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Animation Game Design - B.S.

Ready to turn your passion for games and animation into a profession? Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Animation and Game Design bachelor's degree program is the perfect place to start. With a cutting-edge curriculum and access to state-of-the-art technology, you'll be equipped with the skills you need to make your mark in the industry. 

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Chris Totten | Assistant Professor | Animation Game Design
Phone: 330-308-7567
Email: ctotten@kent.edu

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Bachelor’s Degree in Animation Game Design

The Bachelor of Science degree in Animation Game Design provides the key concepts, creative tools and principles of diverse skills in fundamental and advanced technical knowledge of modeling, animation and game design.

Program Information for Animation Game Design - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Animation Game Design provides the key concepts, creative tools and principles of diverse skills in fundamental and advanced technical knowledge of modeling, animation and game design.

The degree program prepares students for careers by developing technical competency, creative/independent problem solving and conceptual understanding necessary for the challenges of a career in the creative industries. Upon graduation, students have created a professional-quality portfolio to enter the field of content creators and are prepared for jobs in technical illustration, two- and three-dimension modeling, game design, animation, artistic production and exhibition. Students are guided in selecting courses that support a given concentration. They can take courses in various aspects of art, design and film/video.

The Animation Game Design major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Animation concentration involves bringing motion to still objects or displaying a sequence of still images to create the illusion of motion or life. Animation involves more than just character motion; it includes motion graphics, video editing, special effects, cameras and video output. Students learn how to animate characters, elements of environments and graphics. Two- and three-dimension models are animated as necessary, via a combination of manual animation, procedural tools and physical simulation.
  • The Game Design concentration provides the environment and content creation in two- and three-dimension models. The focus is on the design part of game environments to be used on platforms such as personal computers, smart phones and game consoles. Students learn the importance of two- and three-dimension model creation for specific games used for simulation, training, entertainment and measuring educational outcomes.
Admissions for Animation Game Design - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Â鶹ÊÓƵ students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Â鶹ÊÓƵ may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate current skills in two- and three-dimension modeling, animation and game design.
  2. Apply design thinking to technological problems, including demonstrating familiarity with design thinking applicable to their professional work.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of modeling, animation and game design.
  4. Demonstrate effective communication skills — both verbally and in written form — with technical, business and design professionals, including effective communication as individuals and as part of a project team.
  5. Participate in and lead multidisciplinary project teams, demonstrating theoretical and practical understanding of team dynamics.
  6. Demonstrate appreciation for diverse cultures and individual differences and reflect that appreciation in their work.
  7. Engage in continuous learning, as well as research and assess new ideas and information to provide the capabilities for lifelong learning.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
AGD 12000TWO DIMENSION GRAPHICS 3
AGD 12001MODELING AND TEXTURING I 3
AGD 21000FUNDAMENTALS OF MIXED REALITY 3
AGD 22004MODELING AND TEXTURING II 3
AGD 22010DIGITAL SCULPTING 3
AGD 23020GAMING AND CULTURE 3
AGD 34003ANIMATION THEORY 3
AGD 43092INTERNSHIP IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN (ELR) (WIC) 13
or AGD 43096 INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
AGD 49999SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC) 13
or TAS 47999 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC)
Major Electives, choose from the following: 224
AGD 11003
SOLID MODELING
AGD 21092
ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN PRACTICUM (ELR)
AGD 22000
TWO-DIMENSION COMMUNICATION
AGD 22001
MODELING FOR ARCHITECTURE
AGD 22005
MULTIMEDIA AND GAME DESIGN
AGD 22095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
AGD 23030
GAME PROTOTYPING
AGD 33010
COMPETITIVE GAMING
AGD 33095
SPECIAL TOPICS ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
AGD 34000
CHARACTER ANIMATION
AGD 34001
ANIMATION PROJECT
AGD 34005
ENVIRONMENTAL GAME DESIGN
AGD 43000
INTERACTIVE GAME DESIGN
AGD 43001
ANIMATION PRODUCTION AND VISUAL EFFECTS
AGD 43025
REAL-TIME RENDERING FOR ANIMATION
AGD 43092
INTERNSHIP IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN (ELR) (WIC) 1
AGD 43096
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
ARCH 10011
GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA)
ARCH 10012
GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY II (KFA)
ART 10022
2D COMPOSITION
ART 10023
3D COMPOSITION
CCI 12001
PHOTOGRAPHY
CS 13001
COMPUTER SCIENCE I: PROGRAMMING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
CS 13011
COMPUTER SCIENCE IA: PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING
CS 13012
COMPUTER SCIENCE IB: OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
DI 10010
SURVEY OF DESIGN INNOVATION NODES
DI 20020
BE SMARTER THAN YOUR SMARTPHONE
DI 20100
INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN INNOVATION
EERT 32003
TECHNICAL COMPUTING
ENG 20002
INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 20021
INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
ENGT 33010
COMPUTER HARDWARE FOR ANIMATION
ENTR 27056
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FDM 10023
FASHION VISUALS
FDM 10024
FASHION VISUALS LABORATORY
FDM 10140
FOUNDATIONS OF FASHION DRAWING
FDM 20013
HISTORY OF COSTUME
MDJ 10009
ELEMENTS OF FILM, TV AND ANIMATION
MDJ 20001
MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS)
MDJ 20011
PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS
MDJ 23004
STORY FOR PICTURE
MERT 12000
ENGINEERING DRAWING
MERT 12001
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
MERT 34002
ADVANCED SOLID MODELING
MUS 21113
MUSIC PRODUCTION I
MUS 21114
MUSIC PRODUCTION II
MUS 21221
AUDIO RECORDING I
THEA 11303
THE ART OF ACTING
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ARTH 22006ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) 3
or ARTH 22007 ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA)
or VCD 13000 VISUAL DESIGN THINKING
ARTS 14000DRAWING I 3
ARTS 14001DRAWING II 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
MATH 11022TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
6
9
6
6-7
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)5
Concentrations
Choose from the following:18
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students should meet with an advisor when selecting electives.

