The MA in Animation degree is for students who are interested in deepening their knowledge of 3D modeling and animation, with an eye towards a production career in 3d character animation, computer game art, or visual effects. Students in the MA in Animation degree will receive intense and rigorous training in the history, critical artistic issues, and fundamental principles that are necessary for animation artists. MA in Animation students take many of the same courses as the MFA in Animation students, with the main difference being the absence of the year-long thesis film. MA in Animation graduates will be prepared for the many varied career options available to animators, including storyboard artists, visual development artists, modelers, layout artists, character animators, effects animators, character riggers, technical directors, motion capture artists, lighting artists, commercial animators, motion graphics artists, game artists, environment modelers and effects artists. The MA degree is intended for those with undergraduate degrees in animation, film, game development, art, graphic design, illustration, architecture, industrial design and other related areas.
DePaul's large group of full time and adjunct Animation faculty come from diverse backgrounds in commercial production, game development and art exhibition. We are part of the School of Cinema & Interactive Media, which features the latest digital technologies and facilities: a stop motion studio, two green screen stages, a sound recording and mixing studio, and a motion capture studio. Our visiting artists series brings prominent animators to campus. Past vistors include David O'Reilly and legendary animator Yuri Norstein.
Learn more about admission to this program.
CourseRequirements
Prerequisite Phase
The goal of the prerequisite phase is to give students the background necessary for starting the graduate program. These prerequisite phase requirements can be fulfilled in one of two ways:
- The student takes the course and earns a grade of B- or higher
- The faculty advisor waives the course because of equivalent academic background or work experience.
All students are blocked from enrolling in graduate courses prior to completing their prerequisites. Students should contact their advisor to enroll in graduate courses until their Prerequisite Phase is completed. Students must submit an online Change of Status request (through myCDM) when the Prerequisite Phase is completed to inform the Student Services offices that the block can be removed.
*Students who are required to take ANI 230 and ANI 231 during their first two quarters must make up the elective courses later in the program. These courses may also be completed during the preceding Spring or Summer terms.
First Year
| Fall Quarter |
| ANI 460 |
| ANI 421 |
| 1 Animation Elective* |
| Winter Quarter |
| ANI 425 |
| ANI 422 |
| 1 3D Animation Elective* |
| Spring Quarter |
| ANI 440 |
| ANI 466** |
| OR ANI 444** |
| 1 3D Animation Elective |
*Students who are required to take ANI 230 and ANI 231 during their first two quarters must make up the elective courses later in the program.
**Students who plan to apply for the Animation MFA program during their first year should take ANI 466 rather than ANI 444.
Second Year
| Fall Quarter |
| ANI 540 (2 credit hours) |
| 1 3D Animation Elective |
| 1 Animation Elective |
| Winter Quarter |
| ANI 541 (2 credit hours) |
| 1 Animation Elective |
Animation Electives
Animation electives include any graduate level
ANI, DC, GAM, GD, GPH, HCI or VFX courses.
3D Animation Electives
| ANI 430 |
| ANI 431 |
| ANI 432 |
| ANI 435 |
| ANI 436 |
| ANI 439 |
| ANI 450 |