Animation and 3D, Bachelor of Science

Philosophy

Animation has always been a staple in the world of motion pictures and the impact of animation has only grown since the invention of 3D computer generated graphics. In today’s world, animation and 3D is being used not only in motion pictures but everything from commercials, to architecture, to the app and gaming industry.

The Wilmington University’s 100% online Bachelor of Science in Animation and 3D provides students a robust curriculum that covers the three main aspects of Animation and 3D: the artistic side, 2D animation, and 3D animation. Along with these three core areas of knowledge, students will practice and learn skills and techniques on industry standard software. Students will explore real-world production concepts under the direction of expert faculty with extensive field experience and gain additional skills in graphic design, compositing, and sound.

Purpose

The Animation and 3D Bachelor of Science program is for students who want to pursue a career in either traditional 2D or 3D animation. Through a well-rounded course load, students will focus on three key aspects of animation, the artistic side of animation, 2D animation, and 3D animation. Students will graduate with a strong skillset in hand drawn 2D animation, digital 2D animation, 3D sculpting and 3D animation with industry leading software.

Program Competencies

Students completing the Animation and 3D B.S. program will be able to:

• Develop the technical skills required for professional animation and 3D production.
  • Utilize professional modeling techniques to a 3D Maya project;
  • Use professional 2D or 3D animation software to complete a project.
• Practice a professional animation workflow.
  • Demonstrate all elements of animation in an organized manner;
  • Exercise a personalized animation workflow.
• Analyze past and current professional trends in animation and 3D.
  • Evaluate current techniques being used to create animation;
  • Research the development of early animation.
• Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques.
• Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics (punctuation) and usage (sentence structure and vocabulary). Exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres. Correctly and ethically present scholarly writings utilizing the selected citation and writing style deemed appropriate for the student's program of study.
• Employ scientific, quantitative and/or qualitative reasoning and other critical thinking strategies to analyze consequences and outcomes and to be able to recommend alternative solutions.
• Using information in any format to research, evaluate, and ethically utilize information effectively and with appropriate attribution.
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical codes and behaviors promoted by the student's chosen academic profession.

The Cooperative Education Option is an alternative to the ANI 487-Animation & 3D Senior Project and ANI 450-3D Animation II. Each co-op assignment is one semester long and normally the two co-op assignments span two consecutive semesters with the same employer. In order to be eligible, students must first have at least 60 credits, plus a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students must contact the Office of Work-Integrated Learning and their Program Chair one semester before they would like to begin a co-op assignment.   For additional information on cooperative education, please visit: https://www.wilmu.edu/coel/work-integrated-learning.aspx

Enhance Your Degree with a Certificate

The College of Technology's digital media department, which is focused on giving students hands-on training and real-world skills across a multimedia platform, consists of six individual Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees: Animation and 3D, Game Design and Development, Graphic Design, Video and Film Production, and Web Design.

Each of these degree programs has been designed with three identifiable parts:  Uniform First Year, Program Core, and 15 credits to be used towards a CoT Certificate.  All students will begin their academic career with a uniform first year before they begin to focus on their selected degree core.  After completion of the uniform first year, students will begin to enroll in their program core courses.  Finally, students in each program will use 15 career-centered course credits towards earning a College of Technology Certificate as illustrated in the table below.

Accelerated Graduate Certificate Option

Students in the Animation and 3D B.S. degree program may choose an accelerated option with:

• Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate

Students selecting this option can complete both their undergraduate degree and the graduate certificate by completing 120 credits (105 undergraduate credits and 15 graduate credits).  The five graduate courses (15 credits) needed for the graduate certificate would count as five courses (15 credits) towards undergraduate electives in your degree.

Students who complete the Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate also receive the benefit of completing five graduate level courses that count towards a Master’s degree in Information Systems Technologies (MS-IST).  Students selecting this option are not required to pursue the MS-IST degree. 

Admission requirements include:

1. A minimum GPA of 3.25

2. Completion of at least 60 credits towards your degree program

3. A meeting with an academic advisor to submit an Accelerated Option Intent (AOI) form upon completion of at least 30 credits; and

4. Recommendation of the Program Chair

Note:  Students will not be eligible to register for graduate level courses until they have successfully completed at least 60 credits towards their bachelor’s degree and have an approved AOI form.  Students must receive their B.S. degree in order to receive the graduate certificate.

Minimum Grade Policy: Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses in order to earn the certificate.

Animation and 3D BS Curriculum

General Education Requirements (39 credits)

CTA 210 Intro to Technology

DSN 105 Visual Communication

ECO 105 Fundamentals of Economics

ENG 121 English Composition I

ENG 122 English Composition II

ENG 131 Public Speaking

ENG 360 Creative Writing

HIS 381 Contemporary Global Issues

LIT 313 Visual Approaches to Literature: The Graphic Novel

MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics

PHI 100 Introduction to Critical Thinking

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology

SCI Any Natural Science Elective

Animation and 3D Core (63 credits)

ANI 100 Drawing for Animation

ANI 200 2D Animation I

ANI 201 Fundamentals of Motion Graphics

ANI 300 3D Animation I

ANI 301 History of Animation

ANI 310 Advanced Motion Graphics

ANI 321 Introduction to 3D

ANI 322 3D Modeling Techniques

ANI 323 3D Texture, Rendering and Lighting Techniques

ANI 324 Character Creation and Texturing

ANI 325 Character Rigging

ANI 327 Introduction to 3D Digital Sculpting

ANI 400 2D Animation II

ANI 450 3D Animation II

DSN 210 Basic Photoshop

DSN 220 Concept Development

DSN 235 Vector Drawing

DSN 410 Advanced Photoshop

VFP 101 Introduction to Audio

VFP 313 Aesthetics of Film

ANI 487 Animation and 3D Senior Project

OR

ANI 490 Internship in Animation and 3D

College of Technology Certificate Electives (15 credits)

Students should choose a College of Technology certificate to fulfill this elective core.  If not pursuing a College of Technology Certificate, students may choose from the following undergraduate College of Technology courses to fulfill their electives:  ANI, CSC, DFM, DSN, GMD, ISM, SEC, TEC, UAV, VFP.  Selecting an elective outside of this list will require approval of the Program Chair.

Free Elective (3 credits)

Completion Degree Requirements

What is a Completion Degree?

A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.

Note that a minimum of 120 combined credits are needed to satisfy the Completion Degree requirements, including both transfer credits and credits earned at Wilmington University.

Animation and 3D Completion Degree

ANI 200 2D Animation I

ANI 201 Fundamentals of Motion Graphics

ANI 300 3D Animation I

ANI 301 History of Animation

ANI 310 Advanced Motion Graphics

VFP 313 Aesthetics of Film

ANI 321 Introduction to 3D

ANI 322 3D Modeling Techniques

ANI 323 3D Texture, Rendering and Lighting Techniques

ANI 324 Character Creation and Texturing

ANI 325 Character Rigging

ANI 327 Introduction to 3D Digital Sculpting

ANI 400 2D Animation II

ANI 450 3D Animation II

ANI 487 Animation and 3D Senior Project

OR

ANI 490 Internship in Animation and 3D

The following courses are prerequisites for a degree in Animation & 3D:

ANI 100 Drawing for Animation

VFP 101 Introduction to Audio

DSN 210 Basic Photoshop

Note:  

Some courses have prerequisites and should be taken in the correct sequence.  If your associate degree is in an academic discipline different than the one you plan to study at Wilmington University, you may be required to take additional courses to ensure your success in your chosen program of study.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.