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  • B.F.A. in Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design)

    Graphic Design - Gaming - Animation
    Become a leader in digital technology, which is changing how we look at the world.
    Degree:
    B.F.A.
    School:
    School of Liberal Arts
    Location:
    Dobbs Ferry
    Credits:
    120
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  • Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design) B.F.A.

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Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design) B.F.A. Curriculum

General Education Requirements 36 Credits
Design + Animation 78 Credits
Open Electives 6 Credits
Total 120 Credits

Students who choose the major concentration in Design + Animation must complete:

General Education Requirements

36 credits

  • CINQ 101 Critical Inquiry
  • ENGL 111 Written Engl/Lit Studies I
  • ENGL 112 Written Engl & Lit Studies II
  • SPCM 110 Oral Communications
  • MATH 115 Math for Liberal Arts for the Liberal Arts or MATH 116, College Algebra
  • JRSM 301 Junior Seminar

Plus, choose three credits from each of the areas below:

  • 1) Literature and Communication: Literature, Speech, Communication
  • 2) Language and Cultural Perspectives: World Languages
  • 3) Ethical Perspectives: Philosophy, Religion
  • 4) Historical and Global Perspectives: History, Political Science, Geography
  • 5) Scientific Perspectives: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Astronomy
  • 6) Social Perspectives: Sociology, Psychology, Economics

Major Required Classes (39 Credits)

  • CART 110 Foundation I: Design Principles
  • CART 120 Foundation I: Design & Digital Skill
  • CART 200 Drawing I
  • CART 214 Drawing II
  • CART/ARTT 215 History of Art I
  • CART/ARTT 216 History of Art II
  • CART 225 Foundation II: Process, Composition, Color
  • CART 245 Sound Design
  • CART 300 Drawing III: Figure Drawing
  • CART 315 Animation History
  • CART 316 Design History
  • CART 495 Senior Studio
  • CART 496 Senior Project

Major Electives (36 Credits)

Select 13 courses from the following*:

  • CART 240 Storyboarding
  • CART 250 Modeling I
  • CART 255 Modeling II
  • CART 260 Motion Graphics I
  • CART 320 2D Animation
  • CART 325 Video
  • CART 330 Painting I
  • CART 335 Visual Storytelling
  • CART 340 Digital Animation I
  • CART 345 Digital Animation II
  • CART 440 Digital Animation III
  • CART 360 Game Design I
  • CART 370 Graphic Design I: Word and Image
  • CART 375 Graphic Design II: Grid and Identity
  • CART 470 Graphic Design III: Complex Content Systems and Personal Voice
  • CART 395 Special Topics Design + Animation
  • CART 397 Independent Study Design + Animation
  • CART 399 Internship in Design + Animation
  • CART 425 Animation Techniques
  • CART/CISC 219 Web Design I
  • CART/CISC 259 Web Design II
  • CART/MEDA 258 Fundamentals of Writing for Film and Television
  • CART/MEDA 262 Introduction to Acting

Open Electives

6 credits

Open electives may be fulfilled with approved transfer credits from another institution or courses from any other Mercy College program. It is highly recommended that majors take courses in the cognate programs of Media Studies, Music Industry and Technology, and Computer Information Systems.

REQUIREMENTS 
In order to be admitted into the Design + Animation major, students must submit a portfolio of art work and essay to be reviewed by the Portfolio Review Admission Committee.
 
Contact the program for information and procedures for the portfolio review. Students who are not prepared to submit a portfolio may enroll in CART 200 with permission of the program head. Work from this course may be used to complete the portfolio review. Students will not be allowed to take additional CART courses until the portfolio review has been satisfactorily completed. 
 
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 in all attempted and completed major courses. If the GPA in the major is less than 2.5, the student will be subject to a formal assessment of his/her aptitude for the subject matter and standing in the program and may be dismissed from the major. 
 
There is a 21-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of Design + Animation.
 

Academic Program Sequence Map

Download a copy of the sequence map for:

ARCHIVE

Do you have a visiting artists program?
Yes. Visiting Speakers and Lecturers have included: Roy Disney; JJ Sedelmaier, animator; Don Hahn, Disney animation producer; Richard Gorey, Animator; Jayme Wilkinson, Blue Sky Studios stereoscopic supervisor; Tim Dingersen, Click 3X; Linda Feaster, brand strategist, Sasakaya; Drew Coburn, Strategy & Account Director, Cubism Group; Peter Sohn, Pixar animator/story artist; Sande Chen, writer and game designer; Mike Cushny, Blue Sky Studios camera technical director; Moroni Taylor, Blue Sky Studios animator/story artist; Danny Williams, Blue Sky Studios animator; Chris Siemasko, Blue Sky Studios story artist; Trish Logar, Animator/Illustrator, Whiteboard Animation; Kamil Durzynski, Game Artist; Mike Gondek, Creative Director, Pyramid America; Max Porter, Animator; John R. Dilworth, Animator, creator of Courage the Cowardly Dog; Loren Bouchard, animation producer; Eric Zimmerman, game designer/producer; Rocco Piscatello, graphic designer; Karen White, graphic designer; David Schwartz, Director, Museum of the Moving Image.
How long does earning a degree take?
Full-time students can complete the 120-credit degree program in four years.
What is the first step in the admissions process?
Click on "Apply Now" on the Mercy homepage or call 1.877.MERCY.GO to apply for admission to Mercy College and arrange for an appointment with an Admissions Counselor. Bring your completed application form and copies of your high school and/or college transcripts with you at the time of your appointment.
What type of facilities do you have?
The program has two digital design/animation studios and a traditional drawing/painting/design studio. Each digital studio consists of 12-17 dedicated computer stations. All stations in our digital studios are equipped with Cintiq Interactive Pen Displays. Digital Studios are either Macintosh or Windows platform, and offer two- and three-dimensional animation, digital video, color printing and scanning capabilities. Digital photography and video cameras are available for student use. Software is updated yearly. Each digital studio has dedicated video projection and audio equipment for classroom demonstrations and critiques.
Are internships available for college credit?
Yes. Students in the Computer Arts + Design program can complete up to 9 credits of internship credit.
Are department faculty available for academic advising?
Yes, the program head and our full-time faculty work closely with all majors. We are always ready to guide students with questions about what courses to take, the sequencing of courses, and career opportunities, including internships and job placements.
What degrees do you offer?
We offer a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree.
What companies employ your alumni?
Design + Animation graduates have worked for: Sony Pictures Imageworks, Marvel Entertainment, Framestore, NBC Sports, Vineyard Vines, NowThis, Afropunk, Viacom, iHeartRadio, Verizon Wireless, Intel Corportation, Definition Media, Via – On-Demand Transit, Gensler, McNamara Salvia, Disney/ABC Television Group, WayForward Technologies, Stanley Black and Decker, JWT, Armstrong Partnership, Ideas on Purpose, EF Education First, Nautica, Rockstar Games, Whiteboard Animation, Powerhead Games, Pyramid America, N-Fusion Interactive, Fox Business Network, Prestige Brands, Inc, Federated Media. Fusion TV, 8 Point Studio, Softtek, WorldNow, Zwilling/J.A. Henckels, World Wrestling Entertainment, Little Airplane Productions, Aquent, VHB, Consumer Eyes, DHS Systems, SCHAWK! OnBrand Group at MasterCard Worldwide, General Electric, New Media Technology team, FAI Design Group, Incentient, Classic Medallics, Chad Lavigne LLC.
How can I get more information?
To schedule a tour, get information on application requirements and initiate the application process, contact the program head, Josh Gaetjen at (914) 674-3051 or jgaetjen@mercy.edu. Visit our How to Apply page for additional information on submitting your portfolio.
Are courses available in the evenings and weekends?
The majority of program classes are offered during the daytime hours.
Where have students interned?
Design + Animation students have interned for: Blue Sky Studios, Luckeyou, Atlantic Records, Ideas on Purpose, Mechanism Digital, Diesel USA, Blackmaled Productions, Harpers Bazaar, JJ Sedelmaier Productions, Momentum Advertising and Design, Jacob Burns Film Center, Gaia Industries, Black Hammer Games, NBC News, The Cartoon Bank, New Yorker Magazine, Redbook, Tiny Mantis and PM Sports.
Can I begin taking major courses immediately?
Yes, first-time freshmen complete 3 or 4 courses in the major in their first semester. All students take at least 3 major classes each semester.
Is Mercy College a nonsectarian institution?
Yes. Qualified applicants are admitted without regard to race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age or physical disability.
How many credits can be transferred from another institution?
Up to 75 credits from a two-year institution. Up to 90 from a four-year institution. Up to 90 credits combined however the credits may not exceed 75 credits from any combination of two-year institutions as they apply to your chosen degree. In addition you may only transfer in two courses of upper-level business credit (six credits) to apply to the major / specialization.

