Master of Fine Arts in Digital Design
The MFADD is a 60-credit to 75-credit terminal graduate program credential designed to combine the course work of any three graduate certificate programs: Animation, Game Design and Interactivity, or UI/UX plus four synthetic graduate level design studios. Students with an undergraduate background in Digital Arts and Design can immediately begin taking course work in any of these three specialized concentrations. For those who need it, the Digital Arts Essentials coursework provides a firm preparatory foundation.
The 60-credit program consists of 36 credits of coursework from any three Digital Design graduate certificate programs: Animation, Game Design and Interactivity, or UI/UX (12 courses) plus 24 studio credits (4 studios.) Students are required to design their programs in consultation with the graduate advisor and lead faculty member in the area of specialization. For students without the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in the specialized Digital Design concentrations, students will need to complete an additional 15 general prerequisite credits in Digital Arts.
To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate courses. Students must repeat any design studio course in which they receive a grade of C. A grade of C+ in any design studio must be followed by a subsequent grade sufficient to raise the annual cumulative design studio GPA to 2.75. Incomplete (I) grades for studio and prerequisite courses must be removed before students will be permitted to register for continuing course work in the program.
Typical Annual Academic Schedule of 2 year 60-credit to 3 year 75-credit Master of Fine Arts in Digital Design (minimum 36 course credits plus 24 studio credits)
(A) Digital Arts Essentials*
Year 1 Digital Arts graduate certificate "A" preparatory courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| DD 601 | Graphic Design and Color Theory | 3 |
| DD 610 | History of Art And Design I | 3 |
| Term Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| DD 603 | Video and Animation | 3 |
| DD 611 | History of Art and Design - Survey II | 3 |
| DD 602 | 3D Modelling and Composition | 3 |
| Term Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
* Digital Arts Certificate "A" is a 15-credit stand-alone certificate and its courses are preparatory to Grad Certificates "B","C","D" and the MFADD
Fall course choices by DD graduate certificates B, C, or D (students to typically take 2 per term over 2 years)
(B) Game Design and Interactivity Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DD 622 | Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding | 3 |
| DD 631 | History of Game Play and Interactivity | 3 |
| DD 625 | Environment Design | 3 |
(C) Animation Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DD 622 | Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding | 3 |
| DD 623 | Acting for Animators | 3 |
(D) UI/UX Digital Design Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DD 640 | User Interface/User Experience in Digital Design | 3 |
| IS 661 | User Experience Design | 3 |
Spring course choices by DD graduate certificates B, C, or D (students to typically take 2 per term over 2 years)
(B) Game Design and Interactivity Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DD 634 | Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design | 3 |
| DD 624 | Digital Audio | 3 |
(C) Animation Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DD 621 | Character and Facial Modeling for Animators | 3 |
| DD 624 | Digital Audio | 3 |
(D) UI/UX Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IS 664 | Customer Discovery | 3 |
| DD 634 | Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design | 3 |
Total required course credits per term 6 x 4 = 24
Graduate Design Elective Courses 3
Total elective course credits per term 3 x 4 = 12
MFADD Graduate Fall Focus Studios
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| DD 650 | Extended Reality Design Studio | 6 |
| Term Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| DD 652 | Animation Design Studio II | 6 |
| DD 654 | Game Design and Interactivity Studio II | 6 |
| DD 656 | User Interface/User Experience Digital Design Studio II | 6 |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
MFADD Graduate Spring Focus Studios
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Semester | Credits | |
| DD 651 | Animation Design Studio I | 6 |
| DD 653 | Game Design and Interactivity Design Studio I | 6 |
| DD 655 | User Interface/User Experience Digital Design Studio I | 6 |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| DD 657 | Digital Design Independent Project Studio | 6 |
| Term Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Total studio course credits per term 6 x 4 = 24
Total Fall15Total Spring15
Total degree credits for two Fall terms (15 x 2) = 30
Total degree credits for two Spring terms (15 x 2) = 30
Full 2 year MFADD Credit Total 60
