The Emerging Media BFA allows students to integrate the multiple domains of art, design, storytelling, and technology in one of the three portfolio required tracks, Animation & Visualization, Character Animation, or Graphic Design. The program is designed to provide: a solid foundation in techniques and theory in one of the listed tracks; a broad understanding of related disciplines including arts, humanities, and technology; an extended experience in working in multidisciplinary teams on realistic problems. The program is administered through the School of Visual Arts and Design.
The Character Animation track is a two-year, full-time prescribed series of courses designed to prepare a cohort of students for careers such as animators, story artists, visual development artists, lighting artists, technical artists, effects artists, modelers, riggers, or texture artists in the animation industry by emulating the professional production studio. Students learn all aspects of the production process, from story creation to film completion while working as part of a team. Students learn the tools and industry practices for computer generated animated filmmaking as well as the ins and outs of teamwork with opportunities for leadership amongst their peers and mentorship from the faculty.
As part of the program, some courses study the form and proportion of the human figure. Nude models are used as reference.
Admission Requirements
- Admission into the Character Animation track requires successful completion of the Character Animation Portfolio review. The Character Animation portfolio review process is held in the Spring. Portfolio information can be found at: https://cah.ucf.edu/svad/character-animation-portfolio/
- Students who do not pass the Character Animation Portfolio review should contact SVAD advising (cahsa@ucf.edu) to discuss options.
- Note: One-on-one portfolio reviews are not possible due to the large number of received portfolios.
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog by filing a catalog year change with their degree change form.
- Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 36 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design.
- Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course except DIG 2000, which requires a "B" (3.0) or better.
- BFA students must achieve a 3.0 GPA in all major requirements.
- Co-op credit cannot be used in this major.
- Students should consult with their CAHSA Coach each semester.
- Note: Emerging Media majors must have continual access to a computer. Contact the UCF Technology Product Center or see the website (http://tpc.ucf.edu) for the minimum hardware and software specifications.
- No more than 6 hours of overlap allowed between courses used in the Emerging Media BFA and any minor. Please see CAHSA for permission to complete more than one major in SVAD. Certain restrictions apply and plan of study must be pre-approved.
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements: Basic Level
15 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- ARH2051 - History of Western Art II (3)
- ART2201C - Design Fundamentals-Two Dimensional (3)
- ART2203C - Design Fundamentals-Three Dimensional (3)
- ART2300C - Drawing Fundamentals I (3)
- ART2301C - Drawing Fundamentals II (3)
- GRA2101C - Introduction to Computer Art (3)
- GEP Course: ARH 2051
Core Requirements: Advanced Level
42 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- ART3643C - Digital Effects & Compositing (3)
- DIG3355C - Artificial Environments and Effects (3)
- DIG3433C - Visual Storytelling and Visual Development (3)
- DIG3951 - Character Animation Portfolio Review
- DIG4206C - New Imagery in Motion Workshop (3)
- DIG4323C - Modeling for Visual Language (3)
- DIG4325C - Look Modeling Workshop (3)
- DIG4326C - Geometrical Modeling Workshop (3)
- DIG4354C - Advanced 3D Animation (3)
- DIG4373C - 3D Textures (3)
- DIG4394C - Motion Graphics: Advanced Compositing (3)
- DIG4451C - Visual Storytelling and Visual Development Workshop (3)
- DIG4624C - Digital Production in Artificial Environments (3)
- FIL3720C - Introduction to Animation (3)
- FIL3734C - Intermediate Animation (3)
Capstone Requirements
6 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- DIG4434C - Narrative Techniques in the Moving Image (3)
- DIG4486C - Visual Language of Moving Image II (3)
Grand Total Credits: 63
Restricted Electives
Electives
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Met by graduation requirement
Graduation
- Proficiency equivalent to one year of college instruction in a single foreign language taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures or the Department of History (Hebrew). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used to meet the requirement.
Additional Requirements
- Signature Experience requirement is met by successful completion of the following course(s): DIG 4434C - Narrative Techniques in the Moving Image Credit Hours: 3 and DIG 4486C - Visual Language of Moving Image II Credit Hours: 3
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in all courses used to satisfy major requirements.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Students interested in completing Honors in the Major should contact their program advisor. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at : https://honors.ucf.edu/university-honors-advising/requirements/. Up to 6 hours can be used towards SVAD restricted electives and must be completed through SVAD.
Related Programs
Certificates
Related Minors
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
- Grades less than a "C" (2.0) are not accepted.
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $31.50 per term
- Full-Time Student: $63 per term
Character Animation
Freshman Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- ARH 2050 - History of Western Art I Credit Hours: 3
- MAC 1105C - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
- ART 2201C - Design Fundamentals-Two Dimensional Credit Hours: 3
- ART 2300C - Drawing Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- ARH 2051 - History of Western Art II Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 2000 - Introduction to Digital Media Credit Hours: 3
- ART 2203C - Design Fundamentals-Three Dimensional Credit Hours: 3
- ART 2301C - Drawing Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)
- GRA 2101C - Introduction to Computer Art Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 2030 - Digital Video Fundamentals Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 2109 - Digital Imaging Fundamentals Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary I Credit Hours: 4
Sophomore Year - Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- DIG 2500 - Fundamentals of Interactive Design Credit Hours: 3
- CGS 2100C - Computer Fundamentals for Business Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary II Credit Hours: 4
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- DIG 3951 - Character Animation Portfolio Review Credit Hours: 0
- DIG 3355C - Artificial Environments and Effects Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 3433C - Visual Storytelling and Visual Development Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4323C - Modeling for Visual Language Credit Hours: 3
- FIL 3720C - Introduction to Animation Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- DIG 4325C - Look Modeling Workshop Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4326C - Geometrical Modeling Workshop Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4451C - Visual Storytelling and Visual Development Workshop Credit Hours: 3
- FIL 3734C - Intermediate Animation Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- ART 3643C - Digital Effects & Compositing Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4206C - New Imagery in Motion Workshop Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4486C - Visual Language of Moving Image II Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4624C - Digital Production in Artificial Environments Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- DIG 4354C - Advanced 3D Animation Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4373C - 3D Textures Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4394C - Motion Graphics: Advanced Compositing Credit Hours: 3
- DIG 4434C - Narrative Techniques in the Moving Image Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 1
