualization artists such as medical animation, automotive visualization, web and multimedia, and industrial design. In addition, MFA students will learn about marketing and promotion.
Specific course examples for the program include Drawing and Design; 3D Animation I-II; Character Animation; Virtual Production I-II; VFX Production I-II; Graduate Theory and Criticism; Motion Capture; Drawing and Design; Color Grading; and Editing I-II.
The Virtual Production and Visual Effects Animation MFA program at Lynn University culminates with a thesis project completed across four courses worth 12 credit hours, total. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles such as Lead Animator, Technical Director, Key Animator, VFX Director, Animation Director, Animation Supervisor, Lead Game Artist, Creative Director, and Director of Game Art.
Lynn University alumni have been hired at places such as Warner Bros., Fox Sports Florida, Amazon, Planet Hollywood, CBS, United Airlines, the Seattle Mariners, Zimmerman Advertising, Nova Southeastern University, Tilson Public Relations, Newell Brands, and the University of Memphis.
Lynn University was established in 1962 as a two-year women’s liberal arts college. Today, this private four-year university serves a diverse population of approximately 3,520 students. More than 100 different degree programs are provided across five colleges and the Conservatory of Music. Lynn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
