| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nebraska – Lincoln | Lincoln |
Our 2023 ranking -our twelfth annual- of the top animation school program in Nebraska. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) houses the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, home to the Emerging Media Arts (EMA) Program. Leading to a BFA in EMA, the program has eight emphasis areas. Students may choose two. Examples include Virtual Production (Animation, 3D Modeling, Motion Graphics), Immersive + Interactive Media (Games, VR/AR, XR, Interactive and Immersive Environments), Cinematic Arts (Filmmaking), and Story (writing for the emerging media arts).
UNL BFA-EMA students are also required to complete an Interdisciplinary Concentration consisting of nine credit hours. Areas of exploration might include Energy Science, Human Rights, and Ethnic Studies, among others.
Other BFA-EMA Program highlights access to a 5,000 square foot facility that houses a critique space, state-of-the-art classrooms, and an open lab area where student design teams can work on Innovation Studio Projects; a project- and experiential learning-based core; and the opportunity to add a minor or take 27 elective credit hours outside the major.
BFA-EMA students may also participate in the Digital Arts Initiative—a collaborative effort by the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, the School of Art and Art History and Design, the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film, and the Glenn Korff School of Music. Courses are hands-on and include Digital Art and 2D Animation, Creative Coding: iOS Music App Development, and Music Technology: Advanced Audio Recording and Production. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate faculty members who are professionals in their respective fields and students from different disciplines.
Graduates of the BFA-EMA Program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln are prepared for careers in animation, filmmaking and visual effects (VFX), game design, virtual and augment reality (VR/AR) design, artificial intelligence (AI), app design, and physical computing, among others.
Founded in 1869 and serving 23,805 students, University of Nebraska – Lincoln is the state's oldest university and the largest institution in the University of Nebraska System. UNL offers more than 70 doctoral programs and over 150 majors, 70+ master's degree programs, and more than 30 graduate certificates. Programs at UNL are housed across nine colleges. University of Nebraska-Lincoln is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
