Top 50 Animation BFA Degree Programs – 2025 College Rankings

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. Serving approximately 1,985 students, the school’s Animation program has BFA, MA, and MFA pathways. In addition to access to all SCAD facilities, the Animation 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 Animation BFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design provides the opportunity to enroll in Gradpath@SCAD. This unique program allows students to earn a BFA/MA or BFA/MFA at an accelerated pace. Students in the BFA/MA program may complete this combined degree in less than four years. The BFA/MFA can be completed in five years or less. 

The 180 credit-hour Animation BFA is available at SCAD’s Atlanta and Savannah campuses. The major curriculum for the program consists of 80 credit hours, including concentrations in 2D Animation; 3D Character Animation; Technical Animation; and Storytelling and Concept Development. Students will take 15 credit hours of free electives. To enhance the degree, the program allows for a minor. 

Ideal minors that complement the program include Character Technical Direction; Motion Media Design; Visual Effects (VFX); Illustration for Entertainment; and Technical Direction. 

Across concentrations, Animation BFA students can expect to take courses such as Inventing Environments; Reading Films; Digital Communication; Visual Culture in Context: Making Modernities; Storyboarding Essentials; Collaborative Experiences in the School of Animation and Motion; 3D Character Animation: Creatures and Quadrupeds; Collaborative Experiences: 2D Production Pipeline; Story and Concept: Animation Character and Creature Design; Technical Animation: Digital Modeling for Environments and Props; and Story and Concept: Visual Design and World Building. 

Each student in the SCAD Animation BFA program will complete three capstone courses including Animated Capstone Film Preproduction, Production, and Postproduction. An optional internship is also part of the program. 

Graduates of the Animation programs at Savannah College of Art and Design 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 John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts (Hench DADA), which houses a STEM-coded Animation + Digital Arts BFA. This four-year program provides formal concentration options. Examples include Character Animation, Interactive Animation, VFX, Immersive Media, Documentary Animation, 3D Computer Animation, Motion Graphics, Visualizing Science, and Experimental Animation. 

In addition to a concentration, BFA students will complete courses such as Story Structure for Animation; Reality Starts Here; 3D Character Performance Animation; Two-Dimensional Art Workshop; Cinematography for Animators; History of Animation; and Professionalism of Animation. Electives allow students to develop skills in additional areas of animation. 

Elective examples include Live Action Integration with Visual Effects; 3D Animation for Motion Graphics (C4D); Production Design for Animation Projection Mapping Design and Production; Demystifying the TV Animation Pipeline; Real-Time Animation (Unreal Engine); Experiments in Immersive Design; Procedural Animation (Houdini); Pipeline and Character Modeling for Animation; and The World of Visual Effects. 

During the second semester of year three, and in year four of the program, students will complete Ideation + Pre-Production, along with two Senior Project courses resulting in a fully rendered, animated piece, with soundtrack. Final projects are presented to a committee for critique and approval.

Graduates of the Animation BFA programs at the University of Southern California are prepared to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, games, and advertising, among others. 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. 

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) opened its doors in the late 1800s with a mission to support Rhode Island’s growing jewelry and textile industries. The first courses of study at RISD focused in two areas: Freehand Drawing and Painting, and Mechanical Drawing and Design. Today, the school caters to artists of all kinds including from sculptors to animators. 

All programs provide hands-on learning with access to state-of-the-art production studios; Macintosh and CGI workstations equipped professional editing and production software; sound mixing studios; and digital editing rooms. RISD students also benefit from collaborative study; experimental projects; workshops; the First Year in Florence program; and internship opportunities with local and national studios. 

Rhode Island School of Design is also home to the Film/Animation/Video (FAV) Department. Serving approximately 150 students, the department houses the FAV BFA program, which combines animation, live-action, and open media. While students may specialize in any of the three areas, all students must complete first year studios in Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS). Students will also take liberal arts courses to supplement studio studies. 

Course examples for the RISD FAV BFA include Puppetry; Character Animation; Topics in Movement: Performance Assemblages; Animation Practices; Storyboarding; Intermediate Studio: Animation; Directing Cinema; Stop-Motion Animation; Computer Generated Imagery 3D; Experiments in Stop-Motion Animation; Experimental Film Techniques; Digital Effects and Compositing for the Screen; Computer Animation: Integrated Techniques; Advanced Stop-Motion Animation; and Character Design. 

In the final year of the FAV BFA program at RISD, students will produce an independent project from idea to finished product. Students will receive critiques and individual guidance weekly from established industry professionals. Class meetings for the year will focus on group critiques, film screenings, and specialized technical workshops.

The year culminates with a professional reel, portfolio, and the RISD Senior Festival. Held in May, this public event allows students to network and present their final animated or live action films. 

Graduates of FAV BFA program at the Rhode Island School of Design have gone on to create, direct and/or produce animated films and series such as Family Guy (Seth Macfarlane, Creator), The Simpsons (Lance Wilder, Animator), and the Oscar-nominated animated short Feral (Daniel Sousa, Animator and Director). 

