Summary
The Animation/Art Education BFA (Catalog 2026–2027) is a structured, 4–5 year program requiring 138–139 credits (120–122 for the animation portion plus 30 for Art Education) that combines studio animation coursework, art education pedagogy, and general education. The curriculum maps a semester-by-semester plan covering foundations (drawing, 2D/3D design, digital techniques), progressive animation courses (2D and 3D tracks, modeling, texturing, storyboarding, production studios, senior capstone), animation major electives, and required Art Education courses including a final Directed Teaching practicum and professional seminar; GPA minima are 2.0 overall and 2.7 for Art Education requirements. The catalog notes approved elective lists, recommended courses, transfer and placement considerations, and advises students to use Self-Service to confirm degree progress and scheduling.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Catalog Year 26/27
Total Credits 120-122
First Year
Second Year
Third Semester = 18 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 |
| DAE-250 Human Dev. Creative and Visual Learning | 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 |
| General Education Elective 200-400 | 3 |
| DAE-405 Secondary Art Teaching: Meth, Math & Lit. | 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 |
| 3 | |
| AHV 200-400 Art History & Visual Culture Course (CE) | 3 |
| DAE-407 Reading & Lang. Art Methods | 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).
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 | 33.0 | 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 | 9.0 | 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 | 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 | Open electives are not required for this program. |
| Art Eduction | 30.0 | Art Education required courses. |
| Art Education (DAE) | 15.0 | Successfully complete required credits DAE 200, 250, 315, 405 & 407 – before taking Directed Teaching & Seminar semester. |
| Art Education Elective | 3.0 | Successfully complete an approved undergraduate studio course to satisfy this requirement (prior to Directed Teaching/Seminar semester) |
| Art Education (DAE) Directed Teaching & Seminar | 12.0 | Successfully complete DAE 510 & 520 in final semester (all other BFA credit requirements should be satisfied prior). |
| Total Program Credits | 139.0 | Total credits required 138 – 139 ‡ |
| Undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts program, GPA minimum requirement = 2.0 Additional minimum GPA requirement for Art Education requirements = 2.7 | ||
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.