Animation and Visual Effects BS
Major: Animation and Visual Effects
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 184.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years); Three Co-op (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 10.0304
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1014
About the Program
The Animation & Visual Effects major provides students with the artistic, technological, story-telling, and design skills necessary to succeed as 3D animators and visual effects artists in the highly competitive entertainment, design, and communications industries.
Animation and Visual Effects has grown beyond its traditional applications in the entertainment industry. While many artists choose a career in film, television, and internet-based programming, animation production techniques are also widely used in medical research, engineering, virtual and augmented reality systems, immersive media, web content, the performing arts, interactive game systems, corporate communications, higher education, and more. The depth and complexity of this field necessitates a rigorous course of study.
To best prepare students for the demands of careers in these cutting-edge disciplines, the program provides a foundational understanding of design and technology with core courses in digital media, the option to choose between a six or eighteen-month co-op plan, and a curriculum of rigorous coursework covering specialized aspects of digital animation, visual effects, and immersive media. While courses are predominantly offered face-to-face on campus, we also offer a variety of virtual courses taught by a diverse range of professionals from across the nation, exposing students to a wider network of industry professionals and to the evolving climate of industry work, and engaging with students outside the campus boundaries. In this curriculum, students will learn the underlying principles of animation and advanced, industry-standard software and hardware technologies. The entire creative pipeline, from storyboarding to modeling and animation to rendering and compositing, is covered in-depth, allowing students to experience all aspects of a production.
Additional Information
To find out more about this major, visit the Westphal College’s Animation & Visual Effects Major webpage.
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 4.0 |
PHYS 170 | Electricity and Motion | 3.0 |
PHYS 171 | Computational Lab for Electricity and Motion | 1.0 |
PHYS 175 | Light and Sound | 3.0 |
PHYS 176 | Computational Lab for Light and Sound | 1.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
Arts and Humanities | ||
Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses (including T380 and T480): | 9.0 | |
Any AFAS (Africana Studies) | ||
Any ARTH (Art History) | ||
Any ARCH (Architecture) | ||
Any COM (Communication) | ||
Any DANC (Dance) | ||
Any ENGL (English) | ||
Any FMST (Film Studies) | ||
Any GST (Global Studies) | ||
Any HIST (History) | ||
Any INTR (Interior Design) | ||
Any IST (International Studies) | ||
Any JWST (Jewish Studies) | ||
Any LANG (Language) | ||
Any MENA (Middle East & North Africa Studies) | ||
Any MUSC (Music) | ||
Any PHIL (Philosophy) | ||
Any PHTO (Photography) | ||
Any PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) | ||
Any PBHL (Public Health) | ||
Any RELS (Religious Studies) | ||
Any SCRP (Scrrenwriting & Playwriting) | ||
Any THTR (Theater) | ||
Any TVST (Television Studies) | ||
Any VSCM (Graphic Design) | ||
Any WGST (Women's and Gender Studies) | ||
Any WRIT (Writing) | ||
Social Science | ||
Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses (including T380 and T480): | 9.0 | |
Any AFAS (Africana Studies) | ||
Any ANTH (Anthropology) | ||
Any CJS (Criminology and Justice Studies) | ||
Any CS (Computer Science) | ||
Any ECON (Economics) | ||
Any ENSS (Environmental Studies & Sustainability) | ||
Any ENVS (Environmental Science) | ||
Any PSY (Psychology) | ||
Any PBHL (Public Health) | ||
Any SOC (Sociology) | ||
Any WGST (Women's and Gender Studies) | ||
Free electives | ||
Select any unrestricted 099-499 courses | 24.0 | |
Art and Art History Requirements | ||
Required ARTH electives (choose a minimum of 6 credits from ARTH 100-499, except ARTH 300) | 6.0 | |
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
VSST 108 | Design I for Media | 3.0 |
VSST 109 | Design II for Media | 3.0 |
VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
