Skip to main content
    Admissions
    Find all the information you need about applying to PNCA in one place. Take the next step and start your application.
Admitted Students
Enrolling Students
International Students
    Cost & Aid Overview
    Get the latest information about tuition costs and financial aid opportunities available to PNCA students.
Tuition & Fees
Types of Aid
Steps to Financial Aid
Calculate Your Cost (NPC)
    Academics Overview
    Learn more about our distinct art and design programs. Find out about our unique opportunities, studio-based classes, and dedicated faculty.
All Programs and Degrees
Career Design
Study Abroad
Pre-College Program
    Culture Overview
    Get a feel for life at PNCA. From campus culture to the surrounding Portland area, learn how we make aspiring artists feel at home.
Watershed
Galleries and Exhibitions
Online Galleries
Symposium
Community Events
Notable Alumni
Request Info Visit Apply Give
About News Alumni Parents Academic Calendar
Willamette University

Animated Arts Requirements

The information here may reflect program requirements for future academic years. If you are a current student and would like to see the current or prior years’ requirements for this program, please see the University Catalog.

Program Overview

PNCA provides a holistic approach to animated arts. Our animation courses cover a variety of topics that combine real world experience with artistry. Dive into puppet fabrication, take a course on animated short films, or learn more about animated installations. Choose between a variety of animation courses to tailor your education to your interests.

Requirements for the Animated Arts Major

The Animated Arts major requires the completion of 60 semester hours, which includes eight three-credit required courses, one three-credit art history course, one three-credit elective selected from a list, one three-credit 300-level AA studio course, seven three-credit studio elective courses, and six credits of Thesis Project. This 60-credit major contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

In addition to the program requirements listed below, all BFA students must complete Foundation and General Education requirements that contribute to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

Program Curriculum


Required Program Courses

  • AA201 Essential Tools & Principles

  • AA212 Editing & Sound Design

  • AA231 Animation 1: Materials, Methods & Motion

  • AA232 Animation 2: Hybrid Moving Image

  • AA240 Visual Storytelling

  • AA351 Production Co-Lab

  • AA352 Layout and Background Design

  • AA333 Narrative Strategies

Art History

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • IS216 History of Film & Video

    • IS219 History of Animation

Program Electives

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • AA236 Character and Identity

    • AA237 Stop Motion

    • AA238 Puppet Fabrication

    • PH211 Fundamentals of Cinematography

  • Complete 3 additional credits at the 300-level from Animated Arts (AA) subject

  • Complete an additional 21 credits from any of the following subjects (3 credits must be at the 400-level; the remaining 18 credits may be at any level):

    • Animated Arts (AA), Creative Writing (CW), Drawing (DR), Graphic Design (GD), Illustration (IL), Intermedia (IM), Painting (PA), Painting and Drawing (PADR), Photography (PH), Printmaking (PR), or Sculpture (SC).

Applied Creative Practice

Course Outline

The Animated Arts curriculum combines the hand crafted with the digital to help you grow your unique vision. You'll find you have plenty of options to tailor your experience.

ID Course Title Credit Req
Integrated Studies (9 cr. required)
IS101 Core Seminar 1 3
IS102 Core Seminar 2 3
IS106 Place-Based Inquiry 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP100 Introduction to Creative Citizenship 3
First-Year Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100 **First Year Seminar 1
Studio Courses (3 cr required)
Studio Elective 3
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101 Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102 Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105 Drawing 1 3
FD111 3D Design 3
FD112 Time Arts 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 31 cr. earned to date 31

**FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all first-years with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Credit Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
IS 216 or IS219 History of the Moving Image or History of Animation 3
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP200 Creative Project Management 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
AA201 Essential Tools & Principles 3
AA231 Animation I: Materials, Methods & Motion 3
AA232 Animation II: Hybrid Moving Image 3
AA212 Editing & Sound Design 3
AA240 Visual Storytelling 3
PH211 Fundamentals of Cinematography, AA236 Character & Identity, AA237 Stop Motion, or AA238 Puppet Fabrication 3
TOTAL 30

At the completion of Second Year: 61 cr. earned to date

 61
ID Course Title Credit Req
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (6 cr. required)
ACP300 Creative Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness 3
ACP301 or ACP302 Applied Learning Internship or Applied Learning Elective 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
AA333 Narrative Strategies 3
AA351 Production Co-Lab 3
AA352 Layout and Background 3
AA300-level Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 91 cr. earned to date 91
ID Course Title Credit Req
Integrated Studies (3 cr. required)
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (12 cr. required)
ACP400 Senior Seminar 3
ACP401 Thesis Critique Seminar 3
ACP499 Thesis Project 6
Studio Courses (12 cr. required)
400-level studio elective (from any major dept 400 level) AA436 AA. Project Incubator 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 121 cr. earned to date 121

Willamette University

Animated Arts