Housed in the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), the Emerging Media MFA – Animation and Visual Effects track is a specialized program designed to emulate the professional studio environment, providing each student with an opportunity to assume an artistic leadership role. The principal emphasis is placed on narrative film structure and the entrepreneurial aspect of animation as related to studio and job creation. Courses are designed to give students the ability to understand the collaborative function of a commercial studio, which is necessary in order to prepare students for careers in animation. Labs and studios are equipped with the same industry-standard software and hardware used in professional studios. Students desiring admission to the Emerging Media MFA – Animation and Visual Effects track should be primarily interested in the opportunity to create or direct their own animation and visual effects. In this program students are encouraged to develop their visual storytelling skills while using a variety of animation and visual effects techniques, including traditional hand-drawn, stop motion, 2D computer, and 3D computer animation. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in animation, visual effects, emerging media, art, film, theater, computer science, graphic design, illustration, creative writing, mass communications, game design, or related field and must demonstrate, through a portfolio of work and writing, that they are currently proficient and successful in the area of Animation. The Emerging Media MFA – Animation and Visual Effects track is a competitive program whereby students receive the best instruction from professors who have had extensive professional industry experience. Drawing on the expertise of the current faculty, graduates are well qualified to enter the teaching and academic professions. SVAD graduates have a competitive edge for greater opportunities within the animation, visual effects, and simulation industry.

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