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: 229.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Five years)

 

About the Program

The program is a natural extension of our undergraduate program in Animation and Visual Effects (BS) and challenges students to push beyond what’s known and into what’s possible through a masters of science in Digital Media. 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.

Additional Information

To find out more about this major, visit the Westphal College’s Animation & Visual Effects Major webpage.

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

Undergraduate General Education Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
PHYS 170Electricity and Motion3.0
PHYS 171Computational Lab for Electricity and Motion1.0
PHYS 175Light and Sound3.0
PHYS 176Computational Lab for Light and Sound1.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience2.0
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 (Screenwriting & 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 courses24.0
Art and Art History Requirements
Required ARTH electives (choose a minimum of 6 credits from ARTH 100-499, except 300)6.0
ARTH 300 [WI] History of Modern Design3.0
VSST 108Design I for Media3.0
VSST 109Design II for Media3.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 111Figure Drawing I3.0
Media and Computer Science Requirements
ANIM 231Scripting for Animation and Visual Effects3.0
FMTV 100Visual Storytelling3.0
DIGM 131Introduction to Scripting for the Digital Content Creation Pipeline3.0
or CS 150 Computer Science Principles
FMTV 206Audio Production and Post3.0
SCRP 270 [WI] Screenwriting I3.0
Digital Media Core Requirements
ANIM 140Computer Graphics Imagery I3.0
ANIM 141Computer Graphics Imagery II3.0
ANIM 211Animation I3.0
DIGM 105Overview of Digital Media3.0
DIGM 451 [WI] Explorations in New Media3.0
DIGM 475 [WI] Seminar: The Future of Digital Media3.0
DIGM 490Digital Media Senior Project **9.0
DIGM 491Digital Media Senior Project Studio **3.0
GMAP 260Overview of Computer Gaming3.0
Animation Requirements
ANIM 110Digital Imaging for Animation & VFX3.0
ANIM 146Basic Portfolio1.0
ANIM 155Previsualization for Animated Production3.0
ANIM 212Animation II3.0
ANIM 213Rigging I3.0
ANIM 215History of Animation3.0
ANIM 220Digital Compositing I3.0
ANIM 221Digital Compositing II3.0
ANIM 246Advanced Portfolio ((Take 2 times))2.0
ANIM 250Professional Practices for Animation & VFX3.0
ANIM 377Animation Workshop I3.0
ANIM 378Animation Workshop II3.0
Animation & Visual Effects Concentration (See Below)12.0
Digital Media Graduate Courses
Art and Design Domain
DIGM 551Critical and Speculative Design for Digital Media3.0
DIGM 552Visual Storytelling in Digital Media3.0
DIGM 553Experimental Digital Media Lab3.0
Technology Domain
DIGM 561Digital Media Technologies3.0
DIGM 562Interactive Media and User Experience 3.0
DIGM 563Emerging Technologies in Digital Media3.0
DIGM 664Advanced Topics in Digital Media 3.0
Critical Thinking Domain
DIGM 571Digital Media Project Management 3.0
DIGM 572Digital Media Research Strategies 3.0
DIGM 573Critical Theories in Digital Media3.0
DIGM 674Ethics and Social Impact of Digital Media3.0
DIGM 675Future Trends in Digital Media3.0
Capstone and Thesis Development
DIGM 691Digital Media Research and Project Development I 3.0
DIGM 692Digital Media Research and Project Development II3.0
DIGM 693Digital Media Thesis/Capstone Finalization3.0
Total Credits229.0

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 314Character Animation I3.0
ANIM 315Character Animation II3.0
Animation Electives (Choose 2)6.0
Total Credits12.0
Organic Modeling Concentration
ANIM 247Organic Modeling I3.0
ANIM 347Organic Modeling II3.0
Animation Electives (Choose 2)6.0
Total Credits12.0
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 Credits12.0
Virtual Production Concentration
DMVP 300Introduction to Virtual Production3.0
DMVP 310In-Camera Virtual Production3.0
DMVP 320Live Event Virtual Production3.0
VRIM 388Motion Capture I3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

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.

**

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

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.

