Summary
The BFA in Animation (2026–2027) is a 120–122 credit, four‑year full‑time program (catalog lists 121 credits) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 that combines foundations, studio courses, digital and traditional animation, 3D CG, story and production studios, professional development, general education, and open electives; the curriculum typically schedules 15–16 credits per semester across eight semesters, includes 15 credits of foundations, about 39 credits of general education (writing, art history/visual culture, sciences, humanities), roughly 60 major credits (core studio/lecture and major electives), a 1‑credit First Year Experience, and 6 open elective credits, with recommended sequencing, prerequisite requirements, term‑offering variability, transfer/placement rules for composition and foundations, and a range of approved major electives (e.g., advanced 2D/3D animation, stop motion, storyboarding, rigging, lighting/rendering, game art) that allow students to follow 2D or 3D pathways and complete senior Production Studio I & II and Professional Futures.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Catalog Year 26/27
Total Credits 120-122
First Year
Second Year
Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select one course towards Animation focus: DMA-201 Animation II (2D focus) DMA-317 3D Animation I (3D focus) | 3 |
| Select one course towards Animation focus: DMA-234 Modeling & Texturing (3D focus) DMA-243 Animation Nuts & Bolts (2D focus) | 3 |
| DMA-211 Digital Animation Techniques I | 3 |
| WRT-102 Composition II (CR) | 3 |
| AHV-214 History of Animation & Digital Media (MR) | 3 |
Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select one course towards Animation focus: DMA-230 Experimental Animation (2D focus) DMA-347 3D Animation II (3D focus) | 3 |
| Select one course towards Animation focus: DMA-202 Animation III (2D focus) DMA-228 Stop Motion I (2D & 3D focus) DMA-230 Experimental Animation (3D focus) DMA-302 Storyboarding for Film/Animation (2D & 3D focus) DMA-317 3D Animation I (2D focus) | 3 |
| Choose one course: DMA-270 Animation Production FLM-106 Intro to Filmmaking | 3 |
| DMA-232 Drawing Tech for Visual Media | 3 |
| AHV-247 History of Communication Design I (MR) | 3 |
Third Year
Fifth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Select one course towards Animation focus: DMA-348 Animation Projects I (2D focus) DMA-367 3D Animation III (3D focus) | 3 |
| DMA-233 Environments and Characters | 3 |
| Animation Major Elective (see approved list) | 3 |
| Humanities: Choose from approved list (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective 200-400 (CR) | 3 |
Sixth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-349 Animation Projects II | 3 |
| DMA-333 Advanced Story Concepts | 3 |
| Animation Major Elective (see approved list) | 3 |
| Science Elective 200-400 (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective 200-400 | 3 |
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-410 Senior Production Studio I | 3 |
| Animation Major Elective (see approved list) | 3 |
| AHV 200-400 Art History & Visual Culture Course (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective 200-400 | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Additional ”Program & Credit Requirement Details” attached; includes ”approved course lists” and ”recommended courses (RC)” for any requirements with noted selections. Enrolled students should view Self-Service (My Progress/Plan & Schedule) for complete program information; see catalog for additional course details and descriptions.
This plan is provided for use as a guide only and is based on full-time status with successful completion of credits outlined per semester. Degree Timelines and requirements may vary based on actual program, credits completed per semester and/or catalog year. Students are responsible for confirming completion of all requirements before graduating (use program/student resources to support degree progression). Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required.
Program & Credit Requirement Details
| Degree Requirements | Total credits required | Requirement Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience | 1.0 | SLP-007 is waived for eligible transfer students with 12.0 (or more) college. |
| Foundations | 15.0 | Required for all majors. Successfully complete listed DFN Foundation courses for enrolled major; requirements may vary per major. (TR) = Additional transfer consideration for DFN-138 & DFN-142, based on review of CDS majors. |
| General Education | 39.0 | Liberal Arts courses required for all undergraduate majors; total credits may vary per program. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Requirements (CR) | 12.0 | Successfully complete WRT & AHV core general education prerequisites requirements (Composition pathways may vary based on completed assessments, test scores or transfer credits). |
| General Education MAJOR Requirements (MJ) | 6.0 | Successfully complete major specific Liberal Arts. Requirements vary per major. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Electives (CE) | 9.0 | Successfully complete core general education electives required for all UG majors (Science, Humanities, Art History & Visual Culture) as outlined on 4 year pathway/degree requirements: |
| 3.0 cr. Science: Successfully complete one course from the SCI subject; 200-400 level | ||
| 3.0 cr. Humanities Option: Successfully complete one of the following approved courses: LIT 239, LIT 203, DHS 201, DSS 215, DSS 240 or DPL 201 | ||
| 3.0 cr. Art History & Visual Culture: Successfully complete course from AHV subject, 200-400 level | ||
| General Education Electives | 15.0 | Successfully complete any non-required 200-400 level Liberal Arts course from subject codes: AHV, BUS, DHS, DPL, DSS, SCI, WRT, LIT (Total Gen.Ed Elective credits vary per major). (RC) Recommended course towards General Education Elective credits: BUS 213 Business Practices |
| Major § | 60.0 | Studio and/or lecture courses specific to major focus. |
| Major Courses § | 51.0 | Successfully complete listed DMA courses in 4 year plan, by recommended sequence (based on prerequisites) |
| Major Electives | 9.0 | Successfully complete courses from the list below, to satisfy required “Animation Major Elective” credits. Must select courses that do not already apply towards other degree program credits. |
| Animation Approved Major Electives DMA-202 Animation III DMA-212 2D Digital Animation II DMA-228 Stop Motion I DMA-246 Game Art I DMA-256 Lighting & Rendering DMA-302 Storyboarding for Film/Animation DMA-309 Concept Design DMA-328 Stop Motion II DMA-310 Maquette Sculpture DMA-330 Character Rigging | Additional courses approved to fulfill Animation Major Electives DIL-147 Figure Illustration I DIL-246 Anatomical Figure Illustration FLM-225 Sound Design I FLM-226 Sound Design II FLM-254 Playing the Self Note: Some courses may require additional approval for registration, based on availability, offerings and prerequisites. | |
| Open Electives | 6.0 | Successfully complete 100-400 level courses from any Undergraduate subject (Studio or Lecture). |
| Total Program Credits | 121.0 | Total credits required 120 – 122 ‡ |
| Undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts program, GPA minimum requirement = 2.0 | ||
Footnotes
* ELS 101 Composition I for Multilingual Students 4.0 cr.
† WRT 101/102 Self Placement Survey available.
‡ Based on SLP 007 (1.0 cr.) and ELS 101 (4.0 cr.)§ Remaining Major course sequence impacts timeline to degree completion.