Hello, I am currently finishing my junior year of high school and I would like to know what are some good choices for a 3d animation and design college. Price and location is not an issue, I would also like a college that offers computer science as well. I have done many searches, but most colleges seem to prefer CAD and architecture when coupled with computer science, and the colleges that offer animation and design courses do not offer computer science. Any ideas from the vast blender community?
I’d advise that you research the market first. Not much point in getting a degree because you like it . . . find out what’s needed and go for that. I got me a degree, but all the jobs I had was mostly for folks with no degrees. So maybe you can short circuit the system and do something not in your area of interest and rather do 3d animation/modelling etc as a sideline . … you know kind of spread your skills a bit. Ofcourse the market may pick up a bit later . . . so don’t base your decision entirely on what I wrote. Best of luck either way!
Here at NCSU, 3d animation is taught as part of the Art + Design curriculum in the College of Design. Computer Science is also a big deal at the university, but if you try to double in both majors, you’re liable- and this is not a joke- to kill yourself.
“I have done many searches, but most colleges seem to prefer CAD and architecture”
Well that is what you can rely on, if you study those well, get degree in them and be good
at those and I think that would be great for you.
Art is something you cannot rely on so much, no one can…
I would look at the bigger universities. At Iowa State University my major is Art and Design with a focus in animation and a minor in computer science. The variety of animation courses is a little lacking compared to a dedicated animation school, but the core design program and choice in courses I can take for gen eds are nice. The com sci courses will give you a good background in programing, however there are no courses offered in graphics programing (right now at least). You can always do a study abroad or national student exchange if that is something you are really interested in (like I am doing this semester).
GT has Computational Media: http://lcc.gatech.edu/compumedia/
Its supposedly a mix of CS and Film/Art/Design degree (can’t vouch for the degree, though…). It seems to be very narrative based, i.e. around conveying a message through your work. There are some animation/graphics/video game courses offered as well. Lots of people in this program want to work in the CG/Video Game/Special Effects/Film industries. Some have done it (at least one alum worked on Pirates of the Caribbean), and a couple have probably moved on to other major studios by now (probably mostly as technical people, rather than artsy people).
If you really decide you don’t like it, SCAD is relatively close (to GT that is), and they certainly have the artsy-fartsy stuff (though probably not the technical stuff).
Most major technical universities (MIT, CMU, Stanford, etc.) have similar programs if you’ve got the grades to get in and the will to survive 'em.
Well so far I was planning on Majoring in Design/animation and minoring in Computer science, but it looks like it may be a good idea to switch that around.
I currently go to the Art Institute in Las Vegas for game art and design. I really love the teachers here and the classes they offer. I think they are pretty well rounded in what they teach. The animation degree here is great, there’s a lot of good teachers for animation and ther is some solid work being produced.
It is kind of a newer school and there are still a few kinks in the course plan. Also Las Vegas isn’t reall in the center of any sort of animation or game market so i will probably be moving out of state.
Another really amazing school is the Vancouver Film School. As far as work being produced its one of the top as far as I’ve seen.
Other than that i would like to say that i do wish i would have waited a bit and done more research, and definitly worked on my 3D and drawing skills. This school is really expensive and i think i might have been able to get away with a less expensive school, I dont regret it though.
Definitly do your research and make sure its what you want to do.