3D Character Animation Concentration

In this concentration, students give personality and emotion to digital 3D characters. Through the use of software techniques and acute observation skills, they show their ability to portray convincing and engaging performances in their animated characters and creatures.

Required Courses (18 Credits)

ANIM 5300 Storytelling

ANIM 5400 Character Design

ANIM 6100 Digital Sculpting

ANIM 6150 3D Character Texturing

ANIM 6300 3D Character Animation

ANIM 7000 Advanced 3D Character Animation

Major Electives (18 Credits)

6 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses

Visual Effects Concentration

In this concentration, students animate illusions and tricks of the eye to simulate imagined events in stories and computer-generated environments. Along with enhancing and manipulating digital imagery created in a variety of 3D and 2D software programs, they also learn to integrate and composite believable components and visual effects into live-action footage.

Required Courses (18 Credits)

ANIM 5300 Storytelling

ANIM 5500 Digital 2D Animation

ANIM 5600 3D Layers in After Effects

ANIM 5700 Dynamic Effects and Particle Systems in After Effects

ANIM 5800 Compositing in After Effects

ANIM 6350 3D Particle Systems and Effects

Major Electives (18 Credits)

6 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses

Video Games Concentration

In this concentration, students design and create animations that are intended to be utilized in video games and interactive media. They learn how to optimize the visual data, bearing in mind the limitations of the platform that will be delivering it, in that the device will be dynamically rendering the incorporated assets in real-time.

Required Courses (18 Credits)

ANIM 5400 Character Design

ANIM 5500 Digital 2D Animation

ANIM 6100 Digital Sculpting

ANIM 6400 3D Animation for Games

ANIM 6600 Game Creation

ANIM 7500 Advanced Game Creation

Major Electives (18 Credits)

6 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses

Other Animation Electives

ANIM 5100 History of Animation & Special Effects

ANIM 5200 History of Video Games

ANIM 5650 3D Modeling

ANIM 5750 3D Character Modeling

ANIM 5850 Advanced Digital 2D Animation

ANIM 5900 Expressions and Scripting in After Effects

ANIM 6200 Animation with Houdini

ANIM 6700 Animating Fluids

ANIM 6805 Motion Tracking

ANIM 6900 Digital 2D Game Creation

ANIM 7100 3D Character Animation – Weight, Overlap and Follow through

ANIM 7200 Character Animation – Emotion and Personality

ANIM 7250 Lip-Syncing

ANIM 7300 Animation with Hair/Fur

ANIM 7400 Animation with Cloth

ANIM 7425 Motion Capture

ANIM 7525 Virtual Reality

ANIM 7550 Internship I

ANIM 7600 Video Game Team Project

ANIM 7700 Faculty/Student Research I

ANIM 7775 Internship II

ANIM 7805 Faculty/Student Research II

ANIM 7900 Animation Career Preparation

MA in Animation degree applicants must digitally submit a portfolio of 10-15 creative pieces as part of the application process. Acceptance is based on the quality of the work as well as meeting all of the other academic admission requirements of the university. The review committee is looking for work that is original in concept and content and will evaluate the portfolios to determine if the applicant qualifies to enter the program based on their artistic skills. If the submitted work infringes on copyright laws or is copied from other sources the applicant will be denied admission.