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     

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
1st SemesterCredits
DD 601 Graphic Design and Color Theory 3
DD 610 History of Art And Design I 3
 Term Credits6
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 Credits9
 Total Credits15

* 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     

DD 622Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding3
DD 631History of Game Play and Interactivity3
DD 625Environment Design3

 

 (C)           Animation Essentials

DD 622Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding3
DD 623Acting for Animators3

 (D)           UI/UX Digital Design Essentials

DD 640User Interface/User Experience in Digital Design3
IS 661User Experience Design3

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

DD 634Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design3
DD 624Digital Audio3

 (C)           Animation Essentials 

DD 621Character and Facial Modeling for Animators3
DD 624Digital Audio3

 (D)           UI/UX Essentials                                   

IS 664Customer Discovery3
DD 634Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design3

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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
1st SemesterCredits
DD 650 Extended Reality Design Studio 6
 Term Credits6
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 Credits18
 Total Credits24

MFADD Graduate Spring Focus Studios

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
2nd SemesterCredits
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 Credits18
Second Year
1st Semester
DD 657 Digital Design Independent Project Studio 6
 Term Credits6
 Total Credits24

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