Course Descripons - The Art Institutes

Media Arts
MEDIA ARTS & ANIMATION, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Off ered at Chicago, Schaumburg, Cincinna� , Michigan, Tinley Park
Program Mission
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Anima� on program provides graduates with the relevant career skills needed
to obtain and develop careers in the anima� on industry. The goal is accomplished through a focused curriculum based on
industry referenced program exit competencies. Instructors who possess industry experience and content exper� se as well
as appropriate resources support the curriculum.
Desired Student Outcomes
1. Communica� on: Graduates will be skilled visual communicators, will eff ec� vely collaborate with other ar� sts and designers
on a team, will be able to tell a story visually, and will possess wri� en and oral skills that enable them to communicate
eff ec� vely with prospec� ve employers, colleagues, and clients.
2. Problem Solving: Graduates will possess the crea� ve design skills to conceptualize, and develop an anima� on; cri� quing
skills that lead to evalua� on and edi� ng; problem-solving skills to resolve unsa� sfactory elements of an anima� on; graduates
will understand the process of project management.
3. Conceptual: Graduates will have the conceptual and drawing skills to create storyboards and design original characters,
backgrounds, and other visual elements.
4. Technical: Graduates will understand the elements and principles of image manipula� on, 2-D and 3-D anima� on, audio
produc� on, programming, and game design including technical skills and terminology.
5. Context: Graduates will possess an ability to apply real world observa� ons to anima� on, an understanding of the human
fi gure; will understand the principles of ac� ng and staging; will understand anima� on in social, cultural, and historical contexts;
and will have the research skills needed to develop anima� on elements.
6. Professional: Graduates will have developed current professional awareness, a high standard of ethics, an ability to work
independently, an understanding of the corporate culture and business prac� ces of the fi lm and anima� on industry, and a
desire for life-long learning and professional growth.
Program Descrip� on
The Game Art & Design curriculum provides students with a substan� al founda� on in drawing skills, color theory, design
concepts, audio/video techniques and basic computer applica� ons. From this founda� on, degree candidates develop
advanced skills in various aspects of computer graphics and anima� on. Students explore the various tools used in computer
anima� on including opera� ng systems, 3-D modeling and anima� on so� ware, 2-D anima� on techniques and desktop video
produc� on. These tools and concepts enhance our student’s versa� lity and crea� vity and enables them to produce a digital
por� olio that demonstrates their prac� cal and technical abili� es to employers.
Gradua� on Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts & Anima� on, students must complete a minimum of 180 quartercredits
with 60 quarter-credits in general educa� on courses and 120 in the specialty area with a cumula� ve GPA of 2.0
or higher. Also a student must receive a passing grade or credit for all required course work, meet por� olio requirements
including par� cipa� on in the Senior Por� olio Show. Gradua� ng students must pass a required course in which a por� olio is
produced and sa� sfy all fi nancial obliga� ons to The Illinois Ins� tute of Art.
50 Academic Programs