Animation Admission Requirements

This program admits two times each year for the Fall and Spring quarters.

The MA in Animation has a priority deadline of June 1 each year for fall quarter and February 1 for spring quarter. If space is available in the program, late applications will continue to be accepted. The decision to accept late applicants will be made on a year-by-year basis. Please note, if you are an international student who needs a visa to attend DePaul, your application must be received a minimum of 3 months prior to the start of the term and cannot be accepted after June 1 for fall quarter or February 1 for spring quarter. International applications received after the posted deadlines will be held for the following year’s admitting class. Students who have admitted to the MA program may apply to the MFA program for the next admission class in their first year of attendance only. Should a student be admitted to the MFA they may transfer any courses that count in both programs. The MFA clock begins at the time of first enrollment and will not be extended due to a program change.

General Admission Requirements

• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Bachelor's degree awarded from a regionally accredited institution
• Test of English Proficiency for international students.
• Portfolio submission

Steps to apply

• Complete online application ($25 application fee)
• Submit official transcripts from all college and universities attended
• Present a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Submit a reel or portfolio that includes examples of your creative visual work at the CIM Slideroom site
• Submit a reel or portfolio information sheet at the CIM Slideroom site

Reel/Portfolio Information

• A reel and/or portfolio is required. You must submit your electronic portfolio to the CIM Slideroom site. Pending materials may be viewed by faculty prior to your final submission, but no actual admission decisions will be conducted until the application period has concluded and final submitted materials are received. A pending file at that time will be considered incomplete and ineligible for admission consideration.
• The focus should be on the work samples.
• Please keep your reel/portfolio simple, clearly labeled and easy to navigate.
• The reel/portfolio should be HD quality (if possible, the online version should on either YouTube or Vimeo). Your reel should be 5-10 minutes showing only your best work. Quality is valued over quantity. Include segments for longer works and links to full versions of these. You may include both animations and live action work. You must have had a significant creative role in the creation of each example.
• The reel/portfolio can include high quality scans of drawings, paintings, storyboards, photographs and designs. Limit your portfolio to the best dozen examples. You can also include detailed magnifications.
• The reel/portfolio information sheet should describe each piece represented including the title, medium, date, time code in the reel, duration/dimensions and your role in its creation.

All submitted application materials will become part of your application file and cannot be returned. Please retain your own copy.

The following items are not required for this program but can be used to supplement your application:

• Professional experience as evidenced by a resume or industry certifications
• Letters of recommendation

For assistance with the application process please email admission@cdm.depaul.edu or call 312-362-8714.