Master of Fine Arts - Animation and Visual Effects

The MFA in Animation & Visual Effects program focuses on developing skills in any one of the many areas of expertise within the animation and visual effects industry. The program educates students in all aspects of animation and visual effects, from ideation to post production. Communication, collaboration, and time management skills are emphasized throughout the program to ensure graduates are acclimated to the intense professional culture that awaits them.

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

MFA Thesis Project

• Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
• Demonstrate the feasibility of the thesis project
• Produce a professional-standard project, with relevant content for the industry, showcasing technical and artistic ability

Technical Skills

• Demonstrate facility with animation / visual effects technology and software

Presentation Skills

• Clearly demonstrate project  and workflow plan
• Effectively pitch ideas to the review committee
• Create a compelling designed and well-composed review materials

Preproduction Skills (Project Development)

• Develop projects that demonstrate attention to: research, analytical thinking, detail, flexibility in problem solving, and revision

Professional Readiness

• Present a comprehensive demo reel / portfolio demonstrating professional-level achievement of specialty skills

Specialty Skills: Traditional Animation

• Demonstrate strong draftsmanship skills
• Create pieces that showcase expression and emotion
• Stage stories through effective camera placement choices
• Apply the major principles of animation

Specialty Skills: Storyboarding

• Demonstrate strong drawing, perspective, composition, and cinematic storytelling
• Demonstrate continuity in visual storytelling through effective camera placement choices

Specialty Skills: 3D Animation

• Apply the major principles of animation
• Create pieces that showcase expression and emotion
• Stage stories through effective camera placement choices

Specialty Skills: Modeling

• Convincingly model forms in 3-dimensions that demonstrate a thorough understanding of anatomy and sculptural form
• Display a range of modeling skill sets including hard surfaces and organic
• Create textures that will be applied to the surface of models

Specialty Skills: Visual Effects

• Create shots or assets appropriate to the project aesthetic
• Develop shots or assets for narrative power

*Note App Fee Waiver in effect for ApplyBoard to reduce the application fee to $50*