| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Institute of the Arts | California |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 3 | University of Southern California | California |
| 4 | School of Visual Arts | New York |
| 5 | University of California Los Angeles | California |
| 6 | Pratt Institute | New York |
| 7 | Rochester Institute of Technology | New York |
| 8 | DePaul University | Illinois |
| 9 | Academy of Art University | California |
| 10 | Texas A&M University | Texas |
| 11 | The Ohio State University | Ohio |
| 12 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Illinois |
| 13 | University of Central Florida | Florida |
| 14 | University of Texas at Dallas | Texas |
| 15 | San Jose State University | California |
| 16 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Minnesota |
| 17 | Arizona State University | Arizona |
| 18 | Columbus College of Art and Design | Ohio |
| 19 | The New School's Parsons School of Design | New York |
| 20 | DigiPen | Washington |
| 21 | Clemson University | South Carolina |
| 22 | California State University, Long Beach | California |
| 23 | Louisiana State University | Louisiana |
| 24 | Bowling Green State University | Ohio |
| 25 | Syracuse University | New York |
For our graduate degree rankings, we have evaluated animation schools and programs with the best Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Science (MS) options. To determine which degree matches your career goals, it is important to understand how each qualification differs.
The Master of Arts (MA) is an advanced degree that focuses on areas such as the humanities. MA degrees are typically available in the areas of communications, English, teaching, literature, linguistics, art, and languages. Seminars are the main method of learning for MA programs and many programs do not require a thesis.
The Master of Science (MS) degree option typically focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math. This advanced degree often includes immersive lab work, scientific research, analysis, and evaluation. Unlike MA programs, most MS programs require a thesis.
The Master of Fine Art (MFA) is academically recognized as a terminal degree and it is typically awarded in the visual, fine and performing arts. The MFA degree demands the highest level of professional competency in these areas and practicing artists must exhibit the highest level of accomplishment through the generation of a body of work.
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) provides programs that combine a liberal arts curriculum and mentoring, with immersive coursework in film and video. Housed in CalArts’ largest department—the School of Film/Video (F/V), all programs allow students to explore multiple modes of moving image. Examples include animation, live-action, and documentary filmmaking.
Other program features include courses led exclusively by working artists, filmmakers, and technicians; famous alumni such as Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood), John Lasseter (Cars, Toy Story), and Chris Buck (Frozen); interactions with accomplished animators and filmmakers through the visiting artist series; field trips to demonstrations and screenings; and small class sizes.
The School of F/V at CalArts also provides opportunities to study abroad in places such as Berlin, Paris, and Prague; paid internships through the Academy Internship Program (established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences); participation in the Bijou Festival at CalArts (attended by professionals in the animation, film, and television industries); collaborations with The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the UCLA Film and Television Archive, and the Montreal International Festival of New Cinema, among others; and the opportunity to present works at Sundance, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and New York Film Festival.
Specific graduate programs for animators in the School of F/V at CalArts include the Experimental Animation MFA. This three-year, residency track program begins with a first-year project. Designed for students seeking leadership roles in studio production, those interested in launching their own studios, and individuals who would like to become educators, this interdisciplinary, terminal degree provides opportunities to select courses from art, dance, theater, and music to reach the required 60 credits.
At least six graduate-level history/theory credits must be completed in residence at CalArts. To fulfill these requirements, students will take Seminar in Animation History; History of Experimental Animation; and one additional approved history/theory course. Other course examples include Digital Workflow for Animators; Drawn Techniques for the Experimental Animator; First Year Shorts; Introduction to Cinema 4D; Sound for Experimental Animation; Stop Motion Basics; and Interactive Media.
The Experimental Animation MFA at CalArts culminates with a thesis, completed across 12 credit hours of seminar courses. This includes Experimental Animation Thesis Concept Seminar (two courses/three credits each) and Experimental Animation Thesis Production Seminar (two courses/three credits each).
Graduates of the creative programs at California Institute of the Arts have found success in animation, film and video, advertising, music, acting, graphic design, theater, and more. Examples of companies that hire CalArts graduates include Pixar, NBCUniversal, Disney, Illumination, Sony Animation, Netflix, Warner Bros., Capitol Records, Google, and Apple.
Many CalArts alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and other entertainment businesses. Examples include Handbuilt Studio, Clay and Kelsy Instruments, Minimal Audio, and Scale Navigator.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) operates the world’s largest university-run film festival. With attendance exceeding 63,000 annually, the eight-day Savannah Film Festival has welcomed Academy Award-winning guest speakers such as Mahershala Ali, Holly Hunter, and Jeremy Irons, along with directors such as Oliver Stone and Christopher Miller. All SCAD students may participate in the festival, which also features workshops, lectures, and networking opportunities.
SCAD students also have access to nearly one million square feet of dedicated film and television production space including Savannah Film Studios—one of the largest university film studios in the U.S.; the 65,000 square feet SCAD Digital Media Center; Lucas Theatre for the Arts; and the 82,000 square feet SCAD Museum of Art. Built on a historical site, the museum hosts exhibitions, screenings in an onsite theater, and master classes with industry professionals and visiting artists.
Savannah College of Art and Design is also home to the School of Animation and Motion, which houses an Animation MFA program with a mandatory teaching or field assignment. This supervised graduate internship consists of 15 credit hours. MFA students will also complete mandatory courses such as Media Theory and Application; Animation Aesthetics and Practice; Storyboarding and Previsualization; Drawing in Motion; and Computer-Generated Modeling and Design. Completion of at least seven 500- to 700-level electives is also part of the program.
In addition to access to all SCAD facilities, the Animation MFA program provides 24/7 access to more than 800 networked computers; instruction by artists from major studios and productions such as Ice Age, Pocahontas, and The Lion King; and the opportunity to participate in SCAD Study Abroad in Lacoste, France.
The culminating experience for the SCAD MFA Animation program is the Animation MFA Thesis consisting of three courses including Exploration and Research; Visual Component Production; and Completion. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as 2D Animator, 3D Animator, Digital Modeler, Storyboard Artist, Character FX Artist, Lighting Director, Animation Producer, Character FX Technical Director, and many other leadership roles.
Major studios and networks routinely hire SCAD Animation alumni. Examples include Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts (EA), Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, 20th Century Fox, Epic Games, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm Animation, and Xbox Game Studios.
University of Southern California (USC) is home to the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA). Founded in 1929, the school houses state-of-the-art facilities and equipment accessible to all animation students. One of the many standouts among SCA’s facilities is the brand new main complex. This creative space features all digital classrooms, animation production studios, post-production suites, soundstages, mixing theaters, fabrication spaces, research labs, and screening rooms that seat up to 400 people.
The Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts in the School of Cinematic Arts provides additional production spaces, motion capture suites, and Trojan Vision—the University's full-service television station with programming that reaches homes across LA and many national and international outlets. USC School of Cinematic Art students also have access to the Ganek Immersive Studio; Cintiq and computer labs; and an IMAX theater.
Across SCA programs, students can collaborate with peers in other USC schools such as Roski School of Art and Design, Viterbi School of Engineering, the School of Architecture, and Thornton School of Music. Other SCA features include guest speakers; courses taught by seasoned filmmakers and other industry professionals; and the student-organized USC Animation Studio Day, where students can meet with studio representatives to present their portfolios, discuss internships, and consider job opportunities.
Also within USC’s School Cinematic Arts is the Expanded Animation Division (EAD) which houses an Animation + Digital Arts MFA, and the Expanded Animation Research + Practice MFA (XA MFA).
The Animation + Digital Arts MFA is a three-year, STEM-coded terminal degree program that provides mini studios for all students, ongoing workshops, and internship opportunities. Techniques and approaches explored range from hand-drawn character animation to interactive digital animation. Course examples for the program include Animation: The Art and the Industry; Expanded Animation; Fundamentals of Storytelling for Animation; Cinematic Ethics; Animation Design and Production; Animation Storyboarding Practicum; and Fundamentals of 3D Character Animation.
Elective units are an important component of the MFA program. Students must complete 15 units to graduate. Examples include World Cinema Before 1945; Survey of Interactive Media; and Seminar: Avant-Garde Film/Video.
The culminating experience for the Animation + Digital Arts MFA at University of Southern California is the master’s thesis completed across three courses including, Animation Pre-Thesis Seminar; Master’s Thesis (594a); and Master’s Thesis (594b).
The XA MFA at University of Southern California focuses on experimentation, animation research, and innovation. Designed for advanced artists, this terminal degree program consists of 50 units (minimum) completed across six semesters. Students in this unique program can select from an extensive list of research concentrations. Examples include Experimental Animation; Virtual Humans and AI; Science Visualization; Performance Gesture; Animation for Robotics; Gesture Movement; Documentary Animation; Dreams and Consciousness; Sound Design; Fine Art Animation Practice; Narrativity; and Cinematic Installations.
Courses for the USC XA MFA program are supported by exhibitions, research collaborations, and overnight field trips. Course examples include the Art of Motion in Virtual Space; Expanded Animation Production; Theory and Practice in Contemporary Animation; Art of Animation; Writing and Story Art for Vision and Motion; Expanded Animation Production; Animation Sound Design Practice; Advanced Animation Research Seminar; Applied Expanded Animation; and Survey of World Animation.
Electives allow students to focus in additional areas of animation. Elective course examples include Stop Motion Puppet and Set Design; Animation for Virtual Characters, Robotics, and AI; Contemporary Topics: Animation Drams and Consciousness; Gesture Movement for Animation; Documentary Animation Production; Stop Motion Performance; Advanced Methods and Approaches; and Directed Research.
The XA MFA program at USC culminates with the Master’s Thesis, completed over three courses: Animation Pre-Thesis Seminar, Master’s Thesis (594a), and Master’s Thesis (594b). Final XA MFA projects have focused on animation, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), interaction, installations, and more.
Graduates of the Animation MFA programs at the University of Southern California are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the entertainment industry. Program alumni have been hired at major studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Digital Domain, Pixar, Illumination, and Sony Pictures. Many USC alumni have gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
School of Visual Arts (SVA) hosts an annual festival known as the After School Special. This decade old event highlights the work of some of SVA’s most accomplished alumni in animation, film, television, and visual effects (VFX). In addition to the After School Special, School of Visual Arts houses the first MFA program in the U.S. to focus on Computer Art.
Founded in 1986, the Computer Arts Department at SVA features immersive workshops; visiting artists; guest lectures in animation, motion graphics, and experimental art; internships with local and national studios; and an active network of more than 1,200 alumni. In addition, SVA Computer Arts MFA students may focus their studies in animation, experimental art, or motion design. The curriculum also allows students to pursue a multidisciplinary course of study.
Course examples for the program include Programming for Animators; Narrative and Visual Storytelling; Animation Culture; Digital Storyboarding; Modeling and Animation; Character Animation; Compositing; Editing for Animation; Experiments in Virtual Production; Techniques in Experimental Animation; Electronic Portfolios; 3D Animation for 2D and Motion Graphics Artists; technical Direction; and Creative Programming for Artists I-II.
The culminating experience for the Computer Art MFA program at SVA is the thesis project completed across four courses: Thesis Research and Writing I-II; and Thesis I-II.
Computer Art MFA students have been nominated for 13 Student Academy Awards and won nine. Students have also won awards at SIGGRAPH; Prix Ars Electronica; ISEA; the YouTube Awards; the Leonardo Awards for Excellence; and the Adobe Design Achievement Awards. Student works have also appeared at the New York Film Festival (NYFF); Cannes Film Festival; Tribeca Film Festival; Sundance Film Festival; Annecy International Film Festival; and the Ottawa Film Festival (OFF).
Graduates of the Computer Arts MFA program at School of Visual Arts are routinely hired at major companies and studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), MTV, Pixar, Google, Adobe, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, and DreamWorks. Some alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses.
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is home to the School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT), which serves approximately 680 students enrolled in 15 programs leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree. Among the school's programs is the Animation Workshop. Established in 1948 by Disney Animator William Shull, the workshop launched an Animation MFA program when UCLA TFT graduate Dan McLaughlin took over Shull’s post in 1971. Today, the UCLA Animation Workshop MFA is one of the oldest and most competitive programs of its kind in the U.S. This three-year MFA accepts just 12 students each year.
Program features include immersive studies in CG technologies within the state-of-the-art Walter Lantz Digital Animation Studio; personalized instruction by renowned industry professionals; and access to other facilities and equipment such as stop motion and general-purpose labs, a sound booth, the Animation Library, animation camera cranes, and twelve animation desks (donated by Disney).
During the first year of the UCLA Animation Workshop, students will explore the principles of traditional hand-drawn animation. In year two, the program advances into computer animation processes and 2D, 3D or hybrid filmmaking. Course examples for the program include Visual Thinking and Organization for Animation/Life Drawing; Interactive Animation; Digital Animation Workshop; Advanced Computer Animation (Maya); Seminar in Animated Film; Writing for Animation; and Issues in Electronic Culture.
MFA students can enhance the degree through electives. Examples include Stop Motion Workshop; History of Animation in America; Digital Audio Postproduction; Layout; Advanced Animation: Writing for the TV Series; Art and Process of Entertainment Design (Imagineering); Acting for the Non-Actor; Advanced Animation/Character Animation; Digital Audio Postproduction; and Legal Issues in Animation.
All Animation Workshop students also have access to curriculum-enhancing courses in areas such as screenwriting and film editing. The program culminates with a thesis project completed across the Thesis Production/Independent Study courses (4-12 units) and the optional Thesis Animatic Workshop (2-4 units).
Graduates of the Animation Workshop MFA program at University of California Los Angeles are prepared to pursue leadership roles at major companies and studios across the U.S. and abroad. Animation Workshop and School of TFT alumni have been hired at places such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Titmouse, Bix Pix Entertainment, and Starburns Industries.
The School of Art (SoArt) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses eight departments and more than 30 degree, minor, and certificate programs. Students in all SoArt programs and departments benefit from the school's guest lecture series; frequent exhibitions; and courses led by creative professionals and scholars.
For students seeking a graduate degree, the SoArt Department of Digital Arts houses a 3D Animation and Motion Arts MFA program. All Digital Arts programs feature small class sizes; frequent trips to festivals, screenings, exhibitions, and shows in New York City; collaborative projects; study abroad experiences in places such as Scotland and Germany; and access to digital computing facilities outfitted with state-of-the-art Apple computer stations and the latest industry software including Nuke, Adobe Suite, ToonBoom, TVPaint, ProTools, and Ableton.
Other production spaces include Dragonframe stations; a green screen room; the stop motion studio; an audio editing suite; an experimental studio; and a spatial computing lab. Studio Crit—an additional space for critiques—hosts regular sessions that allow students to present projects to professors and peers for feedback.
The Department of Digital Arts at Pratt Institute also oversees an internship program designed specifically for digital artists. Throughout the academic year, the departments designated Internship Coordinator matches students with studios and companies in the New York metro area. This allows students to gain experience and skills in areas such as animation, game design, visual effects (VFX), motion graphics, and interaction design.
The Digital Arts MFA program at Pratt Institute is a 60 credit-hour, two-year terminal degree program that explores a multitude of methods and techniques. Examples include animation, visual effects (VFX), rendering, audio, stop-motion, texturing, modeling, and lighting. While students may explore these areas collectively, the sheer number of available courses allows them to customize the program to their interests.
All MFA students will create narrative films, installations, and non-narrative films using 2D and 3D digital animation techniques, live action techniques, and motion graphics. Course examples for the program include 3D Modeling I; 3D Animation: Expressive Motion; 3D Character Modeling and Rigging; Lighting and Rendering; 3D Animation Studio I: First Film; Graduate Animation Seminar I-II; and 3D Animation Studio II: Performance and Acting.
The 3D Animation and Motion Arts MFA program at Pratt Institute culminates with a thesis project completed across three courses: Thesis I, Post Production, and Thesis II. Graduates are prepared to pursue teaching positions and leadership roles in the film and television, game design, advertising, engineering, forensic animation, medical animation, education, and e-learning industries.
Pratt MFA alumni have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Walt Disney Animation Studios, Gameloft, Howard University, Cartoon Network, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), The Digital Worlds Institute at University of Florida (UF), NBCUniversal, Curious Pictures, Digital Domain, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Augenblick, Framestore, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), and Titmouse.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the third largest source of undergraduate STEM degrees among all private universities in the U.S. In 1983, the school became the first university in the nation to offer a BS in Biotechnology, and it enrolls more female astrophysical sciences and technology doctoral students than any other institution.
Rochester Institute of Technology also houses a School of Film and Animation, which is a designated Center of Excellence (COE) by Toon Boon. Part of the College of Art and Design, the school provides numerous opportunities to gain real world experience—all before graduation.
For starters, RIT houses the fourth-oldest and one of the largest cooperative (co-op) education programs in the world. All students are required to complete at least one co-op before graduation. Next, School of Film and Animation students may participate in RIT’s Study Away: LA Program. This includes a semester away in Los Angeles, where students can work at top studios and entertainment companies.
Finally, the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program gives students the opportunity to create content for the big screen. In 2022, RIT Film and Animation students won the program, and their short film ran nationwide in AMC and Cinemark movie theaters.
Other School of Film and Animation features include access to the 52,000 square foot MAGIC Spell Studios; classrooms and labs outfitted with state-of-the art equipment and the latest industry software such as Maya, Dragonframe, TVPaint, and Adobe Creative Suite; courses taught by award-winning industry professionals; and participation in Creative Industry Day which attracts representatives from film studios, design firms, and advertising agencies.
At the graduate level, the School of Film and Animation at RIT has a Film and Animation MFA with four options including 2D Animation; 3D Animation; Production; and Screenwriting. Students in this program have 24/7 access to a dedicated graduate lab and opportunities to gain experience while working as a faculty research assistant, graduate assistant, or other paid position.
The Film and Animation MFA program culminates with the production of an industry-ready film. Finished films will be screened at a public event.
Graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology enjoy a 92% employment rate. School of Film and Animation alumni are routinely hired at major studios such as DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, Sony, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney Animation Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), Nickelodeon, and Dolby.
The School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University (DePaul) graduated its first class in 2005. Since then, the school has produced directors of hit television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and The Blacklist; Emmy Award nominees such as Vera Drew; and animators for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Epic Games, and Gus Van Sant's Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot.
Housed in Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), the School of Cinematic Arts also provides an Animation MFA program designed for animators who have earned an undergraduate degree in visual arts areas such as animation, film, graphic design, or illustration. Because the program follows the project model, students will spend most of their time creating short films and thesis projects under the direction of MFA co-chairs and faculty mentors.
Course examples for the program include Animation Mechanics; Storyboarding I; Sound Design for Animation; Cinema, Animation and Art; Animation History and Practice; Directing Sound Design and Music; Animation Graduate Seminar; and Graduate Teaching Seminar.
Across all School of Cinematic Arts programs, students benefit from courses taught by award-winning filmmakers who are part of one of the nation’s largest full-time animation faculties; access to a state-of-the-art, 32,000 square feet production facility known as DePaul Cinespace Studios; and the new Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration. This open, 8,000 square feet space focuses on industry partnerships and multidisciplinary professional learning across emerging technologies. Collaborations and projects between students and faculty emphasize innovation and community needs.
Cinespace and other CDM/SCA studios and facilities provide access to the latest industry-standard animation software, tools, and technologies. This includes Cintiq labs, stop motion stages, fabrication studios, 3D motion capture, motion control, sound studios, professional animation and effects software, and 3D printing.
All DePaul Animation students also have the unique opportunity to participate in the Los Angeles Quarter Program. Over 10 weeks, this immersive experience allows students to intern at major Hollywood studios such The Jim Henson Company, Disney, Warner Bros. Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Sony Studios, and Titmouse.
Additional program benefits include participation in the Premiere Film Festival; the Japan Study Abroad program; Project Bluelight; visiting artists from places such as Disney and Pixar; and access to the Animation Lodge.
The Premiere Film Festival displays and awards the best student work in animation and film. The event attracts jury members from around the country including filmmakers, industry insiders, and festival programmers.
The Japan Study Abroad program is a biennial trip that takes students to Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tokyo for tours of Japanese animation and game studios, cultural sites, and galleries.
Project Bluelight provides hands-on experience in motion picture production to all interested students. Students at The Lodge have opportunities to collaborate on group projects, build their portfolios, and network.
DePaul University Animation graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in industries such as film and television, games, and advertising. Program alumni have been hired at major studios and gaming companies such as Lucasfilm, DreamWorks Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), Warner Bros. Animation, Google, Cartoon Network, Disney Animation Studios, Epic Games, Nickelodeon, LAIKA, Blizzard Entertainment, Iron Galaxy Studios, and BioWare.
Academy of Art University (AAU) is one of the nation’s largest private, accredited art and design schools. With more than 70 alumni art shows and gallery exhibitions each year, AAU also has one of the most active alumni associations of all art and design schools.
For animators, Academy of Art University houses the Houdini Certified School of Animation and Visual Effects (VFX). All programs take place in a studio production environment known as StudioX. Founded more than 15 years ago, the AAU School of Animation and VFX is the only school of its kind to teach in this type of environment.
Because StudioX functions like most real-world studios, students gain hands-on experience using the same tools and techniques used in the industry. Students also benefit from individual and collaborative projects and Feature Animation Training (FAT) classes.
Taught by industry professionals from companies such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Pixar, FAT classes allow students to immerse in the mental processes of creating a character. Every Tuesday evening, students will also explore the emotional aspects of acting to enhance the characters they have created.
All degree-seeking FAT Tuesday students will complete an internship and create a professional portfolio of their best work. To date, StudioX students have been credited for their work on productions such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, I’m No Longer Here, Fruitvale Station, I Am A Man, Strawberry Mansion, and THEEB.
For students seeking an MFA, the School of Animation and VFX at Academy of Art provides an Animation MFA that explores all areas of animation and visual effects from concept to post-production. MFA students will also develop collaboration, communication, and time management skills throughout the program. Students in the MFA program will take many of the same courses for the MA program. Other course examples include Chiaroscuro; Storyboarding for Cinematic Effect; Feature Animation; and Storyboarding or Film Genres.
The culminating experiences for the MFA include the Directed Study (18 units), Final Portfolio Preparation for Animators, and Final Thesis courses. The students demo reel/portfolio will be presented for review. Graduates of the Animation and VFX MFA program at Academy of Art University are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the entertainment industry and many others. Some program alumni have also gone on to teach.
Across all Academy of Art University programs, graduates have gone on to establish careers at major companies and studios such as Marvel, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Paramount, Wieden + Kennedy, Sony Pictures Animation, LAIKA, Riot Games, Walt Disney Animation, Google, DNEG, and Weta Digital.
The College Station campus at Texas A&M University (TAMU) serves approximately 72,560 students, making it the largest campus by enrollment in the state and one of the largest public universities in the nation. One of the few American universities to have land-, sea- and space-grant designations, TAMU also houses one of the largest visual and performing arts colleges within a public university.
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) is a multidisciplinary school that provides programs in film, visualization, production, dance, theater, and music. Established nearly 35 years ago, the PVFA Visualization program houses a Visualization MFA, which is one of a few programs of its kind in the U.S., and possibly the only one in the state of Texas.
The program focuses collaborative projects, innovations, team-building activities, and technical applications. Students will select from eight areas of emphasis. Options include Computer Animation; Visual Storytelling; Interactive Art; Visual Effects, Gaming; Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR); User Experience Design; and Data Visualization.
Course examples across emphasis areas include Contemporary Art Studio/Seminar; Professional Study; and Professional Practice. Other courses will come from core and free electives. Examples include 3D Modeling and Animation; Computer Animation; Motion Capture Animation; Virtual Reality; Form, Installation, and Environment; Advanced Animation; Generative Art; Multimedia Web Design; Interactive Virtual Environments; Advanced Game Design; Figure Drawing for Narrative and Concept Art; Digital Compositing; Augmented Reality; Physical Computing for Art and Design; and Digital image.
Students also have the opportunity to complete a professional internship. Graduate internships are worth eight credits. In addition, select Visualization graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in a Summer Industry Workshop. Students in this intensive course will work with professionals from major animation studios to produce professional-grade short films. The course takes place all day, every day, for 10 weeks.
Across all TAMU Visualization programs, students benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and studios; courses taught by accomplished instructors; student organizations such as Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD), Women in Animation, and Viz Industry Fair (VIF); participation in the Annual Career Fair; and the Semester Away Program in Italy, Germany, and many other countries.
For the culminating experience for the program, MFA students will complete a professional body of work. A portion of this work must be exhibited in at least one competitive external venue approved by their advisory committee. A local exhibition of the student’s body of work is also required. This event will be coordinated with the final MFA examination.
Graduates of the Visualization MFA program at Texas A&M University are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment industry, among others. Visualization graduates are routinely hired at major studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Reel FX Animation.
The Ohio State University (OSU) belongs to an elite group of universities that have land-, sea-, and space-grant designations. The largest campus in Columbus, OSU houses more than 200 academic centers and institutes; 350 study abroad programs across 70 countries on six continents; and nearly 20 colleges and schools. This includes the College of Arts and Sciences, which provides more than 250 majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs to approximately 19,310 students.
For students seeking a graduate degree in animation, OSU provides a fully-funded, three-year MFA degrees in Art and Technology, and Digital Animation and Interactive Media.
Part of the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Art, the Art and Technology emphasis for the MFA program is an interdisciplinary area that explores animation, 3D modeling, robotics, animatronics, and everything in between. Course examples include Art and Technology Studio Practice; Computer Animation; Internet Art; Graphic Novel – Web Comic Production; New Media Robotics; Moving Image Art; Video Art; Digital Imaging; and Aspects of Art and Technology I-II with special topics such as Art Games and Eco Art.
Students in the OSU Art and Technology MFA program also benefit from project-based learning; participation in the Art + tech Club; interactions with visiting artists; opportunities to work with 3D animations, virtual reality, interactive installations, and sound; and access to dedicated labs, state-of-the-art production facilities, and collaborative studio spaces.
The Art and Technology MFA program at The Ohio State University culminates with the Thesis and Exhibition experience.
The Digital Animation and Interactive Media MFA is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Design, and a collaboration with the college's Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD). Students in this program will complete 60 credit hours of study including core design courses, thesis project and writing development, and open electives in history/theory/criticism; studio/lab; and collaborative/interdisciplinary studio.
Course and elective examples for the program include Graduate Studio; Exploration in Graduate Design Studies; Virtual Modeling; Aspects of Art and Technology; and Computer Game Art and Design.
In the final year of the Digital Animation and Interactive Media MFA program at OSU, students will complete four thesis courses (with a three-person committee), culminating with the Project Exhibition and Oral Defense.
Across programs, graduates are prepared to pursue roles in animation, film and television, multimedia design, computer graphics (CG), game design, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), visual communication, directing, motion graphics, interaction design, mixed reality (MR), human-computer interaction (HCI) design, user interface (UI) design, and visualization.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) provides one graduate path to study animation—the Studio MFA. Housed in the Film, Video, New Media, and Animation Department (FVNMA), the program features visiting artists; graduate seminars, screenings, and performances; access to state-of-the-art film, editing, and production equipment; and unlimited admittance to the Art Institute of Chicago Art Museum and on-campus galleries.
All students have access to SIAC’s Gene Siskel Film Center, which regularly showcases student and other films from around the world. In addition, FVNMA MFA students can participate in Critique Week. During the event, the entire faculty, invited artists, and visiting designers form panels to critique student work. Critique Week takes place every semester. All classes are suspended during the event.
The Studio MFA supports creative work across 12 different departments, which allows students to specialize in one specific area or acquire skills across many different areas of study. Students have access to courses such as The Moving Image; Advanced 2D Computer Animation; Motion Graphics and Visual Effects; Visualization and Storyboarding; Experimental 3D; Drawing for Animation; Experimental Film and Video Narrative; Experimental Technology Lab for 3D Animation; Puppet Animation; Writing and Art Direction for Animation; Advanced Screenwriting; Video Everywhere; and 3D Character Animation.
In addition, Studio MFA students will complete 4000-level art history courses, and a graduate level seminar. Specialization areas may include Hand-Drawn and Digital 2D and 3D Animation; Moving-Image Installation; Nonfiction/Documentary and Narrative Film and Video; Media Art Histories; and Interactive Art, VR, AR, and Web-Based Projects.
The MFA program culminates with a final project and the SAIC Graduate Thesis Exhibition at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Projects may also be presented at other end-of-year events at SAIC. Each year, more than 200 graduate students present their works to more than 30,000 people at SAIC events.
Graduates of SAIC’s FVNMA Department are prepared to pursue positions in animation, film, games, digital media, and more. SAIC alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, the Whitney Museum, NASA, and YouTube.
University of Central Florida (UCF) is home to the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), which houses the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD). Within the school is an Emerging Media MFA with an Animation and Visual Effects track. This specialized program takes place in an environment designed to operate like today’s professional and independent studios. Students in the 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 Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is home to the state’s first arts and technology degree. Launched in 2002 and housed in the 50-year-old Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (Bass School), the program is known as Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC). Today, the program has expanded to include BA, MA, MFA, and PhD degrees.
Across pathways, ATEC students benefit from interactions with guest speakers from major studios such as Pixar, DreamWorks, and Disney; seminars and lectures led by industry professionals; project-based exercises; and applied and experimental research in collaboration with instructors in varying areas of expertise.
For student productions, research, and other projects, the ATEC program provides access to Bass School research labs and creative practice studios such as ArtSciLab; LabSynthE; the Narrative Systems Research Lab; The Studio for Mediating Play; the Creative Automata Lab; Fashioning Circuits; the Cultural Science Lab; the 3D Studio; the Emerging Gizmology Lab; SP&CE Media; and the Public Interactives Research Lab (PIRL).
Students also have access to the ATEC Animation Lab. A major component of the lab is the simulated animated studio experience (SASE). Over two semesters, a crew of 40 SASE students will have the opportunity to design, write, produce, and direct a two-minute CG animated short film. Examples of past productions include Bad Timing (2022), Octo Ninja (2021), Night Shift (2020), and Stargazer (2019).
Within the UT Dallas ATEC program are several options for animators. At the graduate level, students can earn an MA, MFA, or PhD. ATEC MFA students may specialize in Animation or Creative Practice. All graduate level programs provide advanced study in computer-based arts, interactive media, technology, digital media, and professional practices.
Course and prescribed elective examples for the ATEC MFA (Animation) program include Animation Studio I-II; Approaches to Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication; Animation Creative Practices; Motion Capture; Procedural Animation; Computational Design; and Aesthetics of Interactive Arts.
MFA students may enhance the curriculum through nine semester hours of free electives across all UT Dallas schools. Elective examples include History of Animation; Creativity as Social Practice; Special Topics in Animation; Digital Cinematography; and Social Science Research Methods in Emerging Communication.
The culminating experience for the UT Dallas ATEC MFA program is the final project consisting of three courses (Master's Thesis and Master's Project I-II), completed across two consecutive long semesters. Public presentation of final projects is required. This may be an exhibition, defense, or conference presentation.
Graduates of the ATEC programs at University of Texas at Dallas are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as 3D computer animation, game design and development, virtual environments, medical and scientific visualization, advertising, modeling and simulation, architecture, publishing, law, education, and training.
Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, 900lbs of Creative, Cisco Systems, JP Morgan Chase, Texas Instruments, AT&T Foundry, and Gearbox Software.
San Jose State University (SJSU) is home to the College of Humanities and the Arts, which houses the Department of Art and Art History. Founded in 1911, the department is one of the oldest contemporary art schools on the west coast. Within the department is a Digital Media Art (DMA) MFA provided in partnership with CADRE (Computer in Art, Design, Research, and Education).
Established in 1985, CADRE is the second oldest education art media lab in the U.S. MIT’s Media Lab is the oldest. CADRE houses the Physical Computing Lab (Art 237) and the Game Development Lab (Art 241) on the San Jose State University campus.
The multidisciplinary DMA MFA allows students to customize their own focus area through 24 units of required electives. This means students can specialize in everything from animation to web development. Examples of required courses for the program include Seminar in Digital Media Art; Museum and Gallery Operations; Professional Writing in Contemporary Art; and Interdisciplinary Critique Seminar.
