How to Get an MFA, PhD, or EdD in Animation

Animation, in its simplest form, uses a series of images to tell a story. That simplistic idea can be expanded to years of theory, thought, and development, from the first rudimentary flip books to highly advanced digital animation techniques.

Students of graduate degree programs in animation are willing to commit years of dedicated thought to enhancing their knowledge of the art of animation. Are you ready to join them? The first step of your journey is to consider the different types of graduate degrees possible in the field of animation.

The MFA: A Terminal Degree

Unlike most master's degrees, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is considered a terminal degree. Earning an MFA means you've attained the highest level of education recognized by hiring managers and academia. Though PhD degrees exist in animation and related fields, the MFA is considered the highest level of artistic preparation for animators and professors of animation.

Therefore, you'll find a few distinct benefits to earning an MFA in Animation:

• The degree qualifies you to teach at the college level, often earning salaries equivalent to PhD graduates in the field
• A smaller time commitment is required from MFA students than from other terminal degree students, such as doctoral candidates

Earning an MFA in Animation requires years of intense study, but the reward is a useful degree that prepares you to teach or grow professionally in the field.

Earning Your MFA in Animation

The most popular graduate degree in animation is the MFA. MFA in Animation programs may last two or three years, and they typically require at least two full-length animation projects. At the end of the MFA program, students are required to create and show a thesis animation employing everything they have learned in the program.

The MFA in Animation requires a high level of knowledge and skill from students. As with any creative MFA program, you are expected to combine theoretical study with artistic practice. A typical MFA in Animation program might include the following required coursework:

• Animation Design
• Advanced Interactive Animation
• Writing for Animation
• Computer Animation in Film and Video

Additionally, seminars and other coursework may be required in film history, animated film, television history, narrative studies, and more. Once you reach the end of your time in graduate school, you should have a strong portfolio that helps you apply for animation positions in the field. Additionally, the MFA prepares graduates to teach at the college level.

Alternative Artistic & Communication MFA Degrees

Beyond the MFA in Animation, it's possible to further focus your degree possibilities, or broaden them to include other types of communication and artistic expression. Alternative MFA degrees include:

• MFA in Digital Cinema
• MFA in Visual Arts or Communication
• MFA in Digital Filmmaking

A broader MFA degree program gives you a chance to explore wider applications of your art, while a narrower description offers the opportunity for deep focus on one particular element of the craft. It's up to you and your personal goals to choose a program that best suits your needs.

Earning a Creative or Theoretical PhD in Animation

The MFA in Animation is considered a terminal degree in the field. However, if you were hoping to find something closer to a doctoral degree in animation, there are a few alternative educational programs related to the field. Consider doctorate degrees in similar disciplines, such as:

• Visual communication
• Graphic design
• Computer science & design

Doctoral degrees are generally considered theoretical and research-based. As a PhD candidate in a field related to animation, be prepared to research and write at a high level on the subject of your choice. In time, online PhD programs in animation specifically may become available. Currently, however, think of the MFA in Animation as the highest level of specialized education you can attain in the field.

Educational Degree Options: Earning an EdD in Art Education

If your focus is animation and your career goals are directed toward administrative leadership, think about earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Art Education. While no EdD in Animation exists just yet, the art education EdD encompasses education as it pertains to the arts. Students are prepared for a range of careers in education, including:

• Government arts education or grant programs
• Leadership in filmmaking or animation departments
• Animation departments in higher education

As an EdD candidate with an interest in animation, you'll perform original research and theoretical writing on subjects close to your heart. The goal of the EdD is to create a publishable document related to your field. Tailor your thesis to education as it pertains to animation, and you'll earn a doctoral degree that absorbs and challenges you specifically.

Earning an Online MFA in Animation

Considering an online MFA in Animation? You may be thinking of the convenience an online degree program offers. You might have prior experience with online education, or you could be thinking of making the shift from a traditional campus-based program to the online model.

Regardless of your reasons, you should consider the benefits of both on-campus and online MFA programs in animation. Here are some of the benefits of enrolling in an online program:

• Work at your own pace with professors and peers
• Utilize online tools and techniques in animation
• Work with advanced animation hardware and software from your home

A campus-based MFA or doctoral program in animation has its own distinct advantages:

• Face-to-face feedback on drafts
• Easier to work with hand-drawn animation
• Access to animation studios and tools on campus

Your decision to attend animation school on campus or online should depend on the medium you use for animation, your location, time commitments, and career goals. You may choose a hybrid program that offers a mix of online and campus-based classes.

Animation Graduate Degree Links

Begin gathering facts about potential graduate schools in animation by using the free resources available to you online. Here are just a few sites to investigate as you begin researching animation programs:

• The College Board offers an interactive profile of animation graduate degree programs. Use the site to learn more about related majors, ideal high school preparation, and related careers. A college search function helps you find individual schools.
• The U.S. News and World Report lists their rankings of the best fine arts schools nationwide. Use their list as a starting point for researching animation programs within some of the country's strongest arts schools.
• WorldWideLearn.com can help you create a list of potential animation schools and make contact with the departments. Simply browse potential programs, and fill out your contact information to communicate with their animation departments.

The above resources are a free and easy way to begin your search for animation graduate degree programs. Use these tools to begin your search for an educational option that works with your career goals.

Focus Your Graduate Animation Degree Program Options

Once you have a list of potential MFA, PhD, or EdD programs in animation or related fields, you can begin narrowing down your list using a set of specific criteria. Consider the following elements of every school on your list:

• Accreditation: This third-party seal of approval serves as proof that your animation school stands up to the academic rigor expected at other schools. Look for animation graduate degree programs endorsed by accrediting boards that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Degree Options: No two schools are alike, and the programs you're considering could come with very different degrees. Consider the distinct requirements necessary for the degrees offered, from artistic MFA degrees in animation to theory to heavy doctoral degrees in design. Your goals should help determine your path.
• Requirements: Expect to jump a few hurdles for every graduate school to which you apply. Top animation schools may require a Statement of Purpose, letters of recommendation, a CV or resume, and cross-reference requirements. All schools will likely require an application fee and transcripts from previous schools. The more competitive a school is, the more you may be required to show when you apply.
• Faculty: Look closely at faculty profiles when considering animation schools. A strong faculty offers a broad range of experience and knowledge in the art of animation. Faculty should also have some proof of their own work, including showing animations at festivals, published writing on animation, and membership in professional organizations.
• Competition: The most competitive animation programs require a strong portfolio when you apply, and potentially even years of work experience in or related to the field. Animation programs should offer statistics on how many applicants they receive each year, and how many students they enroll.
• Funding: Scholarships and funding opportunities may be possible in the most competitive animation MFA and doctoral degree programs. For the rest, consider the funding options through federal loans and grants.
• Alumni: The alumni of a particular animation program speak for themselves. Ask representatives of individual programs for details on what graduates are doing, including job placement rates, tenure-track faculty statistics, and more.

The more information you get from a master's or doctoral program in animation, the more likely you can make an informed decision on your ideal school. Consider the above list when researching and making contact with animation departments, and you'll easily narrow down your list to a few of the best programs for your goals. Doing this research beforehand saves you time and money (in application fees) when you do apply to a select number of schools.

Use the Education Resources at WorldWideLearn.com

Even if you're returning to complete a graduate degree in animation after a long time away from school, the resources available at WorldWideLearn.com can help you prepare to complete your college education. Here are just a few tools available through the site:

• The Education Resources page is a valuable tool for anyone returning to school as an adult. Find more information on online education here.
• Use the Financial Aid section to find more information on federal loans and scholarship, repaying loans, and financing your animation education.
• The Career Assessment page contains useful advice and columns for anyone who wants to learn more about life after grad school in animation.

The material on WorldWideLearn.com is designed to help students make the first steps towards their educational goals. Explore the site to find even more resources that can help you along the way.

Professional Community Resources in Animation

Working in animation means being part of a team. When you become a graduate student of animation, you should additionally consider joining one of the many professional organizations and groups in the animation community. Animators regularly show their work in festivals and discuss theories of animation in journals and magazines. Here are a few community resources for professional animators:

• Professional Organizations: Graphic Artists Guild, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, PC Graphics & Publishing User Groups, Women in Animation, Cartoonists Northwest, Society for Animation Studies
• Animation Festivals: Melbourne International Animation Festival, Spike and Mike's Classic Festival of Animation, Fredrikstad Animation Festival, Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Art In Motion
• Journals & Magazines: Animation Journal, Animation Magazine, Animation World Magazine, 3D Artist Magazine, FLIP, Frames Per Second Magazine, GOmotion Magazine, Stash

Joining the community of animators means continuing your education years after you leave school. Students use their master's or doctoral degree training in animation as a starting point for a lifetime of learning.

Sources

• Anadolu University, Faculty of Fine Arts - Department of Animation
• Graphic Artists Guild
• The College Board
• Society for Animation Studies, Welcome to the Society for Animation Studies Homepage!
• UCLA, Animation MFA
• U.S. News and World Report