Graphic Design - Gaming - Animation
Become a leader in digital technology, which is changing how we look at the world.
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Students who choose the major concentration in Design + Animation must complete:
General Education Requirements
36 credits
Plus, choose three credits from each of the areas below:
Major Required Classes (39 Credits)
Major Electives (36 Credits)
Select 13 courses from the following*:
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.
Download a copy of the sequence map for:
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Thank you for your interest in the Design + Animation program at Mercy College. Applicants to the program must pass a portfolio review before taking classes in the major. The portfolio must include at least twenty examples of art or design work. Please note that besides submitting your portfolio, you must also submit an undergraduate application through the Office of Admissions. For more information from Mercy's Office of Admissions, click here.
The Portfolio
Your portfolio should show your potential for developing your work in the visual arts. Submit a range of work that highlights both your discipline and creativity. Submit at least 20 work samples, with a minimum of 10 examples that demonstrate your ability to draw or paint from direct observation. We want to see that you can render forms accurately and create interesting and unique compositions. Any digital work you submit should incorporate your design, drawing and/or painting skills. If you have completed work in animation and 3D modeling you can submit that work as well, but only submit your best work.
All applicants must:
Transfer applicants with course work in art and design completed at another institution should contact to the Program Head for additional information on receiving transfer credit for that course work.
To submit your portfolio online
Submit your portfolio online when completing your application, or later through the student portal. You may also submit your portfolio in person.
To submit your portfolio in person
Required formats for Portfolio work:
Deadlines
Although Mercy College has rolling admissions we recommend that fall applicants to the Design + Animation program submit their portfolios in March or April or, if after that time, as soon as you apply for admission to the College. Applicants for the spring semester should submit their portfolios in December or, if applying after that time, as soon as you apply for admission.
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.
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.
In order to be admitted into the Design + Animation major, students must submit a portfolio of artwork 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.
Please see the how to apply tab for more information.
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.
By the end of this program, students should be able to: