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What are the top animation school programs in Oklahoma for 2024?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City |
| 2 | Oklahoma Christian University | Oklahoma City |
Our 2024 ranking -our thirteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Oklahoma. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Petree College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma City University (OCU) houses the School of Visual Arts. Within the SVA is a Game Design and Animation program that awards a $6,000 scholarship to all majors every year. That’s $24,000 per student.
Leading to a BA, the program requires 124 credit hours including coursework, studios, and the Game Design and Animation Capstone. Course examples include Technology for Graphics; Illustration; Texturing, Rendering and Lighting; 3D Modeling and Animation; Concept Development; Intro to Game Technology; History of Design; and Game Design and Animation Studio I-II.
All Petree SVA students are encouraged to complete at least one internship. These experiences may be paid or unpaid, and students can earn academic credit. OCU students have interned at places such as VGM Visual Storytelling, ARTSPACE at Untitled, Fox 25, Bloomberg, Oklahoma Today, Calm Waters, Oklahoma City Girls Art School, and The Journal Record.
Upon completion of the Game Design and Animation program at OCU, students will be proficient in areas such as animation, 3D animation and digital arts, experimental game design, interactive narrative and game storytelling, and virtual and augmented reality.
Examples of potential careers include Animator, Game Artist, 3D Modeler, Storyboard Artist, Character Rigger, Environmental Concept Artist, Cartoonist, Scientific Visualization Artist, Cinematographer, Military Simulation Artist, Character Designer, Television Graphic Artist, and Architectural Rendering Specialist.
Oklahoma City University was first chartered on September 1, 1904 as Epworth University. On the first day of class, 116 students gathered in one all-purpose building. Today, OCU serves more than 2,300 students across 104 acres of land in the heart of Oklahoma City. Students have access to more than 130 programs across seven colleges and schools. Oklahoma City University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
2. Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Christian University (OC) has several undergraduate paths to study animation. Students seeking an art-based program can choose between the Gaming and Animation BA and BFA degrees. Students seeking a science and math-based degree can choose between the Gaming and Animation BS and the Computer Science (CS) BS with Gaming and Animation.
For a shorter program that prepares students for entry-level positions in animation, Oklahoma Christian University has a 21 credit hour 3D Modeling and Animation minor. This program explores game technology, 2D modeling, animation, motion graphics, lighting, texturing, and rendering.
All OC Animation programs provide access to the Baugh Motion Capture Lab, Kicker Audio Lab, Sparks Advanced Visualization Lab, and the Cox Digital Art Lab. Across programs, courses are led by experienced professionals in the animation, games, and technology industries. Course examples for the BA and BFA programs include History of Animation; 3D Modeling and Animation; Interactive Media Design; Animation Principles; Technology for Graphics; Motion Imagery; Texturing, Rendering, and Lighting; Digital Sculpting; Team Game Production; and Gaming and Animation Studio.
The OC BA and BFA programs require 126 credit hours to graduate. For the BA, this includes six credit hours of the same foreign language, and 51 credit hours in the major. For the BFA, this includes three hours in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, and 72 hours in the major.
The Gaming and Animation BA and BFA programs at Oklahoma Christian University require successful completion of the Gaming + Animation Capstone. Graduates of both programs are prepared to pursue careers in animation, TV/film, game art and design, and visual effects (VFX).
The OC Gaming and Animation BS programs consists of many of the same courses listed for the BA and BFA options. Both options also have overlapping coursework. Students in the BS program will complete programming coursework such as Programming I, II and Languages; Software Engineering - practices, tools, ethics, and projects; and Game Programming-Unity and Unreal. Math, business, and technical writing are also major components of the programs.
Gaming and Animation students will also complete a minor in an area such as Art, Music, Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, or Marketing Management. Both BS and CS BS students may enhance the degree by selecting electives in an additional specialized area. Examples include Digital Painting, Audio for Gaming, and Illustration. To graduate, Gaming and Animation students will complete the Gaming and Animation Capstone. Non-CS students will also complete The Business of Branding Yourself course or Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management course.
Graduates of the Oklahoma Christian University BS programs are prepared to pursue careers in game design and development, animation, computer science, architecture, healthcare, education, and life sciences.
Oklahoma Christian University was established in 1950 as Central Christian College. When it opened, the school has just 97 students. Today, OC serves 2,200 students enrolled in nearly 100 programs and areas of study across 14 academic departments operating in five colleges. Oklahoma Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).