RISD graduates are also routinely hired at major networks and studios such as DreamWorks, HBO, Pixar, and PBS. Others have launched their own independent studios, freelance businesses, and production companies.

Once called the “MIT of Visual Effects,” Gnomon is a competitive digital arts college the provides degree and certificate programs. The school also provides more than 100 individual courses and a preparatory program known as Foundation in Art and Design (FIAD). Open to high school graduates, the FIAD is a full-year, non-vocational program that provides an alternative to a traditional community college path. Students will immerse in foundational art and design studies, along with introductory courses in animation, game production pipelines, and the 3D software used in the visual effects industry. 

FIAD students may choose to focus on portfolio development; obtaining an entry-level position in animation, games, or visual effects; or transferring into a Gnomon degree or certificate program. The 12-term Digital Production BFA is a popular option. 

Consisting of 180 total units, the program includes 135 units in career-focused study and 45 in general education. Students may choose from three concentration options including Visual Effects Animation; Game Art; and 3D Generalist. Although the Visual Effects Animation concentration is a top choice for animators, all options provide intensive training in industry software such as Houdini, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, Nuke, Maya, After Effects, V-Ray, and Photoshop. All options also feature extensive animation coursework. 

Across concentrations, students have access to courses and electives such as History and Principles of Animation; Character Animation 1-3; Liquid Simulations; Animation and Visual Effects 1-2; Art of Compositing; Previsualization and Animatics; HD Digital Filmmaking for VFX; Maya Modules; Dynamic Effects 1-4; Storyboarding; Advanced Compositing; Motion Capture; Houdini 1-4; and Virtual Production. 

The culminating experience for the Digital Production BFA program at Gnomon is the creation of a professional demo reel. Students will complete the project across four courses (Demo Reel 1-4). 

Gnomon graduates are prepared to pursue careers across the entertainment industry. With a near 100% employment rate, Gnomon alumni can be found at places such as Marvel Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Nickelodeon Animation, Weta FX, Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), Naughty Dog, Digital Domain, Riot Games, and Reel FX.

Brigham Young University (BYU) is home to one of the nation’s most competitive animation programs. Established in 2010, the BYU Center for Animation accepts just 20-25 students each year. Students may gain entrance to this closed-enrollment program through BYU’s Animation BFA program or the Computer Science BS with an Animation and Games emphasis.  

Throughout the BYU Center for Animation program, students will gain hands-on experience through individual and collaborative projects; faculty mentoring; and internships with major studios such as DreamWorks, Pixar, and Disney. Students will also develop advanced design and software skills. In the junior or senior year of the program, students can specialize in anything from 3D animation to visual effects (VFX).  

Housed in the Design Department in the College of Fine Arts, the Animation BFA is a limited enrollment program that accepts just 75 students per enrollment period. In this 65 credit-hour program, students will explore areas such as 3D modeling, storyboarding, character animation, compositing, previsualization, lighting, special effects, materials/shading, technical animation, and concept art.  

Course examples include Experimental Animation and Production; Visual Development; Scripting for Animation; 3D Visual Effects; Technical Animation; The Joy and Beauty of Computing; Scripting for Animation; Advanced Shading; Pitching for Film and Games; Lighting for 3D Graphics; Visual Narrative; Intermediate 3D Computer Graphics; Animated Film Production 1-3; Advanced Storyboarding; Visual Development and Character Design; Directed Studies in Animation; and Business and Ethics in Animation.  

The culminating experience for all Animation programs is the Film Animation Capstone project completed across several courses. Films are submitted to national and international competitions. BYU animation students have won awards and received recognition from the Nickelodeon Film Festival; ACM Siggraph; Cannes Film Festival; the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation; Annecy Film Festival; the Electronic Entertainment Expo; and Houston WorldFest.  

Graduates of the Animation programs at Brigham Young University are prepared to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, game design and development, advertising, and many others. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation, Hasbro, Riot Games, and Digital Domain. 

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 Animation BFA and BFA/MA programs. The Animation BFA has concentrations in 3D Animation; Game Art; Visual Effects; Storyboarding and Character Design; Motion Graphics; and Cinema. Students may also choose electives from more than 20 Jarvis College minors. Minor examples include Film Production; Designing for Physical Technology; Experimental Filmmaking; Visual Effects; Television Graphic Design; Production; Information Technology; Comedy Filmmaking; and User Experience Design.

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 as 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. 

Graduates of the Animation programs at DePaul University 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 a professional undergraduate degree, the School of Animation and VFX at Academy of Art provides an Animation and VFX BFA with five emphasis areas. Options include 2D Animation and Stop Motion; 3D Animation; VFX; 2D Animation and Stop Motion; and Storyboarding. Students in this on campus or online program will take courses such as Introduction to Computer Graphics for Animation; Color Fundamentals; Cinematics for Animation and VFX; Introduction to 3D Production A-B; Fundamentals of Texturing, Look Development, and Lighting; Game Engines; Node-Based Compositing; Storyboarding; Digital Drawing for Entertainment; and Careers in Animation and VFX. 

The culminating experience for this 120 credit-hour BFA program is the creation of a professional portfolio of the student’s best work. This final project will be completed in the Senior Portfolio for Animation and VFX course. Graduates are prepared to pursue intermediate to advanced roles in the entertainment industry. 

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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Film, Video, New Media, and Animation Department (FVNMA) houses a Studio BFA program that explores animation (experimental 2D and 3D), cinema, new media art, and video. Course examples include 3D Character Animation; Sonics and Optics; Media Practices: The Moving Image; Advanced 2D Computer Animation; Real-Time 3D; Motion Graphics and Visual Effects; Puppet Animation; Experimental Technology Lab for 3D Animation; Advanced Drawing for Animation; and Writing and Art Direction for Animation.  

All FVNMA BFA students benefit from interactions with 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 also 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 FVNMA Studio Art BFA culminates with the Senior Film/Video Projects Capstone. During this final course, students will complete a professional quality moving image project for public presentation.

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. 

Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) is LA’s first professional school of the arts. The school also employs more than 430 professors who are all active professionals in the fields of art and design.

For students seeking a professional undergraduate degree, Otis College of Art and Design has a competitive Animation BFA. This interdisciplinary, STEM-designated program provides technical and creative training. In addition to developing advanced skills in 2D and 3D computer animation, 3D production, and visual development, students will master industry software such as Unreal Engine, Toon Boom, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Cinema 4D, Adobe Suite, and ZBrush. 

Core courses for the program explore character design, rendering, mathematics, complex graphics, and modeling. Course examples for the program include Form and Figure; Contemporary Studio and Creative Action; Exploration Into Making: Thought Lab 2; Producing and Production Management; Animation Basics; Art History of Animation; Storytelling Fundamentals; Design and Drawing for Animation; Stop Motion Animation; Advanced Storyboarding; Motion Capture; and Storytelling: Cinematic/Miyazaki.

Each semester, students will apply what they’ve learned to their own studio projects. Key projects include Animation Explorations; Animation Studio Project I and II; and Animation Senior Project I and II. BFA students may also complete a professional internship. 

Graduates of the Animation BFA Program at Otis College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue roles across industries such as entertainment, game design, and advertising. Otis alumni can be found at major companies and studios such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Reel FX, Nike, Apple, Netflix, and Mattel. 

San Jose State University (SJSU) has an Animation and Illustration program with three degree options: the BFA in Animation and Illustration (ANI BFA); the Design Studies BA, specializing in Animation and Illustration; and the Master of Design (MDes) with a specialization in Animation. All programs are housed in the College of Humanities and the Arts’ Department of Design. 

Across all programs, 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.

The SJSU ANI BFA is a professional degree that explores traditional and 3D animation, storyboarding, visual development, character design, modeling, and physics of motion. Students in this program may specialize in Animation or Visual Development. Specializations are 21 units, including 12 units of approved electives. Course examples across specializations include Digital Animation I-II; Visual Development I-II; Animation Production – Storyboarding; and Digital Modeling I-II. 

Students in both specializations will take courses such as Drawing for Animation/Illustration; Visual Storytelling; 2D Animation I-II; Illustration Fundamentals I-III; Color Principles for Screen Arts; and all ANI BFA students must also pass a milestone portfolio review and complete the six-unit capstone Senior Seminar Animation/Illustration to graduate. 

Graduates prepared to pursue careers in areas such as film and animation, television production, game design and development, advertising, and education. SJSU alumni have been hired at hundreds of studios, networks, companies, and universities. Examples include Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm Animation, Cisco, Disney Interactive, Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts (EA), Google, the Cogswell Institute, Sony Pictures, UC San Diego, Pixar, Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, NBCUniversal Studios, Intel, 20th Century Fox, Zynga, National University of Singapore, and Animation Mentor.

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. 

Instead of dorms, MCAD provides shared furnished apartments for students. This includes The Web, The Shallows, and The Lodge. Full-time first-year and sophomore undergraduates are required to live on campus. 

In addition to a vibrant campus life, Minneapolis College of Art and Design provides several pathways to study animation. At the undergraduate level, the school has an Animation BFA with internships and study abroad opportunities in places such as the UK, Italy, Germany, and Japan. Students have completed internships at places such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Walter Art Center, and MASS MoCA.  

The MCAD Animation BFA is a collaborative program with 2D and 3D tracks. Both tracks require 12 credit hours of study. Consisting of 120 total credits, the BFA allows students to customize an additional focus area (or areas) through 26 credits of required studio electives. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Filmmaking; Experimental Animation; Background Layout for Animators; Virtual Environments; Stop-Motion Animation; 3D Modeling; 2D Digital Animation; Professional Practice; and Character Animation. 

The culminating experience for the Animation BFA program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design is the senior project and presentation. 

