Associate of Applied Arts

***Please note that DigiPen is no longer accepting new students into the AAA program for the Fall of 2006.

Program Overview
As the 3D computer animation industry matures, companies increasingly seek employees with skills beyond simply a working knowledge of a specific commercial 3D software package. More than ever, employers need computer animators who have strong content creation skills. Studios like to see strong traditional art skills in addition to an understanding of fundamental animation principles. If they wish to be successful, animators must also have a good grasp of story development, character design, storyboarding, lighting, camera composition, and sound design.

Using industry-standard computer hardware and software, our program provides students with the necessary practical skills employers need. More importantly, our instructors educate students about creative content issues to ensure they have the ability to maximize the potential of this digital medium. To help students develop a strong work ethic characteristic of successful production artists, students complete numerous individual and collaborative projects under deadlines similar to those they would face in the industry. These animation productions reinforce the intensive theory courses taken during the program. Examples of student projects can be found in our Digital Gallery.

Over the course of the production-oriented environment of the two-year program, students develop a high quality portfolio. The guidance of our art faculty ensures that the portfolio work is marketable to industry companies while still allowing this critical component of any animator's resume to express an individual's artistic vision and skills.

Graduates receiving the associate degree can anticipate eligibility for entry-level jobs as 3D artists in various industries, including game development, electronic media, and graphic design. Some of the job titles that graduates of this program can aspire to are Texture Artist, Character Animator, 3D Lighting and Camera Designer, Props and Environment Modeler, 3D Broadcast Graphics Modeler and Animator, Level Designer, or Character Rigger.

DigiPen's Associate of Applied Arts Degree in 3D Computer Animation seeks to achieve the following:

• To provide students with the necessary practical skills using industry-standard, computer hardware and software.
• To educate students about creative content issues to ensure they have the ability to maximize the fullest potential of this digital medium.
• To help students develop a strong work ethic needed by successful production artists including the ability to work with others and to complete the work by the deadline.
• To allow students to express themselves artistically while ensuring that student portfolio work is marketable to industry companies.
• To implement a production-oriented environment that will allow students to produce a high-quality portfolio.

The intensive theory courses will be reinforced through multiple production cycles whereby students will be expected to complete several animation productions.

Length
The Associate of Applied Arts in 3D Computer Animation consists of 80 credits offered over 4 semesters of 15 weeks each. This course usually takes two academic years to complete.

Recommended Course Sequence
Listed on the following page is the recommended course sequence for the Associate of Applied Arts in 3D Computer Animation. Please note the following:

NOTICE:
* Students must achieve a grade of C- or higher in the Core courses to earn credit toward this degree.

See also: Admission Requirements