Animation and Visual Effects BS / Digital Media MS

Major: Animation & Visual Effects and Digital Media
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 232.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Five years)
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 10.0304
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1014
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0801
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 15-1134

About the Program

The program is a natural extension of our undergraduate program in Animation and Visual Effects and challenges students to push beyond what’s known and into what’s possible. It combines research with applicable skills in 21st century media applications and offers a mix of academic coursework and project-related activities in advanced digital design, including 3-D modeling, animation, interactivity, gaming and digital media history, theory, and methods.

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to enter the accelerated program are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and between 70.0 and 120.0 credits of completed undergraduate coursework.

Acceptance into the accelerated program is decided by the program director of the Digital Media MS program in consultation with the undergraduate program director in Animation and Visual Effects as well as the Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee.

Main criteria for acceptance is an evaluation of the student’s prior academic performance and the student’s likelihood of success within the program.

Degree Requirements

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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.

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Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480 in AFAS, ARCH, ARTH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, WRIT.

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Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480, in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSCI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, WGST.

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 DIGM 490 and DIGM 491 are repeated three times each to complete the DIGM Capstone Senior Project sequence.

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DIGM 540 is repeated two times.

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Select 9.0 credits from 500-600 level courses, including Special Topics (T580 and T680) in ANIM, CS, DIGM, DSRE, GMAP, IDM, and INFO.

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

4+1, 1 co-op (Spring/Summer) (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

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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.

5+0 Co-terminal Accelerated Program (Fall/Winter)

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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.