Bachelor’s in Digital Design Degree: Animation Emphasis
Bachelor’s in Digital Design Degree: Animation Emphasis
journey today.
Digital design and animation can be an exciting field of study for those who wish to use their artistic abilities while examining marketable technical skills. The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design with an Emphasis in Animation at Grand Canyon University is a modern program that guides you in developing your technological knowledge and creative thinking skills in the field of digital design and animation. Offered online and on campus by the College of Arts and Media, these digital animation undergraduate courses are designed to instill a comprehensive framework of competencies for the next generation of multimedia artists.
A degree in design with an emphasis in animation will teach you how to examine the interplay of light, color and texture in visual arts. You will also explore the technical capabilities and creative possibilities of motion graphics, typography, 2D and 3D animation. GCU’s design and animation courses foster peer collaboration on projects, while also encouraging you to join the Creative Herd Club, which explores creative practices and fosters the pre-professional development of visual communication. GCU is a creative and welcoming community, which strives to motivate you to pursue your passions.
Take Online Digital Animation Courses
GCU is pleased to provide flexible learning options for undergraduates, including online courses. Taking online digital animation courses may provide greater convenience and flexibility, while still benefitting from the same quality of instruction and curriculum as our on-campus students. You’ll access your course materials and discussion forums through our interactive e-learning platform, which is designed to foster collaboration and academic growth in our online student community.
Digital Design Degree Program Requirements
This degree program requires 120 credits for completion. Due to the technical and hands-on nature of these animation undergraduate courses, you are required to have a working laptop available, along with an active subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. Other supplies and software programs may be needed on a course-by-course basis.
Design Club and Professional Association for Design (AIGA)
At GCU, our commitment is to empower you with the skills and mindset needed to think critically and to unleash your creative potential, all in service of enhancing and enriching society. Furthermore, we aim to foster a vibrant creative community deeply interconnected with both the local and national design industry.
To further this mission, our multifaceted student design organization, the GCU Creative Herd, and our student chapter of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts), a renowned professional design association, can offer an array of opportunities. These opportunities may include your active participation in extracurricular design and animation events and a platform for career networking.
This digital design degree takes you through a progression of competencies from basic skills to advanced knowledge. You will explore all aspects of digital design and animation, including the principles of design, color, typography, motion graphics and animation. You will study advanced skills in sequential design and animation production while working through a hands-on curriculum. This program is designed to encourage you to become skilled communicators, ethical leaders, creative thinkers and efficient problem solvers in the field of design and animation.
Prepare to embark on a transformative journey where you will be meticulously guided through the creation of dynamic visual content in each course. It's crucial to recognize that motion graphics can play a fundamental role in digital advertising, permeate the landscape of social media videos and help define brand experiences.
Throughout the design and animation courses, you will be taught a diverse range of skills, including:
Digital Animation Undergraduate Courses
The digital animation courses typically fall into three categories: foundational creative and skill development, motion graphics and portfolio development. This degree program is designed to help you graduate as a well-rounded, work-ready professional who has a keen understanding of business practices and the essential elements of motion graphic design.
In this curriculum, the courses will lead you to explore a broad range of content areas, encompassing:
Build Your Digital Design and Animation Portfolio While in School
3%
Estimated job growth for graphic designers from 2022 to 20321
In the midst of your program, a mid-program portfolio can help you prepare for potential internships, while the fourth-year portfolio can serve as your gateway to pursuing employment or further education. These portfolios should not only exhibit industry-ready proficiency but also demonstrate innovation.
In your senior year, you'll create a professional portfolio to impress potential employers. Throughout the program, you'll refine your design, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to incorporate into your portfolio. GCU's Christian values will guide your ethical leadership principles, keeping a Christian worldview in focus.
Many different industries use motion graphics for either informative or entertainment purposes.2
Digital design and animation specialists may pursue employment opportunities in industries such as:2,3,4
Advertising
Public relations
Entertainment (TV and film)
Marketing and consumer products
Transportation and travel
Healthcare
$58,910
Average median annual wage for graphic designers as of May 20235
8,900
Estimated number of new jobs to open for graphic designers from 2022 to 20321
Design and Animation Jobs
Job candidates with a bachelor’s degree in digital design with an emphasis in animation may be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of outlets that require technical expertise combined with a creative flair.
Graduates may pursue design and animation careers in settings that include:2
Some design and animation jobs that may be available to graduates include the following:
Prior to enrolling in a digital design degree, make certain the university is institutionally accredited – a hallmark of program excellence. GCU is proud to be an accredited school, as our mission is to thoroughly prepare our students to tackle modern challenges for the purpose of making positive contributions to their communities. In addition, the Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Arts and Media shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
When reflecting upon your choice of degree programs and your future career path, it may be wise to do some research on your options. The following frequently asked questions and answers can provide a starting point for your research.
Animation continues to entertain audiences of all ages, and advancements in technology and enhanced visual complexities may continue to contribute to new possibilities in the field.6 If you’re passionate about both technology and design and have a creative mindset, then this career path may be an ideal choice for you. Earning a degree in digital design and animation can provide valuable opportunities for skill development and professional portfolio creation, which may serve you well as you pursue employment after graduation.
Additionally, as of September 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for graphic designers to increase by about 3% from 2022 to 2032, as fast as average, accounting for an estimated increase of 8,900 jobs in the field and have a median annual wage of $58,910, as of May 2023.1,5
Specific software is needed on a course-by-course basis, but once you are in GCU’s digital design and animation courses, you will be expected to use Adobe Creative Cloud and Maya, a 3D motion graphics application by Autodesk. You must provide your own laptop and subscription to both programs. Speak with a university counselor for specific program requirements.
Digital design is a dynamic specialization that focuses on creating professional design solutions.2 GCU’s digital design courses can teach you to be a visual designer who uses their skills to enrich, engage and communicate in our information-driven society. You will be guided to become a digital design generalist, with the ability to further refine your career by choosing one of our degree paths, including an emphasis in animation.
It may be possible to find employment in motion graphics and animation without having any computer coding skills depending on the industry and employer. However, many professionals do use specialized computer programs to create their designs that include HTML, CSS and JavaScript development.7 Some do write programming code in the course of their work, and learning how to code may benefit an animator’s career, making it an important quality rather than a career requirement.8
Pursue an Education in Motion Graphics
If you’re interested in pursuing an education in motion graphics, this degree program may be the right choice for you.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Graphic Designers, retrieved on Dec. 18, 2023.
2 Coursera (2023, June 16). What Does a Motion Graphics Designer Do? How to Become One. Retrieved on Nov. 7, 2023.
3 Bowers, M. (n.d.). The Widening Impact of the Motion Design Industry. Toptal. Retrieved on Nov. 3, 2023.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Dec. 18, 2023.
5 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Graphic Designers as of May 2023, retrieved on June 6, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as graphic designers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Job Outlook. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2023.
7 Zippia (2024, April 24). What is a Motion Graphic Designer and How to Become One. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
8 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to Become a Special Effects Artist or Animator. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 3, 2023.