Animation Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
AGD 11003SOLID MODELING 3
AGD 34000CHARACTER ANIMATION 3
AGD 34001ANIMATION PROJECT 3
AGD 43001ANIMATION PRODUCTION AND VISUAL EFFECTS 3
AGD 43025REAL-TIME RENDERING FOR ANIMATION 3
Animation Game Design (AGD) Elective3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Game Design Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
AGD 22001MODELING FOR ARCHITECTURE 3
AGD 22005MULTIMEDIA AND GAME DESIGN 3
AGD 33010COMPETITIVE GAMING 3
AGD 33030GAMES FOR EDUCATION 3
AGD 34005ENVIRONMENTAL GAME DESIGN 3
AGD 43000INTERACTIVE GAME DESIGN 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmaps

Animation Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
AGD 12000 TWO DIMENSION GRAPHICS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
AGD 11003 SOLID MODELING 3
ARTH 22006
or ARTH 22007
or VCD 13000
ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA)
or ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA)
or VISUAL DESIGN THINKING
3
ARTS 14000 DRAWING I 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
ARTS 14001 DRAWING II 3
AGD 12001 MODELING AND TEXTURING I 3
AGD 21000 FUNDAMENTALS OF MIXED REALITY 3
Major Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
AGD 22004 MODELING AND TEXTURING II 3
AGD 22010 DIGITAL SCULPTING 3
AGD 23020 GAMING AND CULTURE 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
AGD 34000 CHARACTER ANIMATION 3
AGD 34003 ANIMATION THEORY 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
AGD 34001 ANIMATION PROJECT 3
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
Animation Game Design (AGD) Elective 3
Major Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
AGD 43001 ANIMATION PRODUCTION AND VISUAL EFFECTS 3
AGD 43025 REAL-TIME RENDERING FOR ANIMATION 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
AGD 43092
or AGD 43096
INTERNSHIP IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN (ELR) (WIC)
or INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
3
AGD 49999
or TAS 47999
SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)
or TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC)
3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Game Design Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
AGD 12000 TWO DIMENSION GRAPHICS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
ARTH 22006
or ARTH 22007
or VCD 13000
ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA)
or ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA)
or VISUAL DESIGN THINKING
3
ARTS 14000 DRAWING I 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
AGD 12001 MODELING AND TEXTURING I 3
AGD 21000 FUNDAMENTALS OF MIXED REALITY 3
AGD 22001 MODELING FOR ARCHITECTURE 3
ARTS 14001 DRAWING II 3
Major Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
AGD 22004 MODELING AND TEXTURING II 3
AGD 22005 MULTIMEDIA AND GAME DESIGN 3
AGD 22010 DIGITAL SCULPTING 3
AGD 23020 GAMING AND CULTURE 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
AGD 33030 GAMES FOR EDUCATION 3
AGD 34003 ANIMATION THEORY 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
AGD 33010 COMPETITIVE GAMING 3
AGD 34005 ENVIRONMENTAL GAME DESIGN 3
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
Major Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
AGD 43000 INTERACTIVE GAME DESIGN 3
Major Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
AGD 43092
or AGD 43096
INTERNSHIP IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN (ELR) (WIC)
or INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN
3
AGD 49999
or TAS 47999
SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR) (WIC)
or TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC)
 
