How to Get a Master's Degree in Animation

In our media-saturated age, animators are in high demand for their ability to bring images to life. Advances in digital technology are continually expanding the boundaries of visual communication. Today's animators apply their skills in entertainment, business communications and advertising, Internet commerce, journalism, and computer systems design. Animation is a booming industry; 3D animation studios alone bring in billions of dollars worldwide.

Animation combines artistic vision and technical programming skill in a single versatile discipline. The master's degree allows you to develop advanced skills and expand your animation portfolio, in preparation for a career as an animator, art director, or animation instructor. Many graduate animation programs are designed for working professionals, making it possible to earn a master's degree online while you work.

WorldWideLearn's guide to the master's degree in animation takes you through your options and helps you build a plan for graduate study. Focus your career objectives, find the right graduate school, and get ready to transform your artistic vision into a creative career.,

Guide to Master's Degrees in Animation

Animation challenges you to use technical tools to render a moving image or tell a digital story. The discipline's dual creative-technical approach to design is evident in the competencies it engages, which range from drawing and storytelling to mathematics and computer scripting. The animation curriculum teaches animation fundamentals such as character motion, body language, and character rigging, as well as technology courses in 2D and 3D design.

To learn more about animation as both a technical and visual arts discipline, see WorldWideLearn's Guide to Majors in Graphics and Multimedia and Game Design.

Master's Degree Options

Animation master's degrees are a relatively new phenomenon--after all, computer animation, the main driving force of the industry, is only decades old. As a result, dedicated animation programs are not as widely available as other visual arts disciplines. To access the full range of graduate animation programs, look for master's degrees in related fields with a concentration in animation. Departments with animation concentrations include graphic design, visual communications, computer science, film studies, and game design.

Available master's degrees in animation include:
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

The MFA in animation is the most common graduate qualification, available through art schools and universities. The terminal degree in animation, the MFA combines advanced coursework with intensive study work culminating in a thesis project or portfolio show.

Master of Science (MS)
The Master of Science is a relatively rare alternative to the MFA. The degree typically takes an interdisciplinary approach to the degree, examining animation in the context of a related field such as computer graphic design or cinematic arts.

Both degrees are available through distance graduate education, which enables working professionals and other busy adults to earn a master's degree online. You can explore your master's degree options further at WorldWideLearn's Master's Degrees Online and The Master's Degree Explained.

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How to Get a Master's Degree in Animation

In our media-saturated age, animators are in high demand for their ability to bring images to life. Advances in digital technology are continually expanding the boundaries of visual communication. Today's animators apply their skills in entertainment, business communications and advertising, Internet commerce, journalism, and computer systems design. Animation is a booming industry; 3D animation studios alone bring in billions of dollars worldwide.

Animation combines artistic vision and technical programming skill in a single versatile discipline. The master's degree allows you to develop advanced skills and expand your animation portfolio, in preparation for a career as an animator, art director, or animation instructor. Many graduate animation programs are designed for working professionals, making it possible to earn a master's degree online while you work.

WorldWideLearn's guide to the master's degree in animation takes you through your options and helps you build a plan for graduate study. Focus your career objectives, find the right graduate school, and get ready to transform your artistic vision into a creative career.,

Guide to Master's Degrees in Animation

Animation challenges you to use technical tools to render a moving image or tell a digital story. The discipline's dual creative-technical approach to design is evident in the competencies it engages, which range from drawing and storytelling to mathematics and computer scripting. The animation curriculum teaches animation fundamentals such as character motion, body language, and character rigging, as well as technology courses in 2D and 3D design.

To learn more about animation as both a technical and visual arts discipline, see WorldWideLearn's Guide to Majors in Graphics and Multimedia and Game Design.

Master's Degree Options

Animation master's degrees are a relatively new phenomenon--after all, computer animation, the main driving force of the industry, is only decades old. As a result, dedicated animation programs are not as widely available as other visual arts disciplines. To access the full range of graduate animation programs, look for master's degrees in related fields with a concentration in animation. Departments with animation concentrations include graphic design, visual communications, computer science, film studies, and game design.

Available master's degrees in animation include:
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

The MFA in animation is the most common graduate qualification, available through art schools and universities. The terminal degree in animation, the MFA combines advanced coursework with intensive study work culminating in a thesis project or portfolio show.

Master of Science (MS)
The Master of Science is a relatively rare alternative to the MFA. The degree typically takes an interdisciplinary approach to the degree, examining animation in the context of a related field such as computer graphic design or cinematic arts.

Both degrees are available through distance graduate education, which enables working professionals and other busy adults to earn a master's degree online. You can explore your master's degree options further at WorldWideLearn's Master's Degrees Online and The Master's Degree Explained.

Specializations

Specialized courses and projects are a standard feature of graduate education. Depending on the strengths of the program, you might focus your animation training by specializing in a stage of the animation process, an industry application, or an animation technology.

Animation Process
In professional practice, you're likely to specialize in a stage of the animation process. Deepen your training in one of the following design functions:

• Storyboarding
• Digital Compositing
• Producing Animation
• Stop-Motion Animation

Industry Applications
Animation has an important role to play in visual entertainment and communication. The following specializations prepare you to apply animation in movie production, game design, marketing, e-commerce, engineering visualization, journalism, and broadcast media

• Game Development
• Digital Cinema
• Visual Communications
• Media Arts

Animation Techniques and Technologies
Specializing in a particular animation technique or software allows you to distinguish yourself in a competitive marketplace. You can develop your expertise in:

• Special Effects Animation
• Interactive Animation
• 2D and 3D Animation
• Facial Animation
• Body Motion

Or focus your education on a particular animation technology, such as:

• Xsens MVN
• Autodesk 3ds Max
• Autodesk Maya
• NewTek LightWave
• Pixar Renderman
• Smith Micro Poser

You'll encounter great diversity among animation schools in available specialization options. Availability of resources--faculty experts and technology labs--is a major factor in your ability to specialize in a particular field. If you're targeting a specific niche, it's crucial to seek an animation program that can accommodate specialized study.

Career Track

An MFA in animation is a versatile qualification for careers in professional animation or academic instruction.

Professional Animation
With entry-level animator jobs heading overseas, animation professionals are looking to graduate education to qualify for more advanced technical and leadership roles. Some of the graduate-level positions in demand include:

• Storyboard Artists
• Layout Artists
• Producers / Project Managers
• Animation Directors
• Technical Directors
• CGI Specialists

Animation Education
Since the MFA is the terminal degree in the field, you'll also qualify to teach animation at the college level. Animation instructors meet the demand of both entry-level students and working professionals looking to keep pace with advanced technology.

The U.S. Department of Education predicts increasing opportunities for animators: "Demand for multimedia artists and animators will increase as consumers continue to demand more realistic video games, movie and television special effects, and 3D animated movies." Up-and-coming niches include animation for mobile devices and for scientific research.

Plan for a Master's Degree in Animation

A successful journey to the master's degree in animation begins with careful planning. The following steps can help you line up the academic resources you need to achieve your career goals.

Step One: Find the Right Graduate Animation Program

Finding the right animation master's degree is the important element in the application process. The challenge is to identify graduate programs that align with your interests and professional goals.

1. List Accredited Programs
Begin by listing accredited programs in animation and related disciplines such as multimedia and graphic design. Accreditation is an important criterion for any graduate program, a sign of academic quality and the value of the credential in the eyes of employers. You can protect the value of your educational investment by choosing a program vetted by an approved accreditation authority. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of recognized regional and national accreditation agencies.
Resources
WorldWideLearn offers a starting point for your research, with links to Degrees by Subject and Online Degrees in Animation. All WorldWideLearn educational partners are accredited.

The Princeton Review lists graduate schools in Graphic Design, Communications/Multimedia, and Animation.

2. Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?
Program format can play a major role in your program decision. Your learning style, access to design technology, and life circumstances can determine which format suits you best.

Online Master's Degrees in Animation
Animation and multimedia technology has made it possible to earn a master's degree online, via any Internet connection. This innovation has transformed higher education, making master's degrees accessible to working adults, career changers, parents, and students in remote locations. Animation naturally lends itself well to the online format, since the work is typically performed and presented using digital technology.

Campus Animation Degrees
The traditional campus format is still a popular choice among learners who depend on face-to-face interaction and feedback. Campus animation programs also provide access to state-of-the-art digital design technology.

Resources
WorldWideLearn's Online Degree Programs and Campus Education sections help you find programs with your preferred delivery format. Search Degrees by Location for campus graduate programs near you.

3. Explore Academic Programs
The crux of your program research takes you into the details of individual programs. It's at this stage that your interests and career goals come into play. Take into account the following program resources when deciding which programs are right for you:

• Curriculum and Specializations. Required and elective courses give you a good sense of the program's strengths.
• Departmental Affiliations. Is animation part of the visual arts school or the computer science department? Disciplinary associations speak volumes about the program's approach to animation.
• Degree Requirements. Courses, a portfolio, a master's thesis, an internship…compare degree activities and their relevance to your career goals.
• Technology Labs and Other Facilities. If you don't have access to state-of-the-art design technology at home or at work, make sure your prospective school has the computing resources you need.
• Faculty. The right program for you has instructors in your specialized field of interest.
• Industry Relationships. Animation careers are built on networking as well as degree credentials. Look for graduate schools with strong ties to employers in your field.
• Career Support Services. A strong placement office offers job search support such as resume and interviewing assistance, recruiting events, and career counseling.
• Student Life. Look for a collegial, supportive learning environment where you can build your professional network.

