Art (Animation), BFA
Explore 2D, 3D, stop-motion and experimental production pipelines in a program ranked No. 6 among public animation schools in the country. Grounded in fine arts, this concentration builds both the conceptual depth and technical skills to work as an independent artist or across the entertainment industry.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
or any math course that meets the MATH designation.
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Art (Animation) degree description
In the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in art with a concentration in animation, you acquire a foundation of skills and knowledge that draws connections between traditional methods and emerging art practices. As an animation student, you develop the ability to think critically and communicate through your art. You learn a wide variety of approaches to advancing ideas and discourses, including 2D, 3D and stop-motion animation.
The curriculum emphasizes conceptual and material knowledge, interdisciplinary research and professional mentorship. Distinguished faculty provide expertise across an array of distinct areas within the field of contemporary art, including independent animation filmmaking, computer-generated imagery, machine learning, virtual reality and extended reality. Capstone research courses guide you through the process of developing a portfolio of completed works and provide you with practical experience presenting art in a variety of professional contexts.
In addition to classroom learning, the program is enriched by arts organizations and cultural institutions, which enable you to build your professional network through fellowships, internships and residencies. The program is further augmented by public events supported by the School of Art galleries, the ASU Art Museum, the Ceramics Research Center and Archive, and Pyracantha Press.
You should visit the animation areas of study page to learn more about the program. To engage the school's creative community, you can subscribe to the School of Art newsletters and follow the school on social media.
Why specialize in animation at ASU?
Animation Career Review ranks the concentration No. 6 among public animation schools nationally, No. 1 in Arizona and No. 4 in the Southwest, reflecting its mix of artistic rigor, technical breadth and faculty expertise.
This animation concentration is grounded in fine arts rather than housed in a design or film school. That foundation gives you the conceptual depth to work as an independent artist while you build the commercial skills employers look for.
You learn from faculty whose work spans independent animation filmmaking, computer-generated imagery, machine learning, virtual reality and extended reality. Through the Media and Immersive eXperience Center, you can extend your coursework into emerging immersive technologies.
Courses at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School also connect you to cinematic storytelling in ways few undergraduate options can match, linking your animation work to film and immersive media.
Additional details
You join a creative community that includes the Sidney Poitier New American Film School and the GAME school. These connections open natural collaboration across animation, film, game design and interactive media.
Proximity to Los Angeles puts you near a major animation and entertainment market, giving you access to internships, networking and career entry.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| ARS 201 Art of Asia |
| ARA 396 Professional Practices for Design and the Arts |
| ART 111 Foundation Drawing |
| ART 113 Pictorial Investigations and Color Theory |
| ART 115 3D Design |
| ART 116 Introduction to Digital Media |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Develop concepts into completed animation works.
- Develop a comprehensive toolkit for self-promotion that will position them for success in the field of art and design.
- Create animation short film organized and shared in a professional showcase.
Develop concepts into completed animation works. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Global Education programs provide an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens, deepen their understanding of the world and gain valuable career-building experiences. Study abroad can prove to be a vital accompaniment to any art concentration, allowing for broad historical and archaeological explorations. Students develop insight into the cultures and minds of some of the world's most notable artists when they experience the places that gave rise to specific artistic styles.
With more than 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture distinctly different from their own. Study abroad encourages students to broaden their intercultural sensitivity, communication skills and leadership ability, and develop their personal and professional self-confidence. Students who participate in global education programs learn to adapt and persevere, growing along the way.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animator | -0.3% | $102,030 | Learn more |
| Art Director | 4.2% | $114,850 | Learn more |
| Art Professor | 2.2% | $78,620 | Learn more |
| Designer (General) | 1.2% | $64,950 | Learn more |
| Executive Producer | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
| Film Editor | 3.7% | $75,420 | Learn more |
| Fine Artist | -2.9% | $55,490 | Learn more |
| Graphic Designer | -1.7% | $62,960 | Learn more |
| Performance Artist | 2.0% | $71,240 | Learn more |
| TV/Movie Set Designer | 1.4% | $75,240 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this animation concentration prepares you for
An art degree offers graduates a pathway to creative careers as artists, scholars and educators in the public and private spheres. Artists find employment opportunities as practitioners in the field through commercial galleries, public art commissions, private collectors and cultural institutions. Possible positions include museum or gallery professional, art dealer, art director, private art instructor, studio artist and community-based artist. Venues might include health care settings, nonprofit agencies, and local and national public arts. Other options for graduates include working at arts agencies and public art programs, gaining admission to prestigious graduate programs, and setting up their own art businesses. The skills acquired to produce art also have a wide variety of non-art applications.
Animation graduates work within the realms of film, television, special effects, games and game development, augmented and virtual reality, fine arts, design, illustration, robotics, and scientific and data visualization. In recent years, job opportunities for multimedia artists, animators, and film and video creators have consistently increased nationwide. ASU alumni have pursued diverse career paths as animators, storyboard artists, 3D modelers, concept designers, creative directors, graphic artists, multimedia designers and educators, among others.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Art
|
ART 102
herbergeradvising@asu.edu
480-965-8521
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
