School Information
Most of the schools in the Sunnyvale, CA, area that offer computer animation programs are 2-year colleges. Based on distinction, school type and level of study, the following college is considered a top school in Sunnyvale for computer animation degree programs:
- Winner: University of Silicon Valleyis the only school of any kind found directly in Sunnyvale that offers computer animation studies. It is also the only 4-year school awarding bachelor's degrees in this field of study in or within 25 miles of Sunnyvale. Students can choose a Bachelor of Science program in digital arts engineering or a Bachelor of Arts program in digital arts and animation.
School Info Chart
| Category | University of Silicon Valley |
|---|---|
| Distinction | Ranked 21st in Regional Colleges in the West (2022-2023)*** |
| Location | Sunnyvale, California |
| School Type | 4-year, private not-for-profit |
| Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | Undergrad: $21,784* |
| Computer Animation Degrees Offered | Bachelor's |
| Computer Animation Degrees Awarded in 2020-2021 | 44** |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2015 Entering Class | 44%** |
| Noteworthy | Career Development Center offers, among other resources, a website compiling game companies, digital arts career guides, bulletins and resume writing** |
Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **University of Silicon Valley, **US News and World Report
University of Silicon Valley
- 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Internship opportunities available
- Faculty have strong experience in digital arts and related industries
University of Silicon Valley is a private 4-year school with a total enrollment of nearly 500 undergraduate students. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Cogswell Polytechnical College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts Animation through its Digital Arts Program and a Bachelor of Science in Digital Arts Engineering through its Engineering Program.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts and Animation program can choose from three areas of concentration: 3-D modeling, 3-D animation and entertainment design. Core courses within the bachelor's degree program focus on photography, digital imaging, sketching, video editing and storyboarding. Students who are 3-D animation majors concentrate on character and story development coupled with the fundamentals of traditional and computer animation. Modeling majors learn to digitize 2-D and 3-D models they've built. Entertainment design majors learn about digital imagery and how to create visual representations of written instructions using drawing, painting, illustration and conceptual art.
The Bachelor of Science in Digital Arts Engineering program combines software applications with digital arts. Courses relating to computer animation include sketching, texturing, 3-D modeling and 2-D design. Students will also take courses addressing color theory, programming, character rigging, layout and special effects.
