Degree Overview: Bachelor of Media Arts and Animation Degree Program
Majors Overview April 15, 2015Get information about Bachelor of Media Arts and Animation degree program and their coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Bachelor of Media Arts and Animation Degree Programs
Students enrolled in media arts programs with concentration options in animation can study media arts and animation in the four-year bachelor’s degree program that focus on action sequences, environments, and 3-D and 2-D characters.
Students learn how to use computer software in developing their animation and graphic skills in media labs. An organized portfolio of completed work or a media project may mark the conclusion of the program. Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework begins with imparting students with a strong grasp of the scope and history of evolving media technologies, showcasing the interactivity and complexity of modern media. There is then a shift in emphasis as the coursework provides students with the knowledge of technology and software, techniques, and tools necessary to constructing their designs.
Over the duration of the program, students gain access to substantial technological resources via media and computer laboratories, where they can use numerous types of software to generate animated graphics and designs. Core coursework includes topic areas such as the following:
•3-D character development
•3-D environments
•3-D animation
•Programming
•Basic motion graphics
•Digital imaging
•History of design
•Video game design
Career Choices
Those who complete a bachelor’s degree program can seek positions wherein they can use a combination of computer and creative skills in delivering messages and creating visual images. They could pursue job titles such as:
•Web developer
•Flash programmer
•3-D animator
•Graphic artist
•Video game designer
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, job growth rate of 6% have been predicted for multimedia artists and animators (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $61,370 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Those who graduate from the bachelor’s degree program may seek continuing education by enrolling in master’s degree programs in animation, media arts, and digital arts that may span an additional three years and focus may be on more experimental or advanced creative concepts than that in an undergraduate program. A professional’s creative skills may typically be enhanced in these master’s degree programs, thereby giving them a competitive edge when pursuing jobs.
