Animation and Visual Effects (B.F.A.)

Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements22
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-6
Major Requirements69
Free Electives26-23
Total Credits120

Major Requirements 

School of Communication and Media Requirements
CMST 110Introduction to Communication and Media3
CMST 210Theorizing Communication and Media3
Major Requirements
ANIM 101Drawing Anatomy for Animation3
ANIM 102Digital Color and Light Concepts3
ANIM 103Introduction to Animation and Visual Effects3
ANIM 104Figure Drawing: Animation3
ANIM 2012D Animation and VFX I3
ANIM 2023D Modeling I3
ANIM 210Visual Effects Compositing I3
ANIM 282History of Animation and VFX3
ANIM 3213D Animation and Rigging I3
ANIM 325Interactive Game Development I3
ANIM 360VFX, Lighting, and Rendering3
ANIM 380VFX for Film3
ANIM 401Industry Preparation3
ANIM 423Thesis I3
ANIM 424Thesis II3
Major Electives
Complete two 300-level courses and two 400-level courses.12
2D Animation and VFX II
3D Modeling II
Visual Effects Compositing II
Experimental Animation
Animated Illustration
Animated Development and Pitch Bible
Immersive Storytelling
Visual Effects Compositing III
3D Animation and Rigging II
Interactive Game Development II
Collaborative Production
School of Communication and Media Electives
Complete two 3-credit courses from CMDA, CMST, FMTV, JOUR, SPTC, and STCM.6
Total Credits69

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
Total Credits22

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This 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.