Graduates of the Animation BFA program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of film and animation, game design, advertising, visualization, and many others. 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 College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton or CSUF) hosts exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses, visiting artists; lectures, and hundreds of concerts and performances each year. The college also houses the Department of Visual Arts, which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

In addition to everything the College of the Arts has to offer, the department features experiential learning opportunities such as internships and external projects; access to the Visual Arts Complex, which houses state-of-the-art animation, painting, drawing, and illustration studios; and partnerships with major studios such as Nickelodeon and Walt Disney. Visual Arts students also have access to eight studio concentrations. This includes Entertainment Art/Animation. 

Leading to BFA in Art, this program requires 132 units of study, including 36 in the concentration. Through immersive courses, projects, and other skill-building activities, BFA students will master areas such as storytelling, drawing, and production. 

Course examples for the program include Writing in the Visual Arts; Principles of Animation; Special Studies: Storyboarding for Animation; Animal and Wildlife Drawing; Intermediate Character Animation; 3D Animation; Design for Interactive Art; 3D Team Production; Video Art and Moving Image; Special Studies in Entertainment Art/Animation; Elements of Sequential Art; Digital Narrative Illustration; Cartooning and Caricature; Animation Production; and Animation Preproduction. 

Studio Art electives allow students to explore other areas such as kinetic sculpture, creative digital photography, printmaking etching, artists’ books, and watercolor.

In addition to a wide selection of course options, the Cal State Fullerton Art BFA program includes independent research, collaborative projects, and internship opportunities at major studios. The culminating experience for the program is the BFA Capstone: Game Art, Animation, and Immersive Media. Totaling three credits, the experience focuses on career path development and portfolio-building works in animation, game art, virtual production, and immersive media (VR/AR/XR). 

Graduates of the Art BFA with an Entertainment Art/Animation concentration are prepared to pursue careers across the animation, film, games, and immersive media industries, among others. Program alumni have been hired at studios such as Disney Feature Animation, Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Games, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Just a few alumni credits include Spiderman 3, Ice Age 2, SpongeBob Squarepants, Avatar, The Simpsons, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Superman Returns.

The School of Design at Columbia College Chicago houses a Computer Animation BFA, and a Traditional Animation BFA. The Computer Animation BFA is a professional degree with advanced courses in story, critical studies, and CG Animation. Also a professional degree, the Traditional Animation BFA focuses on advanced animation, story, classic art, and critical studies.

Students in all programs may participate in the Animation Studios in LA Program. Activities for this one-credit program include specialized classes, tours, employment screenings, and portfolio reviews. Past participating studios include Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Disney, and Warner Bros.

Columbia animation students also have access to state-of-the-art classrooms and workshops; Cintiq labs, stop-motion labs, and traditional animation camera labs; instructional spaces for stop-motion and traditional animation projects; and the Animation Equipment Center. Other program benefits include the internship program, which provides opportunities to work at local studios, and the study abroad program, which provides access to faculty-led experiences (and others) in more than 20 countries. 

Across programs students can expect to take courses such as History of Animation; Storyboarding for Animation; Scriptwriting; Animation Layout; Alternative Strategies in Animation; Animation Maquettes; Environmental Design and Modeling; Digital Animation Techniques Current 2D Trends; Acting for Animators; Drawing for Animation I-II; Digital Animation Techniques: Ink, Paint & Composite; and The Business of Animated Content. 

The culminating experience for the programs is the production of an animation portfolio and an animated film to be presented at Manifest—Columbia Colleges annual art festival highlighting graduating students work. 

According to the most recent available figures, 98% of Columbia College Animation graduates are employed or pursuing an advanced degree within a year of graduation. Animation alumni have been hired at major networks and studios such as Pixar, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network, Disney, Microsoft, and Weta Digital. They have worked on films and series such as Frozen, Pocahontas, The Lion King, Coco, Robot Chicken, Brave, The Lego Batman Movie, and UP. 

Program alumni have also gone on to win Oscars and Emmy Awards, while others have launched their own independent studios and freelance businesses.

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. 

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school provides both degree programs and non-credit options for artists of all kinds. Degree programs at MICA require participation in the school’s First Year Experience (FYE). During this exploratory year, students can collaborate; study contemporary art and design practice; and participate in critiques. 

The rigorous FYE curriculum also highlights skill-building activities, technology, and 2D, 3D, and 4D media studies. Upon completion of the MICA FYE, students will move on to their chosen major. Animation is one of the school's top majors. 

Housed in the Animation Department and leading to a BFA, the 120 credit-hour Animation program requires 90 credit hours in the major. This means, students will spend much of the program studying animation and creating animated works. Course examples include The Principles of Animation; Digital Tools for Animation; History of Animation; Stop-Motion Animation; Introduction to 3D Animation; 2D Character Animation; 3D Character Rigging; Animation Pre-Production; and 3D Animation Performance. 

The MICA Animation BFA program culminates with a year-long capstone/thesis. This may include a film, installation, or interactive media project. Final projects are presented at the MICA Grad Show, which consists of exhibitions and events that highlight final projects for all students across the school’s 14 MA and MFA programs.

Graduates of the Animation BFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art are to pursue roles in areas such as entertainment, games, and advertising. They have been hired at major studios such as DreamWorks, Disney, MTV, and LAIKA. Some MICA alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses, while others go on to pursue graduate studies at MICA and other top art and design schools. 

University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is a public urban research university that encompasses some of the oldest areas in the city. Examples include Tivoli Student Union (housed in a former brewery), and Ninth Street Historic District. CU Denver also houses the College of Arts and Media (CAM), home to the Department of Visual Arts (VA) and the Digital Animation Center (DAC).

Students in the CAM Visual Arts BFA program will learn and create in the DAC, which is a state-of-the-art facility that houses labs, studios, and production areas. This includes include 100 workstations outfitted with the latest industry 3D software including Maya, Houdini, and ZBrush; a large volume Vicon Motion Capture System; and a dedicated render farm with more than 4,300 cores. 

Other Visual Art BFA features include internships at major studios such as Pixar, Disney, and NBC Universal; study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Greece, Italy, France, and South Korea; and access to the CU Denver Comcast Media and Technology Center (CMTC). The CMTC is a partnership between CAM and the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) that focuses on research and development in everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to the performing arts.  

The Visual Art BFA program at University of Colorado Denver also houses a 3D Graphics and Animation emphasis. Course examples for the program include Animation Foundations; Surfacing and Lighting; Advanced Character Animation; Modeling I-II; Introduction to Animation and Rigging; Production Practices; Creating Visual Story; Art History Survey I-II; Digital Cinematography; 3D Design; Dynamic Simulation; International Perspectives Through Animation; and Production I-III. 

In the beginning of the third year of the 3D Graphics and Animation program, students will start production on the Senior Film requirement. This 18-month Capstone experience is a collaboration across departments in the College of Arts and Media. Animation students will work in all areas of design and production to create an industry-ready film, which will be screened at the Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition at Redline Contemporary Art Center or other venue. 

To date, CAM 3D Graphics and Animation graduates have produced works that have been screened at more than 300 film festivals across 22 countries. Program graduates have also won more than 75 Best Animated Short awards in non-student categories. 

CU Denver CAM alumni also work in a variety of roles at major companies and studios across the U.S. Examples include Disney, Nickelodeon, Sony, LucasArts, Pixar, HBO, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Google, Apple, AEG Live, Comcast, and Rolling Stone. Some CAM alumni also go on to launch their own independent studios or freelance businesses. 

During World War II, Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) was one of the first schools in the U.S. to provide courses in medical drawing and mapmaking. The schools Joseph McCullough Center for the Visual Arts is a former Ford assembly plant that was built in 1914–1915, and CIA participated in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. 

Today, Cleveland Institute of Art houses one of the top repertory movie theaters in the nation, along with a carefully curated collection of art and design programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Among CIA’s programs is an Animation BFA that combines a First-Year Experience (FYE) and liberal arts studies with immersive studio courses in animation. 

Other program benefits include work experiences with real clients and community partners such as Ford Motor Company, Hearst Foundations (HearstFDN); Ohio Arts Council, and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture; independent and collaborative projects; field trips to museums and the zoo for inspiration; opportunities to collaborate with students in other CIA departments; and internships with local companies, studios, and cultural institutions such as Cleveland Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa Cleveland).

CIA Animation students also benefit from mentorships with veteran industry professionals with a combined 600+ feature film, digital production, and television credits. CIA faculty have worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios, Illumination, DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Hasbro, and Sony Pictures Animation. 

The Animation BFA program at CIA begins with the FYE. Required courses include 2D Design; Digital I-II; Observational Drawing; Studio Discovery; 3D Design; Life Drawing; and Safety Lab I-II. Liberal arts course examples include Critical Issues in Visual Culture; Themes and Movement in Art Design History; Writing I-III; Contemporary Art, Design and Media; Quantitative Reasoning; and Writing Intensive. 

Animation coursework consists of 42 credit hours in cores and an elective. Core course examples include Introduction to 3D Animation; Screenwriting; Narrative Production I-III; Body Mechanics for Animation; Storyboarding and Sequential Art; Drawing for Animation; and Concept Development. Elective options include 3D Texture Mapping and Digital Lighting; and Motion Graphics. 

The culminating experience for the CIA Animation BFA program is the Animation Portfolio Reel and Shorts course, and the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. 

Graduates of the Animation BFA program at Cleveland Institute of Art are prepared to pursue roles in film and television; game design and development; mobile app animation; medical animation; legal, scientific, or architectural visualization; social media; scientific visualization; and educational animation, among others.  

Program alumni can be found at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, DC Comics, Electronic Arts (EA), Bethesda Softworks, PBS, and The Wall Street Journal. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school houses an Animation Department with a collaborative BFA in 2D Animation or 3D Animation. Consisting of 123 credit hours, the program curriculum has a liberal arts component that emphasizes critical awareness, information literacy, and global consciousness. 

