How to Apply to Dodge College’s Animation and Visual Effects BFA for 2025 Entry
The BFA in Animation and Visual Effects at Dodge College offers film students a balanced and creative environment to tell compelling stories through digital art. Learn how to use computer-animated characters, digital effects, compositing techniques combining motion capture and live action. In addition, students will learn 2D (hand-drawn) animation. 6 internship credits can satisfy the elective requirement of the major. Students can also participate in the Digital Arts Club, a student-run organization that hosts field trips, beach parties, holiday parties, and Saturday seminars featuring industry guests.
By the end of the program, students will have pursued internships at top-notch companies, from DreamWorks Studios to Pixar, and used Dodge College's LED wall and motion capture systems to develop a career-ready portfolio. Click here to learn more about the program objectives and course offerings.
Dodge College offers a suggested four-year degree map based on emphasis; it does not factor in general education courses to meet the 120 credit minimum needed to graduate.
Take a look at a sample four-year degree map for the CG (3D) emphasis in the Animation and Visual Effects BFA program:
12 credits are taken in both the fall and spring.
AVE 310 - Animation and Visual Effects: Evenings with the Experts is open to both AVE and non-AVE majors and can be repeated for credit. Students can attend screenings, interviews, and discussions with animation and visual effects experts in television, live action, movies, video games, and other fields.
9 credits are taken in fall and 12 credits are taken in spring.
AVE 496 - Senior Thesis I: Concept Development is an essential course with a prerequisite of completing AVE 249 with a B-minus or better. This three-semester series of courses helps AVE students prepare their graduation showcase. Course I focuses on brainstorming, conceptualizing, and refining the story, plus establishing production design, developing a story reel, and preparing the production plan.
9 credits are taken in fall and 12 credits are taken in spring.
6 credits are taken in fall and 6 credits are taken in spring.
1. Dodge College Personal Statement: In 500 words or fewer, discuss your distinct experiences/background/values makes you a unique candidate for your desired program. Focus on what makes you unique as a person that is not already covered in other parts of the application and beyond any direct experience you may have in film.
2. Creative Resume: Your resume should highlight 5-7 pieces of your best creative projects (1 page maximum). These projects should demonstrate your ability to convey a story or message through creative, artistic or technical talents. As we are only asking for a limited number of projects, including more recent items and projects in which you were the driving force or had a leadership role. These can include class assignments, projects from jobs or internships, or your personal hobbies and freelance work. Your resume should not contain the projects themselves. It is simply a written description of your projects.
Formatting guidelines
Articles for the School Newspaper
Journalism I class, 2022
I wrote several feature articles on various topics from the constant flooding of the men’s bathroom to vandalism on campus. I also did a film review for every issue. I helped with the layout of the paper as well as selecting the final photographs.
3. Two-Part Creative Portfolio: Please note that a direct link to upload this requirement will appear on your application checklist once the Common App has been submitted. Applicants will be asked to indicate their interest in one of the three areas of study: 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Visual Effects. Admitted students are not required to commit to an emphasis until the Fall semester of their sophomore year.
The Admission Committee encourages you to demonstrate relevant skills based in the area of study you are most interested in. If you are not certain which area of emphasis you're interested in, you may submit a combination of samples from each of the three areas below. (All applicants must submit 20 total jpeg/png examples of work.)
By the end of the program, students will have pursued internships at top-notch companies, from DreamWorks Studios to Pixar, and used Dodge College's LED wall and motion capture systems to develop a career-ready portfolio. Click here to learn more about the program objectives and course offerings.
Dodge College offers a suggested four-year degree map based on emphasis; it does not factor in general education courses to meet the 120 credit minimum needed to graduate.
Take a look at a sample four-year degree map for the CG (3D) emphasis in the Animation and Visual Effects BFA program:
Year 1
Students learn the fundamentals of animation and storytelling in courses such as AVE - 109: Fundamental Graphics I for Animation and Visual Effects and SW 127 - Writing for Film and TV. In addition, students learn film and media aesthetics and the history of animation.12 credits are taken in both the fall and spring.
Year 2
After mastering the groundwork of filmmaking and animation, students take AVE 202B - 3D Computer Graphics and AVE 302B - 3D Computer Graphics II across both semesters. Students continue to build on their knowledge by completing AVE 249 - Storytelling in Animation and Visual Effects.AVE 310 - Animation and Visual Effects: Evenings with the Experts is open to both AVE and non-AVE majors and can be repeated for credit. Students can attend screenings, interviews, and discussions with animation and visual effects experts in television, live action, movies, video games, and other fields.
9 credits are taken in fall and 12 credits are taken in spring.
