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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

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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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