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirements 6
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus
Accreditation for Animation Game Design - B.S.

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Computer/Technology Suggested Specifications

Windows is the preferred operating system over Mac so that students may run the Windows-only Unreal Engine (required software) on their computers.

  • Set a budget first and foremost, then shop to match your budget.
  • Processor: Some type of AMD Ryzen /Intel i5 / i7 eight core CPU (minimum).
  • Minimum 16 GB of system RAM, 32 GB is better for running multiple development tools at once.
  • Minimum GTX 1660 / 1060 GPU (4-6GB video memory, minimum) Minimum of Solid State Disk (SSD) for windows + applications + regular HDD (for storage of other files) if at all possible. 500 GB - 1 TB capacity preferred. 
  • Laptops cost more due to being compact and portable compared to a desktop system. CPU and GPU upgrades also cost a great deal more if they are available.

We also strongly advise buying a drawing tablet (though it's not required). We recommend Wacom brand tablets since that is what our lab computers have drivers for. The  Intuos tablet line has several options under $100. There is also an  for students once your kent.edu email is provided.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Animation Game Design - B.S.

Those who complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Animation Game Design at Â鶹ÊÓƵ can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the animation game design industry.

Artists and related workers, all other

-0.2%

little or no change

13,100

number of jobs

$65,800

potential earnings

Special effects artists and animators

4.1%

about as fast as the average

67,500

number of jobs

$77,700

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of Animation and Game Design programs normally work in studios specializing in 2D and 3D digital graphics, architectural visualization, virtual and augmented reality, interactive training simulations, as well as the broadcast and entertainment industries. As a field where professionals routinely integrate the work of multiple visual and audio media, students are encouraged to work collaboratively across disciplines. Our selection of major electives likewise offers students pathways for building skills and knowledge in related areas. Our graduates are employed in recent years at the companies below:

  • Moving Picture Company, Montreal, Quebec- Visual effects artist 
  • High Moon Studios, San Diego, CA - Associate level designer
  • Epic Games, Raleigh, NC - Game capture specialist
  • Enhearten Media, Queensland, Australia - Social media manager
  • Strife AI, Akron, OH - artist/animator
  • Objective Reality Games, Chillicothe, OH - Artist/animator 
  • Roundtable Learning, Chagrin Falls, OH - 3D Designer
  • Smolen Engineering, Ltd., Jefferson, OH - Drafting Technician 
  • DataField Technology Services, Worthington, OH - Illustrator/3D Artist
  • EAC Product Development Solution, Minneapolis, MN - Technical Instructor
  • EA Games, Redwood City, CA - Associate Technical Artist
  • Cloud Imperium Games, Los Angeles, CA - Character Technical Artist
  • AlterVerse, Inc., Lake Shore, MN - Quest Gameplay Designer
  • Hoversport Studios LLC, Lakewood, OH 
  • Gylee Games, Cincinnati, OH - Level Designer

Students Interested in This Degree Should Contact:

FACULTY:

Professor Chris Totten, 330-308-7567 | ctotten@kent.edu 
Professor Lori Bears, 330-308-7438 | lbears@kent.edu