Examples of possible animation courses include Digital Animation; Visual Development; Animation Production; Digital Modeling; Storytelling; Animation Physics; Sound Production; Modern Film History; Special Topics in Animation/Illustration; The Short Story; Alternative Cinema; Screenwriting; and Professional Practices in Animation/Illustration.
All SJSU DMA MFA students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studios; immersive courses taught by industry professionals; internships; and study abroad experiences in more than 170 locations. Students also benefit from interactions with guest speakers from major studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation.
Other DMA MFA program benefits include exclusive 24/7 access to lab facilities; collaborative art and technology projects; and internship opportunities at major studios in Silicon Valley. Consisting of 60 units of study, the DMA program culminates with the MFA Project Planning Seminar and the MFA Project, worth a total of six units.
Graduates of the DMA MFA program at San Jose State University are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as animation, filmmaking, television production, game design and development, advertising, education, and research.
SJSU alumni have been hired at hundreds of studios, networks, companies, and universities. Just a few examples include Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm Animation, Cisco, Disney Interactive, Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts (EA), Google, the Cogswell Institute, Sony Pictures, UC San Diego, Pixar, Microsoft, University of Nevada, Reno, Blizzard Entertainment, NBCUniversal Studios, Intel, 20th Century Fox, Zynga, National University of Singapore, Animation Mentor, and UC Santa Barbara.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) began as the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts. When it opened, classes commenced in a rented apartment in downtown Minneapolis. Within a few years the school moved on the top floor of the newly built Minneapolis Public Library. Today, MCAD sits on an 11-acre urban campus that houses galleries, media centers, studios, exhibition spaces, a library, fitness center, an art cellar, computer labs, and administrative offices.
In addition to a vibrant campus life, Minneapolis College of Art and Design provides a Visual Studies MFA that highlights study abroad experience and/or internships in places such as the UK, Italy, Germany, and Japan. Across MCAD programs, students have completed internships at places such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Walter Art Center, and MASS MoCA.
The interdisciplinary MFA allows students to focus in one or more areas of interest. Examples include animation, interactive/digital media, experimental film and video, sound art, web and multimedia, illustration, comic arts, drawing/painting, graphic design, and photography. Students in this 60 credit-hour program also have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor each semester to help reach their goals.
Other program benefits include access to state-of-the art facilities, classrooms, and private studios; participation in events at art centers, galleries, and nonprofits in the Twin Cities; the Master’s Trip to NYC, which features visits to art and design venues, creative agencies, and artist studios; and the option to complete the three-credit Teaching Art and Design online certificate.
Courses for the certificate count towards elective requirements. This allows MFA students to graduate with a terminal degree and a focused certificate. The MCAD MFA program culminates with a thesis and exhibition.
Graduates of the MCAD Visual Studies MFA program are prepared to pursue leadership roles in all areas of film and animation, game design, advertising, visualization, and mores. MCAD graduates (and students) have been hired at (or interned with) companies and studios such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Medtronic Inc., Walker Art Center, and Target.
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University (ASU) was created in 2009 after the ASU College of Design and the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts merged. Today, Herberger employs more than 600 faculty members that serve nearly 9,000 students enrolled in 130 different programs across the School of Art; the School of Arts, Media and Engineering; the Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; ASU FIDM; and the School of Music, Dance and Theater. The Herberger Institute also houses the ASU Art Museum.
The ASU Herberger School of Art houses one graduate program for animators: the Art MFA. This program provides the opportunity to complete projects in a discipline of the student’s choice. Examples include animation, intermedia, drawing and painting, photography, and printmaking. Other program benefits include workshops; teaching opportunities; visiting artist lectures; and access to private, state-of-the-art studio space at Grant Street Studios. Located in downtown Phoenix, Grant Street houses several galleries and resources such as printmaking presses, a computer lab and 3D print lab, and a photography darkroom.
The Art MFA program at Arizona State University culminates in a solo thesis exhibition in Step Gallery, Northlight Gallery, or Harry Wood Gallery. All galleries are part of the School of Art.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the creative, technical, and scientific industries, among others. Examples include animation and film, robotics, medical illustration, scientific and data visualization, games and game development, cinema and television, AR/VR, illustration, and fine arts. ASU Art alumni hold titles such as Senior Animator, Creative Director, Senior VFX Artist, Senior Graphic Artist, Art Director, and Senior Multimedia Designer.
The Animation program at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) was established in 1987. Recognized as a Center of Excellence by Toon Boom, the program focuses on developing advanced skills in the latest animation techniques and tools. Examples include 2D, 3D, Claymation, and stop-motion. The program also explores virtual reality, motion graphics, and digital modeling.
Other program benefits include CCAD Sketch, where students can sketch live animals, in studio, as they play with their trainers; participation in the Animation Student Collective, which features networking opportunities; unlimited access to CCAD’s Cloyd Family Animation Center, which houses flex spaces, the Animation Student Collective, student lounges and state-of-the-art labs such as stop-motion, virtual reality drawing, computer, and teaching; participation in the 24-Hours Animation Contest for Students; and real-world projects with nonprofit, corporate, and government partners.
Examples of CCAD partners include American Greetings, Odam Publishing, Greater Columbus Film Commission, General Motors, Rela Art, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Nutella, 99P Labs, JP Morgan Chase, Procter & Gamble, Old Navy, Keep Ohio Beautiful, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Goodwill Industries, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Cardinal Health, White Castle, Ohio History Connection, and Zox.
For students seeking a graduate degree in Animation, CCAD houses the Amelita Mirolo MFA in Visual Arts. This program operates within a 13,700 square-feet facility that houses individual private graduate studios, exhibition space, faculty offices, and a lounge. In the facility, students can work on individual projects and thesis production in any area of interest. Examples include animation, game art, film, television, interactive design, and illustration. Students may focus in any of these areas through art and design electives and/or CCAD’s numerous minor and concentration options.
Other CCAD MFA highlights include access to the Tad Jeffrey FabLab, which houses 3D printers, one of the largest laser cutters in the state, computer labs, studios, digital printing facilities, darkrooms, and a walk-in spray booth; participation in the visiting artist series, which features seminars, mentoring, workshops, and lectures; and internship opportunities with nonprofits and businesses located in places such as New York, Ireland, Chicago, Seattle, Honduras, and Oregon.
Graduates of the Visual Arts MFA program at Columbus College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as filmmaking, illustration, fine art, advertising, museums, and education. CCAD alumni have been hired at places such as Pixar, Cartoon Network, and American Greetings.
