The Digital Media (DIGM) Department at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredited program that provides the opportunity to study animation. Housed in the College of Business and Technology, the Department emphasizes hands-on learning and technical skills development. Students in all DIGM programs will learn and work in the Niswonger Digital Media Center and the Millennium Center—a shared space with the ETSU Computing Department.
Specific program options for animators include the Digital Media BS, MFA, and Minor. The 24 credit hour DIGM Minor consists of four required courses (four credits each) and eight credits of approved electives. Required courses include Digital Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, Digital Game Design, and Visualization. Electives allow students to create an emphasis in a specific area of specialization in Digital Media.
The Digital Media BS has Digital Animation Concentration that consists of 28 credit hours of study out of the 120 required credits for the program. Course examples for the program include Digital Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, Digital Game Design, 3D Animation, Effects Animation, Character Animation, Technical Direction, High-Fidelity Modeling for Entertainment, Visual Effects Compositing, and Raster-Based Imaging. DIGM BS students will also complete several projects and a professional portfolio of their work during the final course in the program—Portfolio Development for Digital Media.
Graduates of the ETSU BS Digital Media/Digital Animation are well-positioned for careers in 2D or 3D animation, technical direction, motion graphics, and character animation, among others. Graduates are also prepared to pursue an advanced degree at ETSU or other university.
The Digital Media MFA at East Tennessee State University is a terminal degree designed for Animators, Visual Effects Artists, Cinematographers, Coders, UI/UX Designers, 3D Designers, Creature Artists, Character Animators, and other related professionals with a bachelor’s degree. This non-thesis degree program allows students to complete 12 credit hours of study in any area. An additional 12 credit hours are dedicated to team projects for both internal and external clients, and another six credits are dedicated to experimental media.
The culminating experience for the ETSU DIGM MFA allows students to develop and finalize a body of work for peer and faculty review.
Graduates of the DIGM Programs at East Tennessee State University have worked on productions and games such as Kung Fu Panda, World of Warcraft, The Last Jedi, The Walking Dead, Thor: Ragnarok, Halo, and Charlie Brown. Program alumni are Animators, Technical Directors, Modelers, Advertising Designers, Level Designers, Game Artists, VFX Artists, 3D Artists, and Compositors. They work at studios big and small such as Ubisoft Red Storm, Luma Pictures, Idol Minds, and Volition.
East Tennessee State University was established in 1911 as East Tennessee State Normal School. The school serves approximately 13,740 students enrolled in more than 140 academic programs leading to degrees at all levels. ETSU programs are housed across eleven colleges and schools, and two campuses.