Master of Fine Arts - Visual Development

The Visual Development MFA program provides advanced coursework in still life painting, figure drawing, character design, concept painting, layout design for animation, and other core skills of professional visual developers. The goal of each graduate student is the completion of a signature thesis book showcasing design work for a story-based project.

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 their thesis project
• Produce a professional-standard project, with topical content for the industry, showcasing artistic ability

Artistic Ability

• Demonstrate strong drawing and compositional skills
• Create value studies that demonstrate an understanding of lighting, composition, and space

Research and Critical Thinking

• Apply visual research to design solutions
• Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline by presenting an effective timeline at the Midpoint Review (MPR only)

Collaboration

• Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects

Visual Development

• Apply color and design elements consistent with the overall look of the film.
• Design elements to support the narrative
• Demonstrate continuity in visual storytelling

Presentation Skills

• Create visually compelling, professional-quality presentation materials
• Pitch ideas clearly and professionally

Professional Readiness

• Produce a professional-level digital and print portfolio suitable for seeking employment within the industry
• Demonstrate accountability for planning complex projects, prioritizing tasks and meeting project milestones.

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