Both 2D and 3D Animation students will take courses that explore texture mapping; storyboarding; character design; line of action; modeling; and observational drawing. Each option requires 27 credit hours. Designed for students interested in traditional animation, the 2D Animation program requires 21 credits in animation and six studio elective credits. With a focus on computer animation, the 3D Animation program requires 18 credits in animation and nine in studio electives. 

Across programs, students will learn the 12 principles of animation and master software such as Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop; Toon Boom Harmony; Autodesk Maya; and Storyboard Pro. 

Course examples include The Art of Villainy; Digital Painting for Film and Games; Experimental Animation; Character Animation and Motion Studies; Character Rigging; 3D Computer Lighting and Materials; Fundamentals of Animation; 3D Character and Production Design; Creative Visualization; Video Editing and Sound Design for Animation; Scriptwriting for Animation; Tools and Techniques of Contemporary Animation; 2D Computer Animation I-II; Animation Layout and Production; 3D Computer Animation Motion Studies; Stop Motion Animation; World Building; and Special Topics. 

At the sophomore, junior, and senior levels, Animation BFA students will participate in intensive portfolio reviews. The culminating experience for the programs is the final project and presentation. Programs can be completed in four years, with year-round online and on-campus courses.  

Graduates of the Animation BFA programs at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue roles across the entertainment, games, and advertising industries. Program alumni have been hired at major networks, companies, and studios such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Blizzard Entertainment, LAIKA, Sony Pictures Animation, Walt Disney World, Warner Bros., Microsoft, Epic Games, Adobe, Design Republic, and Pentagram. 

The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) campus is a garden-like setting located just steps away from Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The school also houses the KCAI gallery—a contemporary art museum which hosts public screenings, exhibitions, readings, and lectures; a state-of-the-art production studio outfitted with the latest tools and equipment; the KCAI media center; 3,000 square feet auxiliary woodworking studio; and several other studios and resources for students and the school’s 75 faculty members.  

Kansas City Art Institute also houses an Animation BFA program; the Animation/Art History BFA; and Animation/Creative Writing BFA. Double majors require 135 credits. The Animation BFA requires 120 credits, and all programs begin with the school’s First Year Foundation (FYF). 

This immersive experience takes place in a 20,000 square feet space featuring, workshops, seminars, classes, faculty meets, presentations by international speakers, and intensive studios. Students may customize workshops to support their interests. At the end of the First Year Foundation, students will have a completed project to display alongside other FYF works. 

In the second year of the KCAI Animation BFA program, students will take courses such as History of Animation: Origins; Sophomore Studio; Principles of Animation; Digital Methods; Contemporary Animation History; Visual Communication; and Sophomore Studio: Animators Toolbox.

In year three, students will take courses such as History of Animation Since 1960; Junior: Ideas in Motion; and Junior Studio: Explorations in Animation. 

The program also requires 39 credit hours of liberal arts requirements and 15 credit hours of electives. Examples include Intro to Toon Boom Harmony; The Art of Stop Motion Puppetry; Motion Graphics: History and Practice; Narrative Storytelling: Documentary; Real-Time Animation; Live Action for Animation; Writing for Animation; Action for Animators; and Animation as Political Protest. 

In the final year of the KCAI Animation BFA program, students will complete the Professional Practice course and Senior Studio: Graduation Animation 1 and 2. The Professional Practice course allows students to interact and network with visiting artists and industry professionals. The two six-credit Senior Studios provide the opportunity to produce an animated work. In the last year of the program, students will also have the chance to complete an internship at a local studio. 

Double major students will complete all required animation courses and the final animated project. Animation/Art History students will also take courses such as Contemporary Art; Global/Comparative Art; Modern Art; Art History Seminar; Renaissance Art; Baroque Art; Medieval Art; Ancient Art; and Art Historical Studies I-II. 

Animation/Creative Writing BFA students will complete additional courses such as Writing Seminar; Critical Studies; Creative Writing Workshop; Literature; Philosophy; and Art Historical Studies I-II. 

Graduates of the Kansas City Art Institute Animation BFA and double major programs are prepared to pursue creative roles in areas such as animation, film, television, game design, advertising, and publishing. Program alumni have been hired at major networks and studios such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Digital Domain, Warner Bros., Netflix, Titmouse, and Hallmark. 

Some KCAI BFA graduates also go on to pursue advanced degrees at major Universities and art schools such as California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Visual Art New York (SVA NY), and University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). 

The School of Art at Ball State University (Ball State) is housed in the Art and Journalism Building (AJ), which provides more than 57,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studios and classrooms. Part of the College of Fine Arts, the school is also just one of around 328 institutions accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Within the School of Art is a Visual Arts/Animation program with concentrations in Animation Production; Game Art/Design; and Illustration. Although Animation Production is the most popular option for aspiring animators, all options provide the opportunity to study animation. 

Students in this 120 credit-hour BFA program will receive hands-on training in industry tools such as Toon Boom, Photoshop, Maya, and Adobe Illustrator. Major areas explored include traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, and stop motion. Led by professors from Disney and other major studios, courses for the program are collaborative, immersive, and advanced. 

