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Quick Facts

  • Delivery: On Campus
  • Credits: 84

Toon Boon Center of Excellence

The School of Art offers a four-year, professional Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Arts/Animation designed to prepare students for dynamic careers in animation, game art, illustration, and visual effects. Rooted in a strong foundation of traditional and digital art practices, the program equips students with industry-relevant skills in 2D and 3D animation, storytelling, character and world-building, design, and technical workflows.

Students begin in the First-Year Foundations Program, developing core competencies in drawing, design, time-based media, and creative thinking. From their second year onward, students receive hands-on training using industry-standard software such as Maya, Adobe Creative Suite, Toon Boom, Unreal Engine, and Substance Painter.

Across all concentrations, the program emphasizes collaboration, project-based learning, and professional readiness. Students participate in large-scale, team-based productions that mirror real-world studio environments and build robust portfolios and demo reels that demonstrate their creative vision and technical skill.

Graduates are prepared for careers in a wide range of industries—from animation studios and game companies to film production, publishing, and emerging media platforms. Possible career paths include 2D/3D animator, storyboard artist, game asset designer, concept artist, visual effects artist, medical animator, illustrator, and more.

Concentrations

The concentration in Animation Production offers comprehensive digital training that includes character design, storyboarding, modeling, texturing, and dynamic lighting. They learn to draw, develop stories, manage complex tasks, work collaboratively, meet deadlines, participate in critique, respond to feedback, and adapt to change. Learn more.

The concentration in Game Art/Design offers a comprehensive digital animation experience that explores traditional 2D and 3D animation, stop-motion, and illustration. Students learn about video game creation including game theory, game development pipelines, and game asset creation. Learn more.

The concentration in VFX Animation includes training in 2D and 3D animation, dynamic effects, motion graphics, CG lighting, and audio, video, and extended reality classes offered in partnership with the Department of Media. Learn more.

The concentration in Illustration offers a comprehensive digital experience, including training in both traditional 2D and cutting-edge 3D illustration techniques. Our illustration program emphasizes training in creating highly detailed visuals and design elements that often become the basis for animated worlds and characters. Learn more.

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Next Steps

If you’d like to learn more about our visual arts/animation major, complete our online form. Or one of the best ways to get a true feel for Ball State is to see it for yourself, so schedule a visit today! And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.

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