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ANIM 1103.0ANIM 1413.0ANIM 2113.0VACATION
ANIM 1403.0ANIM 2153.0CIVC 1011.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0DIGM 1053.0 
PHYS 1703.0PHYS 1753.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
PHYS 1711.0PHYS 1761.0MATH 1014.0 
UNIV A101 (Department Specific)1.0UNIV A101 (Program Specific)1.0VSST 1093.0 
VSST 1103.0VSST 1083.0  
 17 17 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ANIM 1461.0ANIM 1553.0ANIM 2213.0ANIM 2313.0
ANIM 2133.0ANIM 2123.0GMAP 2603.0ANIM 2503.0
ANIM 2203.0SCRP 2703.0(UG) Art History Elective3.0COM 2303.0
DIGM 131 or CS 1503.0VSST 1113.0(UG) Free Elective3.0COOP 101*1.0
FMTV 1003.0(UG) Free Elective3.0Concentration Choice3.0FMTV 2063.0
(UG) Free Elective3.0 
ANIM 247 (Organic Modeling Concentration)
(UG) Free Elective3.0
  
ANIM 314 (Character Animation Concentration)
(UG) Free Elective3.0
   
  
Generalist Concentration Elective
 
 16 15 15 19
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ANIM 2461.0ANIM 3783.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
ANIM 3773.0DIGM 4513.0  
ARTH 3003.0Concentration Choice3.0  
(UG) Free Elective3.0  
(UG) Social Science Elective3.0
(UG) Animation Concentration Elective
  
Concentration Choice3.0(UG) Art History Elective3.0  
ANIM 347 (Organic Modeling Concentration)
(UG) Free Elective3.0  
ANIM 315 (Character Animation Concentration)
DIGM 5723.0  
   
(UG) Animation Concentration Elective
   
(UG) Generalist Concentration Elective
   
DIGM 5513.0   
 19 18 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
DIGM 4903.0DIGM 4903.0ANIM 2461.0STUDENT CONVERTS TO GRADUATE STATUS
DIGM 4911.0DIGM 4911.0DIGM 4753.0 
(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0DIGM 4903.0 
(UG) Social Science Elective3.0(UG) Social Science Elective3.0DIGM 4911.0 
Concentration Choice3.0(UG) Free Electives3.0(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0 
DIGM 5523.0DIGM 5533.0 
(UG) Animation Concentration Elective
 DIGM 5733.0 
(UG) Animation Elective
   
DIGM 5713.0   
 16 16 17 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
DIGM 5613.0DIGM 5623.0DIGM 5633.0 
DIGM 6643.0DIGM 6743.0DIGM 6753.0 
DIGM 6913.0DIGM 6923.0DIGM 6933.0 
 9 9 9 
Total Credits 229
*

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)

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ANIM 1103.0ANIM 1413.0ANIM 2113.0VACATION
ANIM 1403.0ANIM 2153.0CIVC 1011.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0COOP 101*1.0DIGM 1053.0 
PHYS 1703.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
PHYS 1711.0PHYS 1753.0MATH 1014.0 
UNIV A101 (Department Specific)1.0PHYS 1761.0VSST 1093.0 
VSST 1103.0UNIV A101 (Program Specific)1.0  
 VSST 1083.0  
 17 18 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEANIM 1461.0ANIM 1553.0
  ANIM 2133.0ANIM 2123.0
  ANIM 2203.0VSST 1113.0
  DIGM 131 or CS 1503.0SCRP 2703.0
  FMTV 1003.0(UG) Free Elective3.0
  (UG) Free Elective3.0
 0 0 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEANIM 2213.0ANIM 2313.0
  GMAP 2603.0ANIM 2503.0
  (UG) Art History Elective3.0COM 2303.0
  (UG) Free Elective3.0FMTV 2063.0
  Concentration Choice3.0(UG) Free Elective3.0
  
ANIM 247 (Organic Modeling Concentration)
(UG) Free Elective3.0
  
ANIM 314 (Character Animation Concentration)
 
   
  
Generalist Concentration Elective
 
 0 0 15 18
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ANIM 2461.0DIGM 4513.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
ANIM 3773.0ANIM 3783.0  
ARTH 3003.0(UG) Art History3.0  
(UG) Social Science Elective3.0(UG) Free Elective3.0  
(UG) Free Elective3.0Concentration Choice3.0  
Concentration Choice3.0  
ANIM 347 (Organic Modeling Concentration)
(UG) Animation Concentration Elective
  
ANIM 315 (Character Animation Concentration)
(UG) Generalist Concentration Elective
  
Generalist Concentration Elective
DIGM 5723.0  
   
DIGM 5513.0   
 19 18 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
DIGM 4903.0DIGM 4903.0ANIM 2461.0 
DIGM 4911.0DIGM 4911.0DIGM 4753.0 
(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0DIGM 4903.0 
(UG) Social Science Elective3.0(UG) Social Science Elective3.0DIGM 4911.0 
Concentration Choice3.0(UG) Free Elective3.0(UG) Arts and Humanities Elective3.0 
DIGM 5523.0DIGM 5533.0 
(UG) Animation Concentration Elective
 DIGM 5733.0 
DIGM 5713.0   
 16 16 17 
Sixth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
DIGM 5613.0DIGM 5623.0DIGM 5633.0 
DIGM 6643.0DIGM 6743.0DIGM 6753.0 
DIGM 6913.0DIGM 6923.0DIGM 6933.0 
 9 9 9 
Total Credits 229
*

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.