The Animation/Illustration Major is an interdisciplinary program balancing traditional forms of creative storytelling with state-of-the-art technology. This approach prepares students for challenging careers in areas such as 2-D and 3-D animation, advertising, book and editorial illustration, and comic and children’s book art. The program is based in the Department of Art and Design. For further information, go to: Animation/Illustration (BFA)
On This Page
Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | ||
| Fulfilled in the major. | ||
| Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | ||
or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Digital Painting Methods (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 3 |
| or PRDN 100 | Design Visualization I - Concept Sketching | |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| VIST 105 | Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| VIST 109 | Special Topics in Global Art Cultures | 3 |
| Core Elective | ||
| Complete one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Perceptual Drawing | ||
or ARFD 102 | Drawing as Research | |
or ARFD 104 | Space | |
or PRDN 102 | Anatomical Drawing for Product Designers | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 202 | 3D Character Building | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | Art of the Visual Narrative | 3 |
| ARIL 261 | Character Design for 2D Animation | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | 2D Animation | 3 |
| ARIL 310 | Motion Graphics-Compositing I | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | Final Project I | 4 |
| ARIL 423 | Animation/Illustration Thesis II | 4 |
| VIST 282 | History of Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| Track | ||
| Complete the Animation Track or the Illustration Track. See requirements below. | 39 | |
| Total Credits | 89 | |
Animation Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARIL 301 | Industry Preparation | 3 |
| ARIL 302 | Intermediate 3D Modeling | 3 |
| ARIL 321 | 3D Character Rigging | 3 |
| ARIL 325 | Interactive Game Development I | 3 |
| ARIL 330 | Visual Effects/Compositing II | 3 |
| ARIL 360 | VFX, Lighting, and Rendering | 3 |
| ARIL 362 | Intermediate 2D Animation | 3 |
| ARIL 421 | Advanced 3-D Computer Illustration and Animation Arts | 3 |
| ARIL 425 | Animation: Game Development II | 3 |
| ARIL 455 | Animation: Collaborative Production | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Intermediate Digital Painting Methods | ||
| Products and Zines | ||
| Type and Image | ||
| Animated Illustration | ||
| Concept Design for Gaming | ||
| Professional Business Practice for Illustration | ||
| Animated Development and Pitch Bible | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience I | ||
| Introduction to Innovation and 3D Printing | ||
| Preparing to Pitch and Launch Your Startup | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Illustration Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARIL 300 | Intermediate Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 311 | Illustration Studio II: Cartooning | 3 |
| ARIL 312 | Products and Zines | 3 |
| ARIL 315 | Illustration Studio: Concepts | 3 |
| ARIL 323 | Type and Image | 3 |
| ARIL 335 | Animated Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 349 | Concept Design for Gaming | 3 |
| ARIL 350 | Professional Business Practice for Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 401 | Illustration Studio III: Editorial | 3 |
| ARIL 430 | Advanced Illustration | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Industry Preparation | ||
| Intermediate 3D Modeling | ||
| 3D Character Rigging | ||
| Interactive Game Development I | ||
| Visual Effects/Compositing II | ||
| Animated Development and Pitch Bible | ||
| VFX, Lighting, and Rendering | ||
| Intermediate 2D Animation | ||
| Introduction to Innovation and 3D Printing | ||
| Preparing to Pitch and Launch Your Startup | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | ||
| Fulfilled in the major. | ||
| Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture | ||
or VIST 106 | Modern Visions 1400-1945 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Digital Painting Methods (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the World Languages and Cultures categories
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on placement exam complete one or two sequential courses in one language. | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Special Topics in Global Art Cultures (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Animation Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | |
| World Language I | 3 | |
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 3 |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 | |
| World Language II | 3 | |
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 105 or VIST 106 |
Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture or Modern Visions 1400-1945 |
3 |
| ARFD Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 261 | Character Design for 2D Animation | 3 |
| VIST 282 | History of Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 | |
| ARIL 202 | 3D Character Building | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | Art of the Visual Narrative | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | 2D Animation | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| ARIL 300 | Intermediate Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 310 | Motion Graphics-Compositing I | 3 |
| ARIL 315 | Illustration Studio: Concepts | 3 |
| ARIL 323 | Type and Image | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARIL 311 | Illustration Studio II: Cartooning | 3 |
| ARIL 335 | Animated Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 349 | Concept Design for Gaming | 3 |
| ARIL 350 | Professional Business Practice for Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 109 | Special Topics in Global Art Cultures | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARIL 312 | Products and Zines | 3 |
| ARIL 401 | Illustration Studio III: Editorial | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | Final Project I | 4 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARIL 423 | Animation/Illustration Thesis II | 4 |
| ARIL 430 | Advanced Illustration | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Illustration Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | |
| World Language I | 3 | |
| ARFD 101 | Surface | 3 |
| ARFD 103 | Color and Light | 3 |
| VIST 102 | Visual Culture | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 | |
| World Language II | 3 | |
| ARIL 101 | Introduction to Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 105 or VIST 106 |
Global Foundations in Art and Visual Culture or Modern Visions 1400-1945 |
3 |
| ARFD Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | |
| ARIL 200 | Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 261 | Character Design for 2D Animation | 3 |
| VIST 282 | History of Animation and Illustration | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 | |
| ARIL 202 | 3D Character Building | 3 |
| ARIL 225 | Art of the Visual Narrative | 3 |
| ARIL 262 | 2D Animation | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| ARIL 300 | Intermediate Digital Painting Methods | 3 |
| ARIL 310 | Motion Graphics-Compositing I | 3 |
| ARIL 315 | Illustration Studio: Concepts | 3 |
| ARIL 323 | Type and Image | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARIL 311 | Illustration Studio II: Cartooning | 3 |
| ARIL 335 | Animated Illustration | 3 |
| ARIL 349 | Concept Design for Gaming | 3 |
| ARIL 350 | Professional Business Practice for Illustration | 3 |
| VIST 109 | Special Topics in Global Art Cultures | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARIL 312 | Products and Zines | 3 |
| ARIL 401 | Illustration Studio III: Editorial | 3 |
| ARIL 422 | Final Project I | 4 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARIL 423 | Animation/Illustration Thesis II | 4 |
| ARIL 430 | Advanced Illustration | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |