Art Degrees Online

Curriculum
First Quarter
ART111 Drawing show details
ART122 2D Design show details
CAA106 Introduction to Design Applications show details
EN101 English I show details
Second Quarter
ART123 Color Theory show details
ART211 Life Drawing show details
MT112 College Geometry show details
P104 Digital Photographic Production show details
Third Quarter
COM105 Public Speaking show details
MA131 Writing for Animation show details
MA141 Sculpture for Animations show details
MA211 Character and Object Design show details
Fourth Quarter
EN102 English II show details
GD214 Computer Illustration show details
MA110 History and Trends in Animation show details
MA133 Storyboarding and Animatics show details
Fifth Quarter
HA215 Art History I: Art of the Ancient World show details
MA201 Introduction to 3D modeling show details
MA231 Introduction to 2D Animation show details
MA241 Advanced Drawing For Animators show details
Sixth Quarter
HA216 Art History II: Art of the Medieval and Renaissance Worlds show details
MA238 Intermediate 2D Animation show details
MA251 Acting for Animators show details
MA302 Intermediate 3D Modeling show details
Seventh Quarter
HA217 Art History III: Art of the Modern World show details
MA304 Advanced 3D Modeling show details
MA305 Background Design and Layout show details
MA312 Introduction to 3D Animation show details
MA341 Digital Ink and Paint show details
Eighth Quarter
HU212 Introduction to Film Studies show details
MA321 Intermediate 3D Animation show details
MA322 Visual Development show details
MA344 Digital Video Editing show details
SC115 Science of Light show details
Ninth Quarter
HA301 Contemporary Art show details
MA324 Advanced 3D Animation show details
MA325 Advanced 2D Animation show details
MA345 Special Effects show details
MA346 Pre-Production Team show details
MA351 Materials and Lighting show details
MA352 Production 2D Studio Team show details
From above chose:
MA324 or MA325
MA345 or MA346
MA351 or MA352
Tenth Quarter
MA333 Animation for Interactive Production show details
MA430 Senior Project I show details
PS101 Introduction to Psychology show details
Program Elective I
Eleventh Quarter
HU305 Critical Thinking show details
MA424 Special Topics in Animation show details
MA440 Senior Project II show details
General Education Elective I
Twelfth Quarter
MA412 Buisness Fundamentals and Career Development show details
MA490 Portfolio Presentation show details
Program Elective II

3D Character Animation Stream

***Semester 5 Subject Name Hrs/Wk
ACT550 Advanced Acting for Animators 2
ANI501 Advanced Animation Principles 4
ANI502 Advanced Life Drawing 4
ANI504 Advanced Lighting, Texturing, Rendering 3
ANI512 Storyboarding for the 3D Environment 2
ANI521 Basic 3D Modeling 3
ANI524 Advanced Animation Tools 3
ANI531 Basic Rigging for 3D Animators 3

Semester 6 Subject Name Hrs/Wk
ANI623 Lighting, Texturing Rendering II 3
ANI624 Advanced Character Animation II 4
ANI625 Introduction to MEL Scripting 3
ANI630 Advanced Rigging 3
ANI671 Advanced Digital Tools II 2
LIF641 Life Drawing Portfolio Development 4
PRT681 Portfolio Presentation and Professionalism 3
STR600 Storyboarding and Project Development Advanced 2

*** Streaming subject to enrolment and not guaranteed. (Students are required to make stream selection by week 2 of the 4th semester. Both streams may not be available in all semesters.)

