Program Requirements and Course Offerings

Requirements to Graduate:

  • 60 units (between required and electives)
  • Writing Assessment (200W which for us is Screenwriting)
  • Writing element (your project journal)
  • Advancement to Candidacy in the 3rd semester (fall of 2nd year)
  • A culminating project (Master Project)

Admissions & Overview

Designed for ambitious creators pushing the boundaries of moving-image storytelling, the MDes in Animation at San José State University is a 2-year, 60-unit terminal degree. The practice-based curriculum emphasizes project-focused studio work culminating in a comprehensive creative project.

Curriculum

The curriculum has two complementary components: core Master Project seminars and specialized studio electives.

While core courses directly support the evolution and execution of your individual capstone project, satellite studios expand your critical understanding, technical mastery, and creative range across crucial domains in contemporary animation. They are designed specifically to refine your technical mastery and artistic voice.

Core Master's Project Sequence (4 units each)

  • DSGN 291: Master Project Proposal & Pitch
  • DSGN 292: Master Project Pre-Production
  • DSGN 293: Master Project Production (3 semesters)
  • DSGN 298: Master Project Culmination

Other Courses

  • Visual & Narrative Foundations
    • Screenwriting (4 units)
    • Visual Narratives (2 units)
    • Visual Styles for Animation (Visual Development) (2 units)
    • Digital Seminar (4 units)
  • The Synthetic Practice (Digital, 3D, & Motion)
    • The Synthetic Object: 3D Modeling & Rigging (2 units)
    • The Synthetic Movement: Character & World Animation (2 units)
    • The Synthetic Image: 3D Lighting & Compositing (2 units)
  • Audio, Post, & Emerging Tech
    • Sound Landscapes (2 units)
    • Post-Production Techniques (2 units)
    • New Technologies Studios (2 units)
    • Interactive Studio (4 units)
  • Studio Electives & Professional Practice
    • 2D Studio Project (4 units)
    • Intellectual Property in Creative Practice (2 units)
    • Professional Practices (4 units)

Key Program Milestones

  • Graduate Candidacy Advancement: Complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) via DSGN 200W: Screenwriting for Graduate Practice.
  • Project Proposal (Pitch development): Present a formal pre-proposal (in DSGN 291) for approval by your Graduate Committee Chair and selected faculty.
  • Committee Mentorship: Meet with your Master’s Committee three times per semester for structured progress reviews and studio critique.
  • Culminating Exhibition: Finalize your degree with a major creative work, showcased through a public exhibition, oral presentation, and a documented research-and-process digital journal.

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