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Academy of Art University

Did you know?  At Academy of Art University, you can study composition, perspective, environment design, figure drawing and character design—everything you’ll need to embark on a creatively rewarding visual development career.  Learn more

Visual Effects Degrees: What Coursework is included in a Typical Visual Effects Program?

Written by Michelle Burton. Last updated October 21, 2019.

Coursework for Visual Effects Programs

What Coursework is included in a Typical Visual Effects Program? ACR Takes a Look.

Types of Courses for Visual Effects Programs
Compositing
Concept Development for Visual Effects
Digital Visual Effects
Introduction to Visual Effects Programming
Matte Painting
Modeling for Visual Effects
Procedural Modeling and Animation Techniques
Professional Development for Visual Effects
Programming Concepts for Visual Effects
Programming Models and Shaders I
Survey of Visual Effects
Visual Effects-Based Cinematography

What is Visual Effects?

Visual effects is the process of creating imagery outside of live action shoots. This imagery is typically either too elaborate or even dangerous to create for or capture on film. Some visual effects (also called FX or VFX) combine live action and computer generated imagery, while others are totally computer generated. Some of the most celebrated VFX scenes can be seen in films such as Blade Runner (1982), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Independence Day (1996), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Titanic (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), Iron Man (2008), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

What are the Types of Courses for Visual Effects Programs?

Visual effects majors will complete foundation courses and general education courses during the first few years of the program. Examples of foundation studies courses include Drawing: Form and Space, Color: Theory and Application, and Design: 3D Form and Space. General education courses may include Digital Communication, 20th-century Art, Visual Culture and Context, and Speaking of Ideas. English, mathematics, natural sciences, and social and behavioral sciences courses are also available.

Major coursework might look something like this:

  • Compositing
  • Concept Development for Visual Effects
  • Digital Compositing I: The Art and Science of Digital Integration
  • Digital Visual Effects
  • 3D Color, Lighting and Rendering
  • Introduction to Visual Effects Programming
  • Matte Painting
  • Modeling for Visual Effects
  • Procedural 3-D and Shader Programming
  • Procedural Modeling and Animation Techniques
  • Professional Development for Visual Effects
  • Programming Concepts for Visual Effects
  • Programming Models and Shaders I
  • Survey of Visual Effects
  • Visual Effects Studio I
  • Visual Effects Studio II
  • Visual Effects-Based Cinematography

What Can I Do With a Degree in Visual Effects?

Visual effects artists work primarily in the film and video and game industries. Possible jobs include visual effects artist, animator, concept artist, layout technical director, modeler, texture artist, rigging technical director, art director, FX technical director, lighting technical director, matchmover, matte painter, pipeline technical director, roto artist, rendering technical director, VFX producer, CG producer, VFX supervisor, software developer, game designer, game artist, senior game designer, and game developer.

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Academy of Art University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • San Francisco & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Animation
  • Game Development
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#40) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#46) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#29) - 2022
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Full Sail University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Winter Park, FL & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
  • Game Business & Esports Bachelor’s of Science - Online & Campus
  • User Experience Bachelor's Degree – Online
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#33) - 2022
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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Modeling
  • Concept Art
  • Digital Illustration
  • Game Art
  • Game Design
  • Game Programming
  • Visual Effects
  • Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#25) - 2022
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Southern New Hampshire University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • BA in Game Art & Development
  • BS in Game Programming & Development
  • BA in Graphic Design - 3D Modeling and Animation
  • BA in Graphic Design
  • BA in Graphic Design & Web Design
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#38) - 2022

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