Succeeding in graduate school has everything to do with your access to the right resources. Do your homework now to make sure you have what you need to realize your potential.

Resources
WorldWideLearn.com features several resources to facilitate your program research:

• Links to school Web sites. Find information about degree requirements and courses, faculty members, computing facilities, and industry associations.
• Custom search tool. Fill out a form indicating your academic criteria, and the system suggests master's degree programs that meet your requirements. You can also sign up to talk to a school representative who can answer your questions about the program.

Campus visits give you an inside look into the program--an invaluable resource, even if you plan to earn a master's degree online. Arrange to:

• Interview with faculty, alumni, and current graduate students. Ask about the academic experience, mentorship opportunities, and the value of the degree on the job market.
• Tour campus facilities.
• Meet with an admissions counselor to discuss your application and financial aid prospects.

4. Evaluate Program Quality
Finally, narrow down your options by ranking programs according to the quality of the education and your admissions prospects.

Assess educational quality by examining:

• Reputation and selectivity
• Faculty credentials
• Job placement and salary statistics
• Student background, including years of industry experience

Gauge your own competitiveness as an applicant by taking into account your undergraduate GPA, standardized test scores (if available), the strength of your design portfolio, etc.

Resources
Admissions Counselors offer data related to selectivity, placement, and student body demographics. Look for average GPA and test scores of applicants, average salary and representative employers of graduates, and the diversity of the student body (in terms of experience, geography, etc.).

Rankings give you a general sense of the program's reputation. U.S. News & World Report, the most prominent national ranking publication, includes specialized Fine Arts graduate school rankings for Graphic Design and Multimedia/Visual Communications.

Step Two: Apply to Graduate Animation Programs

Once you have a short list of five to ten animation master's degree programs, you're ready to set the application logistics in motion. Though application requirements vary from school to school, you can expect to encounter the following steps:

1. Complete Prerequisites
Eligibility for graduate study generally requires:

• A bachelor's degree in animation or a related field such as computer science, graphic design, multimedia, etc.
• Basic prerequisite courses, if your undergraduate degree is in another field
• Standardized tests such as the GRE or TOEFL (for international students)
• Design portfolio

WorldWideLearn's Education Resources Guide helps you meet these requirements by linking you with test preparation resources, prerequisite courses, and online learning tools.

2. Prepare Application Materials
Most graduate schools feature a link to the master's degree application online. Fill out the information form, and prepare the following documents to support your application:

• Academic transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• Test scores, if required
• Statement of Purpose
• Design portfolio
• Resume, if applicable

Some programs also feature unique requirements to aid the decision process. Examples include an interview for finalists, a personal essay, or a storyboard of an animation idea.

3. Secure Financial Aid
Most graduate students finance their graduate education at least in part through financial aid programs. Online master's degrees help you avoid some of the cost of going back to school--you can earn a master's degree online and continue working at the same time.

Sources of financial aid include university programs, private foundations, the federal government, and your employer. Take the following steps to secure funding:

• Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This comprehensive application covers all federal financial aid programs, from Pell Grants to Stafford Loans.
• Ask your employer about educational incentives.
• Apply for private scholarships through civic organizations, nonprofits, etc.
• Apply for a low-interest student loan.

For more information, visit the WorldWideLearn.com resource page on graduate education funding.

Step Three: Becoming an Animation Expert

An animation master's degree offers more than expertise and credentials. You're joining an elite group of experts and innovators. Take advantage of this academic community by:

• Joining professional associations
• Reading journals
• Attending networking events and conferences

You can find links to these resources in WorldWideLearn's guide to the PhD and terminal MFA in animation.

A master's degree in animation taps into your creative potential and sets you up as a leader in the art of digital design. Make the most of your academic resources by focusing your professional goals and lining up the academic resources to make your vision a reality.

Sources

• Animation MFA, UCLA.
• "Artists and Related Workers," Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
• Fine Arts Specialty Rankings: Multimedia / Visual Communications, U.S. News & World Report (2009).
• Graphic Design, Communications/Multimedia, Animation, The Princeton Review.
• Master of Science in Digital Cinema, DePaul University.
• School of Animation & Visual Effects: MFA Program, Academy of Art University.
• Society for Animation Studies.

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