Student in all concentrations will take Studio Art Foundation courses including: Introduction to the College of Fine Arts; Drawing Studio; 2D, 3D and 4D Foundations Studio; Introduction to Art History: Global Traditions; and Introduction to Art History: The Modern and Contemporary World. 

Animation Production students will also take courses such as 3D Animation, Rigging, and Simulation; Character Design; Experimental Techniques; 3D Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, and Rendering; Storyboarding; Animation: Compositing and Motion Graphics; Drawing Studio; Animation: Specialty; and Drawing: The Figure.  

Game Art students will take courses such as Animation: Introduction to 3D; Character Design; Game Engine 01 and 02; 3D Animation, Rigging, and Simulation; Traditional Animation; Game Design Studio; 3D Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, and Rendering; and Introduction to Digital Signal Processing. 

Illustration students will take courses such as Animation: Character Design; Animation: Surface Illustration; Animation: Storyboarding; Comic Art; Editorial Illustration; Narrative; and Drawing: The Figure. Illustration students may also take additional animation courses through the 18 credits of required studio art electives. 

All Visual Arts/Animation students at Ball State University will have opportunities to engage in professional skills development activities; complete an internship; and study abroad. 

The culminating experience for the Visual Arts/Animation BFA at Ball State includes the Senior Project (Animation), which will be presented at a student exhibition. Students will also complete a professional portfolio and demo reel of their best work. 

Graduates of the Visual Arts/Animation BFA at Ball State University are prepared to pursue titles such as 3D Animator (film), Multimedia Artist, 3D Animator or Modeler (video game industry), Storyboard Artist (film or advertising), Animation Web Designer, and 3D Modeler (entertainment, advertising, engineering, and medicine), Art Director, Fine Artist, and Art Historian. 

Some program alumni have also gone on to launch their own independent studios or freelance businesses. Others have gone on to pursue a graduate degree at Ball State or other major universities.

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has some of the largest and most diverse programs in the academic world. The school houses the only Professional Golf Management program in Texas and one of the nation’s oldest speech and debate programs. With a full-service courtroom, and the headquarters of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, SHSU’s criminal justice program is also one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S. 

One of Sam Houston’s most diverse programs is the Animation BFA. Housed in the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication’s Department of Art, the program explores storyboarding, 2D and 3D animation, lighting, 3D modeling/rigging/texturing, character design, and rendering. Program highlights include the portfolio reviews by industry leaders; the guest speaker series; and SHSU SIGGRAPH. This self-governed student-run organization features on-campus exhibitions, student-led workshops, and collaborative animation and other digital art projects.  

Courses and projects for the SHSU Animation BFA program take place in state-of-the-art classrooms and studios such as the PC Lab with 20 workstations and 20 Cintiq Pro 16 – creative pen displays; a dedicated production studio for stop motion and 3D printing; a dedicated space for audio recording; and an additional lab with 20 HD interactive pen displays. 

Program facilities are outfitted with other equipment and software such as professional studio lighting; ZBrush, Dragonframe, Maya, iPi Motion Capture, Mudbox, and Pixar’s RenderMan; animation lightboxes; and HD-TVs for displaying student work. 

The SHSU Animation BFA program requires 120 credit hours including the University Core Curriculum; the Art Department Foundation; the Art Department Core, and 45 credit hours of Animation coursework. Upon completion of Foundation requirements, all BFA students will participate in the Art Department BFA Portfolio Review before being admitted to the Animation major. 

The major includes the following required courses: History of Animation; Experimental Animation; Character Animation; 2D Animation; Shading, Lighting and Rendering; Introduction to 3D Animation; Animation Concepts and Techniques; Advanced 3D Animation; and Animation Preproduction. The program culminates with the final Animation Portfolio course. 

Graduates of the Animation BFA program at Sam Houston State University are prepared to pursue careers in animation, filmmaking, video games, television, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), interactive media, advertising, and education. Graduates may also pursue roles in emerging areas for animators such as AI-powered animation, UX design, healthcare, and sustainability. Others have gone on to pursue graduate studies at SHSU, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Florida State University (FSU), Texas A&M University (Texas A&M), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), among others. 

SHSU Animation BFA alumni can be found at places such as Zynga, EA Mobile, Powerhouse Animation, 900lbs of Creative, Kiloo Games, Perkins+Will, Rio Bravo Productions, Next Level Design Company, Stoic Studio, Jacobs Visual Media Group, JHT Incorporated, Softway Solutions, Brown Distributing Company, and the Texas Public School System. 

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 a professional undergraduate animation degree, the Digital Arts Division has a BFA with a specialization in Animation, with a 2D or 3D Animation track. An optional interdisciplinary track allows students to incorporate classes from other formal areas such as Drawing, Graphic Design, or Photography. 

The 2D Animation track includes required courses such as Digital Imaging, and Art and Code. Other courses include 2D Digital Animation; Creative Character Design; 3D Modeling; Animation Principles and Techniques; and Animation Production. Students will also have the option to select from electives such as Collaborative Digital Art Development; 3D Animation; Art and Virtual Environments; and Animated Films: An International History. 