Faculty Profiles

Josh Gaetjen Associate Professor
Jen Roos Associate Professor, Computer Arts and Design
Ralph Sullender Assistant Professor, Computer Arts and Design
Philip White Technology Manager

Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design) Overview

Digital technology pervades our culture, empowering individuals to transform the way we look at the world. The Design + Animation program, offered at the main campus in Dobbs Ferry, investigates the creative capacity of digital technology to improve communication, develop creative self-expression, and explore perception and interaction among people, objects and ideas. The Bachelor of Fine Arts program is designed to prepare students for careers in animation/gaming and communication design.

Fancybox
Student Stories: Rachel Babicz

Meet Rachel Babicz and learn more about Design + Animation at Mercy College.

Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design) FAQS

What type of facilities do you have?
The program has two digital design/animation studios and a traditional drawing/painting/design studio. Each digital studio consists of 12-17 dedicated computer stations. All stations in our digital studios are equipped with Cintiq Interactive Pen Displays. Digital Studios are either Macintosh or Windows platform, and offer two- and three-dimensional animation, digital video, color printing and scanning capabilities. Digital photography and video cameras are available for student use. Software is updated yearly. Each digital studio has dedicated video projection and audio equipment for classroom demonstrations and critiques.
Do you have a visiting artists program?
Yes. Visiting Speakers and Lecturers have included: Roy Disney; JJ Sedelmaier, animator; Don Hahn, Disney animation producer; Richard Gorey, Animator; Jayme Wilkinson, Blue Sky Studios stereoscopic supervisor; Tim Dingersen, Click 3X; Linda Feaster, brand strategist, Sasakaya; Drew Coburn, Strategy & Account Director, Cubism Group; Peter Sohn, Pixar animator/story artist; Sande Chen, writer and game designer; Mike Cushny, Blue Sky Studios camera technical director; Moroni Taylor, Blue Sky Studios animator/story artist; Danny Williams, Blue Sky Studios animator; Chris Siemasko, Blue Sky Studios story artist; Trish Logar, Animator/Illustrator, Whiteboard Animation; Kamil Durzynski, Game Artist; Mike Gondek, Creative Director, Pyramid America; Max Porter, Animator; John R. Dilworth, Animator, creator of Courage the Cowardly Dog; Loren Bouchard, animation producer; Eric Zimmerman, game designer/producer; Rocco Piscatello, graphic designer; Karen White, graphic designer; David Schwartz, Director, Museum of the Moving Image.
Fancybox
Design and Animation (formerly Computer Arts + Design)

Design and Animation at Mercy College investigates the creative capacity of digital technology to improve communication, develop creative self-expression, and explore perception and interaction among people, objects, and ideas. Our program offers a comprehensive four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree supported by the highest quality resources and facilities; it prepares students for careers in animation/gaming and communication design.

Career Opportunities

What career paths will graduates be able to pursue?

Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Interface Design, Information Design, Multimedia Design, Web Design, Digital Media Design, Package Design, Design for Film & Television (Motion Graphics), Computer Graphics, Digital Photography, Digital Imaging, Digital and Classical Two- and Three-dimensional Animation, CGI Modeling, Character Animation, Special Effects (SFX), Storyboarding & Scripting, Prototyping & Playtesting for Gaming, Level Design, Digital Painting, Rotoscoping, Filming with Digital Video, Post Production & Editing, Art Direction, Creative Direction.

Facilities

The Design and Animation program is housed at Mercy's main campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York, twenty-miles from midtown Manhattan. 

The Studios
The program has two digital design/animation studios and a traditional drawing/painting/design studio. Each digital studio consists of 12-17 dedicated computer stations. All stations in our digital studios are equipped with Cintiq Interactive Pen Displays. Digital Studios are either Macintosh or Windows platform, and offer two- and three-dimensional animation, digital video, color printing and scanning capabilities. Digital photography and video cameras are available for student use. Software is updated yearly. Each digital studio has dedicated video projection and audio equipment for classroom demonstrations and critiques.

Primary Software
Our facilities have more software than you will ever need! Our primary software packages include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Animate, Dreamweaver and Premiere; Apple Final Cut and iLife suite; DigiDesign ProTools; and Maya, Zbrush and Nuke.

Program Outcomes

By the end of this program, students should be able to: 

  • Critique his or her work and that of his or her peers from a well informed perspective including knowledge of historical, creative, and technical aspects of art and design
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and skills necessary to be successful in the field by actively engaging in classroom critiques, assigned readings, course projects, or independent research
  • Identify and use the appropriate production tools and techniques to complete advanced work in design
  • Create a sophisticated body of work that demonstrates proficiency or expertise in design
  • Identify and use the appropriate production tools and techniques to complete advanced work in animation
  • Create a sophisticated body of work that demonstrates proficiency or expertise in animation
  • Identify opportunities for continued education and training for advancement in the field

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