In 1926, The New School became the first American university to teach the history of film, and one of the first to provide college-level courses in jazz and photography. Courses in the creative arts were taught by the likes of artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, W. H. Auden, and Martha Graham. Today, The New School is the only university to have a design school (Parsons School of Design), liberal arts college, performing arts college, and graduate programs and colleges under one roof.
Serving approximately 5,755 students, Parsons School of Design is the largest college at The New School. Within the school is a STEM-designated Design and Technology MFA program. Consisting of 60 credit hours of study, the program provides access to studios such as xFab Lecture and Lab; Major Studio; Creative Practice Seminar; and Collaboration Studio.
Other program features include immersive classes taught by industry professionals; opportunities to work on projects with external partners such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) and One Plus; and creative collaborations with Communication Design, Transdisciplinary Design, and Data Visualization students, among others.
The Design and Technology MFA program at Parsons School of Design culminates with the Thesis Studio, completed across two courses totaling 12 credit hours.
All students may participate in The New School’s internship program, as well as projects with external partners such as Samsung, Google, TheNew York Times, Intel, Panasonic, NYC Media Lab, IBM, Nokia, MIT, and SXSW. In addition, students in all New School programs have the opportunity to interact with and work on projects with professionals at places such as Nickelodeon, Atari, MTV, Apple, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), UNESCO, Siemens, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, and OnePlus Technology.
Graduates of the Design and Technology MFA program at The New School are prepared to pursue advanced roles in animation, 2D and 3D animation, game design, advertising, VR/AR, motion graphics, immersion experience design, digital filmmaking, graphic arts, interaction design, television production, mobile and application design, web design, software design, and media art.
DigiPen has international partnerships with Princess Nourah bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Keimyung University in South Korea; The One Academy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Thammasat University in Thailand. These partnerships help foster the fields of animation, game design, computer science, engineering, and more.
DigiPen is also a Certified Partner of SideFX and the first school in the world to offer a bachelor’s degree in video game programming. SideFX is the Toronto-based company that developed Houdini—the 3D procedural software for film, TV, and game development. Houdini is the preferred software for major studios such as Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DNEG, MPC, and many others.
Other DigiPen features include intensive programs for artists seeking degrees in art, engineering, design, and technology; interdisciplinary team-based projects that last anywhere from a semester to a year; courses taught by accomplished artists who have worked on projects for Lucasfilm and Disney Animation Studio; and the opportunity to study abroad at the DigiPen campuses in Singapore or Spain, or at any partner institute.
Graduate program options for animators include the Digital Arts MFA. This 60 credit-hour program is designed for students with formal training in animation, composition, 3D modeling, color theory, digital painting, and drawing. This means, the program focuses heavily on advanced training in 2D or 3D digital art production.
Course examples include Art Research Methodology; 3D Concepts and Production; Conceptual Design and Illustration; Advanced Character Creation; Organic and Hard Surface Modeling; Art Production Process; Physics for Animation and Modeling; Digital Arts Survey and Analysis; Storyboarding; Character Design; and Management for Art Directors. Free electives and independent study provide opportunities for students to customize a specialization.
The Digital Arts MFA program culminates with the thesis project, completed over two courses. The Thesis Pre-Production course lasts one semester. For the final two semesters of the program, students will work with a faculty advisor to complete the final Thesis Project course. Throughout the program, students will also work in teams to create several animated films, games, live-action films, or other works.
Graduates of the Digital Arts MFA program at DigiPen are prepared to pursue advanced roles across the entertainment, games, and advertising industries, among others. Over the years, DigiPen graduates have earned more than 300 awards and festival selections; they have won approximately 230 awards for game projects and academic papers; and they have helped develop more than 2,000 commercial game titles.
DigiPen alumni have been hired by more than 1,250 companies worldwide. Examples include Electronic Arts (EA), Nintendo, DreamWorks, Sony, Microsoft, Amazon Games, Walt Disney Imagineering, Zynga, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, Warner Bros. Games, ArenaNet, Apple, Riot Games, and Meta.
Clemson University (Clemson) is home to the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS), which houses the School of Computing. Within the school is the Division of Visual Computing and the Digital Production Arts (DPA) program. DPA students seeking an advanced degree in animation often choose the DPA MFA.
The curriculum for the DPA MFA blends art and performing arts; psychology; computer science and engineering; philosophy; and graphic communications. Technical electives allow students to develop advanced skills in areas such as game engines, virtual reality (VR), multimedia systems and applications, human computer interaction (HCI), and computation.
Course and elective examples for this 60 credit-hour, terminal degree program include Visual Narrative; Visual Foundations of Digital Production; Special Effects Compositing; Film Genres; Physically Based Animation; 3D Modeling and Animation; Technical Character Animation; Virtual Reality Systems; Improvisation: Interpreting and Developing Texts; Advanced Animation; 2D Game Engine Construction; Digital Production Studio; and Advanced Computer Graphics.
In the Digital Production Studio course, Clemson DPA MFA students will work on a team project from start to finish. This project is worth 12 credits. Students will also complete the Graduate Research Studio course, which consists of a major project or projects under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The culminating experience for the program is the MFA Thesis, completed under the guidance of the student’s advisor and thesis committee.
Graduates of the DPA MFA at Clemson University are prepared to pursue advanced or leadership roles in animation, film, games, video, and television, and many others. Program alumni have been hired at major studios such as Walt Disney Animation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), ReelFX, and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB or Cal State Long Beach) has a long list of notable alumni. One of the most accomplished is Steven Spielberg. This renowned filmmaker attended CSULB for three years, paused his studies to pursue filmmaking, then returned under a pseudonym 30+ years later to complete his film degree in the College of the Arts (COTA).
More than 3,000 students and over 250 faculty members call COTA home, making it one of largest and most popular colleges at CSULB. With six separate departments including Art; Film and Electronic Arts; Design; Theater Arts; Dance; and the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, COTA houses state-of-the-art production facilities, studios, and work spaces; five separate, customizable student art galleries; the 1100-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center; and University Art Museum.
The College of the Arts also houses dozens of programs leading to a BA, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, Bachelor of Music (BM), Master of Music (MM), and an MFA/MBA. For animators seeking an advanced degree, the COTA Art Department provides an Art MFA with a Studio Art concentration/Animation track. This 60 credit-hour terminal degree program requires 21 credit hours in the MFA core, and 39 in the track.
Course examples include Graduate Studies: Animation; Graduate Studies: Directed Studio; Graduate Studies: Image as Text; and Graduate Studies: Professional Practices for Visual Communication. The culminating experience for the COTA Art MFA is the Graduate Studies: MFA Project. This includes the execution and completion of a studio project with members of the student’s Project Committee.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment industry, game design and development, television production, advertising, and publishing, among others.
