Animation & Visual Effects Major

What is Animation and Visual Effects?

Drexel’s Animation & Visual Effects major is a studio-based program that trains the next generation of creatives in the art of storytelling through 3D computer graphics. Our curriculum is designed to teach students the core skills involved in a 3D animated production and a variety of topics within the broader category of visual effects. Students will learn 3D modeling, surfacing, rigging, tool writing, compositing, and more. Our extensive catalog of animation electives allows students to customize their learning experience and specialize in areas such as FX (which can cover procedurally generated content, particle simulations, fluids, and other dynamic simulations), character performance, organic modeling, motion capture, and advanced-level topics. 

Students will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished faculty with extensive experience and diverse backgrounds in media, technology, and entertainment industries; participate in Drexel’s renowned co-op program; explore and experiment with emerging technologies; and collaborate with students from other majors.  

Graduates of Drexel’s Animation & Visual Effects undergraduate program will earn a Bachelor of Science degree from one of the nation’s top universities, located in the United States' sixth-largest city, with easy access to Philadelphia’s rich cultural and vibrant design scene. 

Why Study Animation and Visual Effects at Drexel? 

Drexel’s Animation & Visual Effects major gives students the technological, storytelling and design skills needed to succeed as animators and visual effects artists in the highly competitive entertainment and design worlds. 

Animation and visual effects are no longer used only when creating big-budget theatrical films. Today, these production techniques are also widely utilized in medical research, engineering, television, web content, the performing arts, corporate communications, and higher education. The depth and complexity of this exciting field necessitates a rigorous course of study to best prepare students for the demands of careers in these cutting-edge disciplines. Alumni from the Animation program at Drexel have worked as animators and technical directors on major big and small screen projects like The Mandalorian, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Thor: Love and Thunder, Netflix’s One Piece, Diablo IV, Avengers: Endgame, Ready Player One, and Coco. Others have applied their Animation & Visual Effects education to research in the fields of virtual reality, generative design, and real-time rendering solutions. 

What Skills Will You Learn in an Undergraduate Animation Program?

Over the course of their education in the Animation & Visual Effects program at Drexel, students will pursue a foundation of design and technology by taking core courses in all aspects of digital media while delving into coursework covering many areas of specialization. Animation & VFX students will also complete a six month co-op—a full-time work experience in the field—during which they will learn the underlying principles of animation along with industry-standard software technology. The entire creative pipeline from storyboarding through modeling and animation is covered in-depth, allowing students to experience all aspects of production.

Through foundational and hands-on coursework, Animation students will learn such skills as:

• Storyboarding
• Scripting and storytelling
• 3D modeling
• Compositing
• Rigging
• Character Design
• Motion Capture

Drexel Westphal’s undergraduate program in Animation & Visual Effects encourages creativity while teaching foundational and advanced technological skills, preparing well-rounded graduates to adapt to an ever-changing industry. Students in the Animation & VFX program work collaboratively, developing critical teamwork and leadership competencies that serve them well beyond their time at Drexel. These skills are further enriched by Drexel’s co-op program, which allows Animation students to build a professional network and an impressive resume prior to graduation.

Learn more about the Animation & Visual effects curriculum and see sample plans of study here.

Facilities for Animation & Visual Effects Majors

The Animation & Visual Effects program is based in the URBN Center, the creative center of the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. The URBN Center is designed for interdisciplinary collaboration, with an open floorplan, shared making spaces, and cutting-edge studios and labs.

Animation Capture & Effects Lab

The central creative facility for the Animation & Visual effects program is the Animation Capture & Effects Lab (ACE-Lab). In this 1200-sq-ft digital media studio, Animation students gain practical experience with the latest digital media technology, including:

• 25x17ft green screen cyclorama
• Studio lighting kits
  
• HD/2k/4k camera systems
• Cinematic camera systems and dolly
  
• Vicon Vantage motion capture system
• Stereo-360 “VR Video” capture systems
• Room-scale VR tracking systems
• Immersive Projection Dome
• Projection for in-camera visual effects
  

Students in the Animation & VFX major also have access to screening rooms, computer labs featuring advanced graphics workstations, the Immersive Research Lab for virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive media projects, and more.

To schedule a tour of the ACE-Lab and other Digital Media facilities, contact Westphal Admissions at 215.895.1738 or send an email to westphaladm@drexel.edu. 

Animation and Visual Effects at Drexel: Paths of Study 

Animation students have the option to customize their plan of study by choosing a concentration that will allow them to specialize in a topic that most interests them.  Concentrations help guide students in which classes they should take, but still allows enough flexibility for students to experiment with different courses.  The following concentrations are available: 

Animation students can customize their plan of study by selecting a concentration that aligns with their specific interests. These concentrations guide students in choosing appropriate classes while maintaining enough flexibility to explore various courses. The available concentrations are: 

Animation 

This concentration focuses on the art of performance animation.  Students will dive deeper into character mechanics and performance to effectively convey emotion and story through body movement and dialogue. 

Modeling 

Students who want to specialize in 3D modeling and sculpting will explore form and function in organic modeling, building on the core modeling skills acquired during freshman year. 

Generalist 

Students who are interested in a little bit of everything can choose this option, allowing them to custom design their concentration to encompass a variety of topics. 

Career Opportunities with an Animation and Visual Effects Degree 

While there are many illustrious careers available in the entertainment industry, students are not limited to career opportunities in film, tv, or games.  Here are some other fields where students can find fulfilling careers:

• Architectural Visualization
• Medical Visualization
• Education
• Museum Exhibits
• Communications
• Simulation Training
• Performing Arts
• Forensic Animation
• Archeology

Common job titles:

• 3D Artist 
• 3D Modeler 
• 3D Animator 
• 3D Generalist 
• Visual Effects / FX Artist 
• Previs Artist 
• Environment Artist 
• Surfacing Artist 
• Lighting Artist 
• Asset Artist 
• Compositor 
• Technical Director 
• Rigging Technical Director 
• Technical Artist 
• Matchmove Artist 
 

To learn more about Drexel's Animation & Visual Effects program, contact Westphal Admissions at 215.895.1738 or send an email to westphaladm@drexel.edu.

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