Film and Animation BA, Animation MA: combined degree
Our Mission
Our combined BA-MA in Animation degree offers FDU students the option to complete both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Animation. This degree is designed for animation students seeking additional training at the graduate level that goes beyond their undergraduate education.
About the Degree
During the first three years, students in the combined BA-MA program take undergraduate classes that are required of students for the BA in Film and Animation with a concentration in 3D Animation, 2D Animation, or Video Game Animation. In the junior year of undergraduate studies, students in this program are required to submit a portfolio of their best work for review. In the senior year of undergraduate studies, students in this program take 12 graduate-level credits (included in their undergraduate tuition) as well as complete the remainder of their undergraduate courses.
Admissions Process
Students may apply for the combined degree at any time from their entry into the BA in Film and Animation program up until the beginning of the senior year of their undergraduate studies.
Transferring Credits
To transfer graduate credits completed in the undergraduate senior year into the MA program, a grade of B or better is required. Those credits will be applied to BOTH the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree.
Our Degrees
Each degree and concentration offers an opportunity to develop skills that will help you pursue your artistic and professional goals.
Student Learning Objectives
Students in the Animation Majors will be able to:
- Develop and compose written conceptual materials effectively.
- Convey information and ideas through visual imagery proficiently.
- Engage actively in verbal critiques and discussions.
- Create high-quality 2D and 3D character animations.
Industrial Application of Skills and Competencies
Graduates of the program will be prepared to:
- Utilize the principles of animation language as applied in the video game industry.
- Write detailed character biographies, video game design proposals, treatments, and storylines effectively.
- Apply animation knowledge specifically to the context of the video game industry.
- Present animation and video game concepts, principles, and practices clearly in oral presentations.
Potential Career Paths*
The animation and video game industry is experiencing higher than average growth between 8% and 16% annually.
- Animators
- Special Effects Artists
- Video Game Designers
- Web Developer
- Digital Designer
*Statistics and information compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
BA: 3D Animation Concentration (Including 12 Dual Credits)
Theory and Production (30 Credits)
- ANIM 1500 Storyboarding
- ANIM 1750 Motion Graphics with After Effects
- ANIM 1850 3D Computer Modeling
- ANIM 2270 ZBrush Digital Sculpting
- ANIM 2500 3D Computer Animation
- ANIM 3330 3D Environment Modeling
- ANIM 3331 Logo and Product Animation
- ANIM 3341 Character Animation using CAT
- ANIM 4500 Thesis I
- ANIM 4600 Thesis II
Major Electives (12-15 Credits)
- 4-5 ANIM 1000-4000 Level Courses
Cognates (6 Credits)
Dual Courses Applied to BA and MA Degree (12 credits)
- 4 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
MA: 3D Character Animation Concentration (Including 12 Dual Credits)
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 (6 Credits)
- 2 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
BA: 3D Animation Concentration (Including 12 Dual Credits)
Theory and Production (30 Credits)
- ANIM 1500 Storyboarding
- ANIM 1750 Motion Graphics with After Effects
- ANIM 1850 3D Computer Modeling
- ANIM 2270 ZBrush Digital Sculpting
- ANIM 2500 3D Computer Animation
- ANIM 3330 3D Environment Modeling
- ANIM 3331 Logo and Product Animation
- ANIM 3341 Character Animation using CAT
- ANIM 4500 Thesis I
- ANIM 4600 Thesis II
Major Electives (12-15 Credits)
- 4-5 ANIM 1000-4000 Level Courses
Cognates (6 Credits)
Dual Courses Applied to BA and MA Degree (12 credits)
- 4 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
MA: Visual Effects Concentration (Including 12 Dual Credits)
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 (6 Credits)
- 2 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
BA: Video Game Animation Concentration
(Including 12 Dual Credits)
Theory and Production (30 Credits)
- ANIM 1650 Game Design
- ANIM 2240 Low Poly 3D Modeling
- ANIM 2270 ZBrush Digital Sculpting
- ANIM 2500 3D Computer Animation
- ANIM 3330 3D Environment Modeling
- ANIM 3341 Character Animation using CAT
- ANIM 3350 3D Game Creation using Unreal
- ANIM 3450 3D Game Creation using Unity
- ANIM 4500 Senior Thesis I
- ANIM 4600 Senior Thesis II
Major Electives (12-15 Credits)
- 4-5 ANIM 1000-4000 Level Courses
Cognates (9 Credits)
- ART 1201 Drawing I
- CGD 1313 Creative Imagery with Photoshop
- SOAC 4001 Professional Practice: Animation
Dual Courses Applied to BA and MA Degree (12 credits)
- 4 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
MA: Video Game Concentration (Including 12 Dual Credits)
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 (6 Credits)
- 2 ANIM 5000 or Higher Level Courses
Other Animation Electives
- ANIM 1450 Drawing for Animation
- ANIM 2243 Advanced After Effects
- ANIM 2245 3D Character Modeling
- ANIM 2280 3D Printing
- ANIM 2285 3D Asset Creation for Video Games
- ANIM 2300 Texturing for 3D Production
- ANIM 3000 Fundamentals of Animation II
- ANIM 3100 2D animation with OpenToonz
- ANIM 3225 Vector Animation II
- ANIM 3250 3D Particle Animation and Effects
- ANIM 3343 Advanced Character Animation
- ANIM 3345 Custom 3D Character Rigging & Animation
- ANIM 3420 2D animation with Toon Boom
- ANIM 4100 Design & Development of Video Games
- ANIM 4422 Internship in Animation I
- ANIM 4423 Internship in Animation II
- ANIM 4800 Independent Study in Animation
- ANIM 4900 Faculty/Student Research
- ANIM 4901 Faculty/Student Research
- 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