CSULB has partnerships with recruiters in animation, games, and media arts. Examples include Walt Disney Animation Studios, Cartoon Network, Pixar, Sony Pictures Animation, Activision Blizzard, Shadow Machine Studio, and KCET Studios. Program alumni are routinely hired at these and other places such as MGA Entertainment, Fox, and OPR Communications.
Louisiana State University (LSU) is in the elite 1% of academic institutions with land-, sea-, and space-grant designations. The school is also home to the College of Art and Design, which is one of less than 330 schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Within LSU’s College of Art and Design is the School of Art, which provides BA, BFA, MA, and MFA programs led by accomplished artists and designers.
Among the school’s graduate programs is a Studio Art MFA with a Digital Art concentration. This 60 credit-hour experimental program blends computational artmaking courses with coursework in areas such as animation, film, computer science, electronic music, and painting. Up to 12 general electives may to be taken in any area at the 4000/7000 level. This provides additional opportunities to focus in animation.
Across all Studio Art programs, students have opportunities to join the Digital Art and Design Association (DADA), which hosts an Annual Animation Jam. Students may also participate in LSU’s Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies, and Research (AVATAR) Initiative, and study abroad experiences developed specifically for the College of Art and Design. Examples include LSU in South Africa; College of Art and Design in Rome; ArtNYC; Footsteps in Berlin; LSU in China; Art in Florence; Design in Paris; and Art in Ireland. Other study abroad destinations may include the Netherlands, Vietnam, Haiti, and the UK.
The Studio Art MFA program at LSU culminates with a final project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as animation, game art, film, graphic design, illustration, architecture, television production, advertising, publishing, and education.
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) houses Ohio’s largest public undergraduate school of art. Established more than 75 years ago, the BGSU School of Art has also been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1984. Students in the school benefit from BGSU’s student life program with over 300 student organizations; specialized workshops and career coaching; access to array of STEM programs; and dozens of state-of-the-art spaces that simulate real-world production studios, labs, offices, and research centers.
Part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Art houses also five divisions including Digital Arts; Graphic Design; Art History; Studio; and Art Education. Features across divisions include a student-faculty ratio of 15:1; opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships with Pixar, Disney Animation, and the Museum of Modern Art; the chance to study abroad at BGSU’s partner school in Florence, Italy; opportunities to work in BGSU’s professional large-format printing studio; and access to a variety of curriculum-enhancing minors.
In addition, the newly built 100,000 square feet Wolfe Center for the Arts provides access to three state-of-the-art digital studio classrooms; a 20-seat HP (Windows 7) lab; an editing lab with 20 Mac Pro video editing workstations; and a 20-seat Mac Pro OSX lab. The School of Art also houses The Media Center, which houses high-end digital A/V equipment for student checkout; high-dynamic range wide format printers; high-resolution scanners; and 3D printers.
For individuals seeking an advanced degree in animation, the School of Art provides a Studio Art MFA. This two-year, full-time program has a specialization in Digital Arts, which includes Computer Animation, Digital Media, and Interactive Media. A minimum of 60 credit hours is required, including 39 credits of required courses; 18 credits of studio electives; and three for the culminating experience.
Included in the 39 credit hours are 21 credits from Digital Arts; six from Art History; and 12 from research, critique, and pedagogy. These include Studio Critique; Contextualizing Practice and Research; and Pedagogy and Research in Studio Art. Elective examples include Artistic Animation Effects; Interactive Art Studio; Advanced Study in Digital Animation; Workshop in Art; Collaborative Multimedia Development; Digital Animation Studio; Advanced Study in Interactive Art; and Graduate Travel Studio.
The culminating experience for the MFA program is the Exhibition Research course, which entails supervised independent study activities encompassing all phases of preparation for the BGSU MFA Exhibition. This event is held each spring in the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery in BGSU’s Fine Arts Center.
Graduates of the Digital Arts and Studio MFA programs at Bowling Green State University are prepared to pursue titles such as 2D or 3D Animator, Special Effects Artist, Motion Graphics Artist, Video Game Animator, Multimedia Designer, Web Design Animator, Technical Director, Producer, Advertising Animator, and Animation Professor. BGSU alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, American Greetings, Root Learning, and Designing Digitally.
When it was established in 1873, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University (SU) became the first degree-granting school of its kind in the U.S. The College of VPA went on to become one of the first in the country to grant a degree in music; one of the nation’s first colleges to require four years of study in both theory and music; and one of America’s first academic programs specifically designed for the study of rhetoric and communication.
Today, the College of Visual and Performing Arts at SU houses seven schools and departments, along with the recently launched 2022 VPA LA Semester. This program provides the opportunity for students to intern in Los Angeles while taking courses led by some of LA’s leading industry professionals. VPA departments and schools include the Department of Film and Media Arts (DFMA); the School of Design; the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies; the School of Art; Setnor School of Music; the Department of Creative Arts Therapy; and the Department of Drama.
The Department of Film and Media Arts houses the Computer Art MFA. Founded in 1980 by computer artists Edward Zajec, the program consists of 60 credit hours completed over three years. Focus areas include Computer Animation; VFX; Sonic Art; Gaming; Physical Computing; Software Art; Electronic Objects; and Multi-Channel Installation.
All students may participate in the residency program in LA known as the Turner Semester and global studies programs such as the Italian Film Studies and Filmmaking Summer in Bologna, Italy; the semester-long Film Studies Program in Prague, Czech Republic; or the 10-day Summer Immersion Program in Venice, Italy.
Other DFMA benefits include the visiting artist series, including past guests such as past president of Pixar Animation Studios Jim Morris, actor/director Giancarlo Esposito, Pixar post-production director Cynthia Slavens; extensive computer art and animation facilities with access to Maya, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Houdini, Creative Cloud, Unity, and TVPaint; the local Women in Animation chapter; access to Orange Shorts animation production studio; and the Canary Lab, which hosts workshops, speakers, collaborations, visiting artists, research, exhibitions, and other events.
All MFA students have 24/7 access to computer art facilities; audio production, video post-production, and recording studios; dedicated Apple Mac Pro workstations; video camcorders and field audio recorders; and facilities outfitted with range of industry software and physical computing gear.
The Computer Art MFA program at Syracuse University culminates with an oral examination, final project, and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of entertainment, game design and development, advertising, education, and research.
Program alumni have been hired at major networks and studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, MPC, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Filmworks/FX, and Tippett Studio.