VSST 111 | Figure Drawing I | 3.0 |
Media and Computer Science Requirements | ||
ANIM 231 | Scripting for Animation and Visual Effects | 3.0 |
DIGM 131 | Introduction to Scripting for the Digital Content Creation Pipeline | 3.0 |
or CS 150 | Computer Science Principles | |
FMTV 100 | Visual Storytelling | 3.0 |
FMTV 206 | Audio Production and Post | 3.0 |
SCRP 270 [WI] | Screenwriting I | 3.0 |
Digital Media Core Requirements | ||
ANIM 140 | Computer Graphics Imagery I | 3.0 |
ANIM 141 | Computer Graphics Imagery II | 3.0 |
ANIM 211 | Animation I | 3.0 |
DIGM 105 | Overview of Digital Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 451 [WI] | Explorations in New Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 475 [WI] | Seminar: The Future of Digital Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project ** | 9.0 |
DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio ** | 3.0 |
GMAP 260 | Overview of Computer Gaming | 3.0 |
Animation Requirements | ||
ANIM 110 | Digital Imaging for Animation & VFX | 3.0 |
ANIM 146 | Basic Portfolio | 1.0 |
ANIM 155 | Previsualization for Animated Production | 3.0 |
ANIM 212 | Animation II | 3.0 |
ANIM 213 | Rigging I | 3.0 |
ANIM 215 | History of Animation | 3.0 |
ANIM 220 | Digital Compositing I | 3.0 |
ANIM 221 | Digital Compositing II | 3.0 |
ANIM 246 | Advanced Portfolio (Take 2 times) | 2.0 |
ANIM 250 | Professional Practices for Animation & VFX | 3.0 |
ANIM 377 | Animation Workshop I | 3.0 |
ANIM 378 | Animation Workshop II | 3.0 |
Animation & Visual Effects Concentration (See Below) | 12.0 | |
Total Credits | 184.0 |
Animation & Visual Effects Concentrations
Students must choose and complete one of the following concentrations for a total of 12.0 credits.
Character Animation Concentration | ||
ANIM 314 | Character Animation I | 3.0 |
ANIM 315 | Character Animation II | 3.0 |
Animation Electives (Choose 2) | 6.0 | |
Total Credits | 12.0 |
Organic Modeling Concentration | ||
ANIM 247 | Organic Modeling I | 3.0 |
ANIM 347 | Organic Modeling II | 3.0 |
Animation Electives (Choose 2) | 6.0 | |
Total Credits | 12.0 |
Virtual Production Concentration | ||
DMVP 300 | Introduction to Virtual Production | 3.0 |
DMVP 310 | In-Camera Virtual Production | 3.0 |
DMVP 320 | Live Event Virtual Production | 3.0 |
VRIM 388 | Motion Capture I | 3.0 |
Total Credits | 12.0 |
Generalist Concentration | ||
Animation Electives (Choose 4 or more equaling at least 12 credits) | 12.0 | |
Animation Electives | ||
Realtime Visualization | ||
Digital Matte Painting | ||
Lighting & Surfacing | ||
Organic Modeling I | ||
Advanced Lighting | ||
Procedural Animation | ||
Character Animation I | ||
Character Animation II | ||
Organic Modeling II | ||
Advanced Compositing | ||
Advanced Animation | ||
Advanced Visual Effects | ||
Technical Directing for Animation | ||
Special Topics in Animation | ||
Special Topics in Animation | ||
Special Topics in Animation | ||
Special Topics in Animation | ||
Digital Cultural Heritage | ||
Digital Storytelling | ||
Game Development Foundations | ||
Character Animation for Gaming | ||
Motion Capture I | ||
Motion Capture II | ||
Total Credits | 12.0 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- **
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
5 year, 3 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 110 | 3.0 | ANIM 141 | 3.0 | ANIM 211 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 215 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | UNIV A101 | 1.0 | ||||
VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 18 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ANIM 146 | 1.0 | ANIM 155 | 3.0 | ||
ANIM 213 | 3.0 | ANIM 212 | 3.0 | ||||
ANIM 220 | 3.0 | SCRP 270 | 3.0 | ||||
DIGM 131 or CS 150 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | ||||
FMTV 100 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ANIM 221 | 3.0 | ANIM 231 | 3.0 | ||
GMAP 260 | 3.0 | ANIM 250 | 3.0 | ||||
Art History Elective | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 | ||||
Concentration Choice | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
ANIM 247 (Organic Modeling Concentration) | |||||||
ANIM 314 (Character Animation Concentration) | |||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 246 | 1.0 | ANIM 378 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
ANIM 377 | 3.0 | DIGM 451 | 3.0 | ||||
