MA Animation: Technical Artist Concentration

Program Requirements

The Technical Artist Concentration prepares students for a range of technical roles, from the complex jobs of riggers, next generation modelers and motion capture artists to the hybrid specialization of the Technical Artist. A game industry Technical Artist is an art department member who serves as a bridge between art and engineering. The TA needs to understand the language of both fields and act as a translator between the areas. In the film and television CGI animation and VFX industries the Technical Artist is more commonly referred to as a Technical Director or Technical Animator. The TA in these fields shares many of the core responsibilities (pipeline, troubleshooting) and animation technical skills as the game TA.

About the MA Animation Program

Curriculum Requirements

Core Requirements

  • ANI 4231
  • ANI 430
    or ANI 434
  • ANI 444
  • ANI 446
  • ANI 452
  • ANI 453
  • Select four (4) credit hours from the following:
    • ANI 442
    • GAM 6902
    • GAM 691
  • Sixteen (16) credit hours of Technical Artist Electives
  • Eight (8) credit hours of CDM Open Electives

1 Students with 3D animation experience can have the ANI 423 requirement substituted by their Faculty Advisor with an Animation Elective.

2 Students who take GAM 690 to fulfill their Core Requirements must take GAM 691 as one of their Technical Artist Electives requirements.

Technical Artist Electives

Students must select the required 16 credit hours of Technical Artist Electives from the following choices. Students may take these courses before completing their Core Requirements courses. It is recommended that students choose their Technical Artist Elective courses in one of the following areas of focus: Rigging, Animation, Modeling, or Visual Effects.

  • Rigging Focus Area

  • Animation Focus Area

  • Modeling Focus Area

  • Visual Effects Focus Area

  • Other Available Technical Artist Electives

CDM Open Electives

Students must select the eight (8) credit hours of Open Electives from graduate courses from the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. Elective courses must be in the range of 421 to 699.

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree program must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours in the designated program.
  • Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
  • Earn a grade of C- or better in all graduate courses of the designated degree program.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Students pursuing a second (or more) graduate degree may not double count or retake any course that applied toward the completion of a prior graduate degree. If a required course in the second degree was already completed and applied toward a previous degree, the student must meet with a faculty advisor to discuss a new course to be completed and substituted in the new degree. This rule also applies to cross-listed courses, which are considered to be the same course but offered under different subjects.
  • Students pursuing a second master's degree must complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours beyond their first designated degree program in addition to any required introductory courses in their second designated degree program.

Students with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will graduate with distinction.

For DePaul's policy on repeat graduate courses and a complete list of academic policies see the DePaul Graduate Handbook in the Course Catalog.