Academic Programs
Graduate Division
Master of Fine Arts - Film, Television & Digital Media
The Graduate program in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media offers a Master of Fine Arts degree that can be obtained with a specialization in Animation. It is a three to four year program that has been turning out innovative and accomplished artists for over 75 years, never more so than in the past decade.
Undergraduate Division
Bachelor of Arts - Film, Television & Digital Media
The Undergraduate program in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that can be obtained with a concentration in Animation. This program provides a broad background and diversity of film and television practice, and essential production techniques.
Traditional Animation
Summer Institute
Students and aspiring animators learn to write and draw their own animated movies. No drawing experience required, just limitless imagination. This 6-week online track is open to college, professional, and pre-college students.
Application Process
Beginning your application
The next application period is for Fall 2026. We will be publishing the Fall 2026 supplemental requirements in September of 2025.
deadline to apply was be February 1, 2025 - - No longer accepting Applications for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
Steps to Apply
All MFA programs in Film, Television and Digital Media are full-time programs. Applications will be completed and submitted online, in addition to mailing in an official copy of your transcript.
While we take all your submission materials into account, the board, more than any of your exhibits, will be used to gauge creativity and ideas; for an applicant, these are far more important than technical proficiency.
Digital submissions are accepted.
Board submission guidelines for a project you might create at the Workshop:
- Submit a complete board of a story (not a scene or section from one)
- Length: 1– 5 minute concept (no longer)
- 4-8 panels per page
Format:
- Any board template, including handmade, is fine (doesn’t have to be…professional); panels in a 16:9 format (note: the sample is 4:3, due to origins)
- Color is not necessary
- Focus on ideas and story
- Non-narrative concept is fine; the board should show a sense of structure
- Whether narrative or non-narrative, your board will help us determine what kind of mind you have for animation
- Label the board for a proposed project accordingly e.g. “proposed MFA project” (especially if sending another board as a portfolio exhibit
- Submission must not be clickable in order to allow our committee to process it correctly
* Board submission must be from an unproduced work, not yet completed.
- An example to check out:
Portfolio exhibits may include a variety of work; please limit quantity – instead, send a strong representative sampling that best exemplifies you as an artist.
- Submit a breakdown of what's included in your portfolio
- If any submission materials include a joint project, list your role/credits
- Submit Portfolio Works
- Each piece should be submitted as its own file
- Please do not send links to portfolio websites
- Please do not submit 1 PDF file containing all or multiple works
- For best results, please upload all video submissions
- If using an external URL, it must be a publicly accessible link such as YouTube
- Each piece should be submitted as its own file
Suggested creative work to include:
- Life drawing:
- human and animal
- quick sketches
- long poses
Selection of work that showcases your creativity – some examples:
-
- Sculpture
- Theater design
- Paintings
- Architectural renderings
- Street art
- Fashion design
- Photography
- Character design
- Animation art
- Additional storyboard (please label that it’s a portfolio exhibit)
- Writing
Short animation or film sequences:
-
- if URL, make sure the link is working
- if a collaboration, indicate your role/credit