Year 3
Most of these courses examine the minutiae of animation and visual effects: color and design, advanced 3D animation techniques, and refining character design. AVE 357 - Writing for Animation helps students flesh out their artistic skills by mastering traditional narrative and experimental storytelling structures.AVE 496 - Senior Thesis I: Concept Development is an essential course with a prerequisite of completing AVE 249 with a B-minus or better. This three-semester series of courses helps AVE students prepare their graduation showcase. Course I focuses on brainstorming, conceptualizing, and refining the story, plus establishing production design, developing a story reel, and preparing the production plan.
9 credits are taken in fall and 12 credits are taken in spring.
Year 4
In the senior year of the AVE program, students take AVE 497 - Senior Thesis II: Pre-Production and Production I and AVE 498 - Senior Thesis III: Production II and Post-Production. Students reference what they have learned to produce a short film or comparable project that covers every step of the digital media production process.6 credits are taken in fall and 6 credits are taken in spring.
How to apply
Take a look at the application requirements from Dodge College’s undergraduate admissions overview:1. Dodge College Personal Statement: In 500 words or fewer, discuss your distinct experiences/background/values makes you a unique candidate for your desired program. Focus on what makes you unique as a person that is not already covered in other parts of the application and beyond any direct experience you may have in film.
2. Creative Resume: Your resume should highlight 5-7 pieces of your best creative projects (1 page maximum). These projects should demonstrate your ability to convey a story or message through creative, artistic or technical talents. As we are only asking for a limited number of projects, including more recent items and projects in which you were the driving force or had a leadership role. These can include class assignments, projects from jobs or internships, or your personal hobbies and freelance work. Your resume should not contain the projects themselves. It is simply a written description of your projects.
Formatting guidelines
- Title of the project (length of project if applicable)
- Reason for creating/Date of creation: You may write “freelance” if it was something you did on your own.
- Description of item: An in-depth description of the piece, the inspiration or objective, and your specific role in its creation. Also list any awards or special recognition you may have received for the piece.
Articles for the School Newspaper
Journalism I class, 2022
I wrote several feature articles on various topics from the constant flooding of the men’s bathroom to vandalism on campus. I also did a film review for every issue. I helped with the layout of the paper as well as selecting the final photographs.
3. Two-Part Creative Portfolio: Please note that a direct link to upload this requirement will appear on your application checklist once the Common App has been submitted. Applicants will be asked to indicate their interest in one of the three areas of study: 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Visual Effects. Admitted students are not required to commit to an emphasis until the Fall semester of their sophomore year.
The Admission Committee encourages you to demonstrate relevant skills based in the area of study you are most interested in. If you are not certain which area of emphasis you're interested in, you may submit a combination of samples from each of the three areas below. (All applicants must submit 20 total jpeg/png examples of work.)
- 2D Animation Recommendation
- 5 sample images with multiple drawings/quick sketches of people and animals that convey energy, movement, emotion, and personality through a few simple lines. Drawings should be done in a studio and in public settings. Suggested venues for gesture drawings are parks, zoos, beaches, restaurants, museums, and malls.
- 10-12 images showing designs of original characters, environments, or props. Multiple drawings per page of the same design from different perspective angles. Characters should include dynamic poses that convey a range of emotions and body attitudes. Submissions may include sketchbook pages.
- 3-5 storyboard or comic book panels with good composition, staging and clear storytelling. Versatility in drawing and design styles is a plus.
- 3D Animation Recommendation
- 5 sample images with multiple drawings/quick sketches of people and animals that convey energy, movement, emotion, and personality through a few simple lines. Drawings should be done in a studio and in public settings. Suggested venues for gesture drawings are parks, zoos, beaches, restaurants, museums, and malls.
- 15 Samples of 3D work using any 3D software packages that display fundamental proficiency in two or more of the following: modeling, rigging, prop design, lighting, set creation and 3D animation. 2D illustrations and concept design of characters and environments can also be included.
- Visual Effects Recommendation
- 5 samples of traditional artwork that emphasizes visual communication, staging, composition, lighting and color.
- A selection of 15 single frame samples of work, showing fundamental proficiency in any of the following: 3D techniques, modeling, rigging, prop design, lighting, set creation and 3D animation. You can also include still images that show manipulation of photographic content, digital illustration integrated with photoreal content. 2D illustrations and concept design of characters and environments can also be included.
- 2D Animation Recommendation
- Animation that demonstrates fundamentals of weight, physics, timing, and personality.
- Animatics of storyboard samples, plus strong character posing and performance that conveys emotion and drives the story.
- 3D Animation and VFX Recommendation (submit samples that include some or all of the following):
- 3D or 2D animation that demonstrates fundamentals of weight, physics, timing, and personality.
- 3D content or 2D content that demonstrates fundamental narrative and visual communication skills, editing, staging, and composition.
- Examples that demonstrate integration of digital art and live action content including basic compositing skills such as masking, roto, matte painting, and camera tracking.
- VFX simulations, 3D characters or creature animation using any 3D software packages.
