Animation & Media Arts - REVISED (Formerly, Digital Effects & Animation Technology)
Curriculum Description
The Animation & Media Arts curriculum is designed to provide students with the training necessary to become competent in creating, manipulating and animating digital images. These skills have application in the production of a variety of moving image forms.
Students will take courses covering computer hardware/software applications, computer animation, creation and manipulation of digital images and nonlinear editing. They will become proficient at using media industry standard hardware/software to generate and manipulate images, and create digital special effects.
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to generate moving images and manipulate captured images for a variety of media production applications. Graduates should qualify for employment in the creation and/or editing of a variety of media forms.
The following represents one way in which the program of study can be completed. Students who aren’t able to follow the recommended curriculum model below should consult their academic advisor to be sure that they take courses in the best order for their success.
Associate in Applied Science
A30130
NC CIP: 10.0304
Day
POS Approved: Fall 2026
Fall Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEA 111 | Introduction to AMA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 133 | Technical Foundations I | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| DES 135 | Prin & Elem of Design I | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 7 | 12 | 0 | 13 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEA 112 | 2D Design & Animation I | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 134 | Technical Foundations II | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 213 | 3D Design & Animation I | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DES 136 | Prin & Elem of Design II | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| ___ ___ | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | * | * | * | 3 |
| Total: | 6 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
Summer Term
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEA 212 | 2D Design & Animation II | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 214 | 3D Design & Animation II | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 220 | AMA Compositing | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 221 | 3D Modeling I | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 8 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Fall Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM 231 | Public Speaking (Global) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 215 | 3D Design & Environments | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 222 | 3D Modeling II | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DEA 230 | Capstone Project I | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| SGD 112 | SGD Design I | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 11 | 15 | 0 | 16 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEA 231 | Capstone Project II | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| DEA 240 | AMA Portfolio Review | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| MAT 143 | Quantitative Literacy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Select one: | |||||
| Interpersonal Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| OR | |||||
| General Psychology (Global) | (3) | (0) | (0) | (3) | |
| Total: | 9 | 12 | 0 | 14 | |
Total Credit Hours: 71
Additional Information
Humanities/Fine Arts Electives — Select one: HUM 110, HUM 115, PHI 230, PHI 240, ART 111, HUM 220, MUS 110, PHI 215, REL 110
**Hours vary depending on course selection
Work-based learning may be available. Please see your advisor for more information.
General Program Notes and Information:
- To complete the program within two years, students must begin in the Fall semester and progress through the prescribed sequence of courses. Courses are intentionally designed with overlapping content so students can understand how skills and concepts interrelate across the curriculum.
- While the program does not operate on a selective admissions basis, it is a high-demand program. Each year, the program maintains a waitlist of students seeking entry for the Fall term.
- Program-specific (DEA and SGD) courses are only offered once per academic year. Students who deviate from the recommended sequence may experience delays in completing the program.
- Registration priority is given to:
- Continuing program students
- Previously waitlisted students from the prior Fall/Spring
- All program courses are capped at 20 students due to classroom capacity, including available workstations and physical space.
- Students who wish to begin the program part-time are strongly encouraged to meet with the Program Coordinator to develop an appropriate course sequence and completion plan.