Curriculum
First Quarter
FS101 Fundamentals/Observational Drawing show details
FS102 Fundamentals of Design show details
FS103 Color Theory show details
FS104 Computer Applications show details
HU110 College English show details
Second Quarter
FS111 Drawing, Proportion & Perspective show details
FS122 Image Manipulation show details
FS131 Typography I — Traditional show details
HU111 Effective Speaking show details
MA1112 Drawing & Anatomy show details
Third Quarter
GA1121 Survey of the Game Industry show details
MA1122 Character & Object Design show details
MA1124 Sculpture for Animation show details
MA1132 Life Drawing & Gesture show details
Mathematics Elective Requirement
Fourth Quarter
GA2201 Game Design & Game Play show details
HU130 Visual Language & Culture show details
MA1131 Conceptual Storytelling show details
MA1133 2-D Animation Principles show details
MA1134 Principles of 3-D Modeling show details
Fifth Quarter
GA2212 Game Modeling & Animation show details
MA2201 Background Design & Layout show details
MA2202 Storyboarding for Animation show details
MA2204 3-D Animation show details
Mathematics & Sciences Elective Requirement
Sixth Quarter
FS239 Career Development show details
GA2211 Hard Surface & Organic Modeling show details
GA2502 Game Assets Development show details
MA2212 3-D Camera Techniques show details
*1st Elective Requirement
Seventh Quarter
GA3311 Material & Lighting show details
GA3312 Level Design show details
GA3313 Designing 3-D Environments show details
GA3314 3-D Character Rigging show details
Liberal Studies Elective Requirement
Eighth Quarter
GA3322 Advanced Level Design show details
GA3324 Character Modeling show details
GA3333 Introduction to Scripting Languages show details
MA3312 Advanced Lighting & Texture show details
Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective Requirement
Ninth Quarter
GA3323 3-D Scripting show details
GA3331 Game Prototyping show details
GA3512 Mapping for Games show details
Humanities Art Elective Requirement
**Humanities Writing Elective Requirement
Tenth Quarter
GA4401 Advanced Game Prototyping show details
GA4402 Senior Project Planning show details
GA4403 Intermediate Scripting Languages show details
MA3324 Character Animation show details
**Liberal Studies Elective Requirement
Eleventh Quarter
GA4412 Senior Project I show details
GA4453 Advanced Game Modeling & Texturing
*2nd Elective Requirement
Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective Requirement
**Humanities Elective Requirement
Twelfth Quarter
FS497 Portfolio II show details
GA4422 Senior Project II show details
*3rd Elective Requirement
**Liberal Studies Elective Requirement
Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective Requirement
Electives
1st elective may be chosen from lower division (1000– or 2000–level courses) or from upper division courses (3000– or 4000–level courses). 2nd and 3rd electives must be selected from upper division courses (3000– or 4000–level courses). Electives may not be chosed from Liberal Studies classes. Prerequisites must be met.

Course Overview

The first half of the course leads you progressively through the basics of drawn and digital creative approaches to animation and illustration. The second half offers increasing levels of module choice in both subjects so that if you wish to specialise, perhaps in pursuit of a specific career destination such as digital animation or children’s book illustration, you can do so. Most modules involve simulated live briefs taken from the professional experience of staff, and there are opportunities to work on paid commissions for clients.

Duration

3 years full-time.
4 to 6 years part-time.
Pathways available

Single/Joint Honours.
This discipline can be combined with other subjects – see Combined Honours page.
Start dates

September

About the course

The University of Bolton’s Animation & Illustration degree programme encourages you to explore the potential of moving and still image-making within the creative industries including TV and film, the web, publishing and advertising.

BA (Hons) Animation & Illustration is one of a group of art and design based degrees within the School of Arts, Media and Education at the university. The course is built around a diverse series of challenging practical assignments which will provide you with the wide range of skills and knowledge you’ll need to pursue your chosen career.
What you will learn

You will learn about character design, storyboarding and narrative techniques, traditional and digital animation, and traditional and digital illustration for screen and print.

The course introduces you to the basics of both disciplines from a technical and creative perspective, and progressively allows you the freedom to pursue one area in depth or to continue to explore a wide range of outcomes.

Much of the coursework involves the creative use of graphics software, but we’re also strongly committed to ideas generation and visual problem solving using traditional media and techniques.
What you will study

1 General graphics, aesthetics and computer use.
2 Basics of both disciplines.
3 Advanced study of both or either specialism.

The creative possibilities of commercial image making dominate our teaching. However, you will also explore theory and history, and to develop your ability to organise and evaluate information. By the end of your degree you’ll be able to demonstrate a high level of practical knowledge, skills and creativity in your portfolio as well as an in-depth knowledge of specialist areas of illustration and animation, and a critical understanding of the principles involved. You’ll also have an understanding of contemporary illustration and animation, and the social, economic and ethical factors which influence these art forms.

After completing this course you will have developed a valuable range of transferable skills such as visual problem solving, working with others, planning and time management, oral and written presentation, and computer skills. In addition, you will have learned how to research, evaluate and apply information and ideas in your work, and take a high level of responsibility for your own learning.
Special features
Live and simulated live briefs, teaching by active professionals, competition work and degree show.
The ability to select modules from related degrees such as Graphic Design.
Vocational flavour of the degree.
High levels of contact time with staff.
Access to computers and facilities.
Staff professional experience.
In addition to the modules, most of which consist of simulated live briefs, there are opportunities to work on live projects for clients from inside and outside the university.
We encourage our students to enter national competitions to showcase their work.
The university offers well-equipped teaching and learning spaces as well as excellent library facilities, 24/7 IT suites and campus-wide WiFi.
Careers and professional development

This course will help you to progress in your career by providing you with the industry standard qualification and specialised education to develop your skills and knowledge to a professional level.

You can go on to work as an illustrator, an animator or a combination of both in a studio environment or as a freelance artist in areas such as TV, film, multimedia, all forms of print and games.

On completion of your degree you will also become a member of the university’s Alumni Association. You can be a lifelong member of the university community, able to access careers information and guidance, as well as the university library, and other facilities.