ARTH 300 | 3.0 | Art History Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | Concentration Choice | 3.0 | ||||
Concentration Choice | 3.0 | ||||||
ANIM 347 (Organic Modeling Concentration) | Generalist Concentration Elective | ||||||
ANIM 315 (Character Animation Concentration) | Animation Elective | ||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ANIM 246 | 1.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | ||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Concentration Choice | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||
Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
Animation Elective | |||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
13 | 13 | 14 | |||||
Total Credits 184 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
4 year, 1 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 110 | 3.0 | ANIM 141 | 3.0 | ANIM 211 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 215 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | UNIV A101 | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||
17 | 17 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 146 | 1.0 | ANIM 155 | 3.0 | ANIM 221 | 3.0 | ANIM 231 | 3.0 |
ANIM 213 | 3.0 | ANIM 212 | 3.0 | GMAP 260 | 3.0 | ANIM 250 | 3.0 |
ANIM 220 | 3.0 | SCRP 270 | 3.0 | Art History Elective | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 |
DIGM 131 or CS 150 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 |
FMTV 100 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | Concentration Choice | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 |
Free Elective | 3.0 | ANIM 247 (Organic Modeling Concentration) | Free Elective | 3.0 | |||
ANIM 314 (Character Animation Concentration) | |||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 246 | 1.0 | ANIM 378 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
ANIM 377 | 3.0 | DIGM 451 | 3.0 | ||||
ARTH 300 | 3.0 | Art History Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Concentration Choice | 3.0 | ||||
Concentration Choice | 3.0 | ||||||
ANIM 347 (Organic Modeling Concentration) | Animation Elective | ||||||
ANIM 315 (Character Animation Concentration) | Generalist Concentration Elective | ||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ANIM 246 | 1.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | ||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Concentration Choice | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||
Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
Animation Elective | |||||||
Generalist Concentration Elective | |||||||
13 | 13 | 14 | |||||
Total Credits 184 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Dual/Accelerated Degrees
The accelerated degree program enables academically qualified students to earn both their bachelor's degree and a master's degree in digital media, graduating sooner than they would in traditional programs.
Current Drexel Animation and Visual Effects students may apply for the accelerated BS/MS degree through the Office of Graduate Studies of Drexel University after completing 90.0 credits, but no more than 120.0 credits. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for further information.
Facilities
This major is based in the Westphal College's Digital Media Department, located in the Westphal College's URBN Center.
The central creative space for the department is the Animation Capture & Effects Lab (ACE-Lab), featuring a 1200-square-foot open studio space dedicated to digital media production. The studio features include a 20-foot by 10-foot LED Volume Wall, a 25-foot by 17-foot green screen cyclorama, studio lighting and modifiers, 4k camera systems, camera dolly, Vicon Vantage motion capture system, stereo-360 “VR Video” capture systems, room-scale VR tracking systems, and a full 360° Immersive Projection Dome among other resources.
Additional spaces surrounding the main studio include screening rooms, classrooms and computer labs featuring advanced graphics work stations, VR labs, research labs, meeting rooms, and faculty offices.
Program Level Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Understand weight, balance and movement as they relate to animation
- Develop and demonstrate a comprehension of color, composition and balance within a frame.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of the entire animation production.
- Develop and demonstrate strong communication skills for working effectively within a collaborative environment