Essential Information
Students who want to earn a bachelor's degree in animation can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program in this field. These degrees take approximately four years to compete.
These programs generally focus on experimenting with content, medium and form involved in storytelling skills. Specialization options include character animation, computer animation and interactive animation. Applicants must have a high school diploma, and they may be required to submit a portfolio of previous work.
Bachelor of Animation
Undergraduate programs in animation commonly offer coursework that educates students in character gesture, cutout design, stop motion, hand-drawn design, perspective and composition. Students in BFA programs may be required to take more general art-related courses such as painting. Common courses that students may take include:
- Animation techniques
- Animation writing
- Animation history
- International cinema
- Visual effects
- Figure drawing
Popular Career Options
Graduates from can find careers in special effects or animation for film, television, video or computers. Individuals may find positions as:
- Illustrators
- Game artists
- Multimedia artists
- Production designers
- Character animators
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for special effects artists and animators should grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029, which is as fast as average. In May of 2019, the BLS reported that the median annual salary of these professionals was $75,270.
Continuing Education
Graduates of bachelor's degree programs may choose to pursue a master's degree in animation. Graduate programs in animation typically focus on production techniques in the field, and students can study computer animation and interactive media.
To summarize, if you want to get a bachelor's degree in animation, you can choose between a BA, BS and BFA degree in the field. These programs provide the artistic training students need to pursue multimedia careers or to enroll in a master's degree program in the field.