3D Animation track students will also complete the required Digital Imaging, and Art and Code, as well most 2D track courses. Elective options are identical as well. Other 3D Animation courses include Artistic Animation Effects and Advanced 3D Animation Techniques.

The 2D Animation and 3D Animation tracks culminate in a semester-long senior capstone completed across three courses including Professional Practices (4090); Senior Studio (4180); and BFA Thesis (4190). Projects will be screened at The Wolfe Center for the Arts during the School of Art's Annual BFA Exhibition and Film Festival. 

Graduates of the Digital Arts program 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, and Advertising Animator. 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 an undergraduate program for animators: the Computer Art and Animation BFA. This 121 credit-hour program consists of major requirements, studio electives, culture studies, free electives, and academic electives. All students will complete the First Year Seminar (FYS), which explores areas such as ethics, health and wellness, socialization, and development of identity. Upon completion of the FYS, students will begin taking major and other courses.

Course examples for the program include Introduction to Programming for Visual Art; Intermediate 3D Animation; Drawing for Illustration; Advanced Animation; Conversations in Film and Media Arts I-II; Art and Craft of Animation; Film and Media Arts Advanced Studio; and Topics in Computer Gaming. Students will also complete History of Animation; Studio 1: Practices of Academic Writing; and Studio 2: Critical Research and Writing. 

Examples of studio electives include Visual Effects Workshop I-II; Previz and Character Development for Animation; Special Topics in Digital Art; Animation Workshop I-II; and Topics in 3D Animation. 

All students may participate in 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. 

The Computer Art and Animation BFA program at Syracuse University culminates with a senior project and portfolio completed across two courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across the entertainment, games, and advertising industries, among others. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, Tippett Studio, MPC, and Filmworks/FX. 

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is home to the Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts (GCA). With state-of-the-art studios, galleries, and classrooms, the GCA provides degree programs in the art, design, dance, theater, and performance fields. GCA programs are housed across the School of Art and Design (SOAAD); Bailey School of Music; the Department of Dance; and the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. 

The SOAAD serves more than 1,200 students enrolled in BFA and MA programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Across programs, students will work and learn in the SOAAD’s Chastain Pointe Facility along with new computer studios in the Visual Arts Building, and other creative spaces. BFA and MFA students also benefit from access to the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art. 

A unit of the SOAAD, the museum highlights education and professional development through workshops and other activities. Zuckerman Museum also features faculty, student, and alumni projects. 

Among the SOAAD's BFA programs is a Digital Animation BFA. This 120 credit-hour professional degree focuses on traditional animation; 2D animation; motion graphics; 3D animation, and stop motion. Course examples include Foundation Animation; 2D Design and Color Theory; Character Development; Environments for Animation; 3D Design; Storyboarding and Composition; Digital Animation Production; Rigging and Performance; Computer Applications in Art; and Electronic Illustration. 

In the last two terms of the program, students will have the opportunity to complete an art internship, along with the Senior Animation Reel course, which focuses developing resumes, researching the job market, and finalizing a professional animation reel. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in animation, game art and design, television and film, graphic design, and advertising, among others.

Across all KSU programs, alumni have been hired at places such as The Walt Disney Company, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, Lockheed Martin, Target, Cox Communications, Delta Airlines, Verizon, the Atlanta Braves, Cisco, CVS Health, Cognizant, Piedmont Healthcare, and State Farm Insurance. 

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is home to the School of Art and Art History, which has two paths to study animation. Options include BFAs in Art and New Media Arts. The Art BFA program has a Moving Image concentration that features seminars, independent study, and production courses in digital animation, film, and video. Students will complete at least 129 credit hours of study, with 61 credits in the major, and up to a dozen credit hours of electives. 

Course examples for the program include 3D Space: Animation; Interactive 3D: Expanded Cinema and Virtual Performance; Introduction to Filmmaking; Topics in Drawing; Trends in International Contemporary Art Since 1960; Introduction to Creative Coding in New Media Arts; and Advanced Critique. The Moving Image BFA program culminates with the BFA Thesis Project and Exhibition/Final Thesis Show. 

The New Media Arts BFA at UIC is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to engage with peers in engineering, biovisualization, and the sciences on team-based projects and advanced topics-based courses. The program explores 3D animation, physical computing, the history and theory of New Media Arts, mobile application design, and Info-aesthetics. Students also have the option to focus in animation through electives. 

Course examples include 3D Space Animation; Topics in New Media Arts: Intermediate Game Play; Animation Cinematography; Topics in Motion Graphics; Creative Coding; Advanced Topics in New Media Arts; and Information Aesthetics. 

The New Media Arts BFA culminates with the BFA Thesis Project and Exhibition/Final Thesis Show. Graduates of the Art and New Media Arts programs at University of Illinois at Chicago are prepared to pursue creative and technical roles in industries such as entertainment, game design and development, advertising, architecture, science and medicine, law, government, and education.