Bowling Green State University Game Design

Digital Arts

at Bowling Green State University

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts
Bachelor of Art in Art, Digital Arts Specialization
School of Art
College of Arts and Sciences

The Digital Arts program at BGSU is one of the leading programs in the nation for studying digital arts and animation. Students in the program focus on 3D animation, digital imaging, interactive art, video art, virtual environments and gaming, mobile web app development, digital painting, and hybrid forms of digital art. The Digital Arts program is an exciting area with dynamic, ambitious, self-motivated students who push themselves and their artwork to the creative edge.

Career Opportunities

Digital Arts graduates have been hired into leading roles in digital arts industries. Graduates often work as animators, modelers, texture or concept artists and technical directors in 3D animation studios, interactive gaming companies and virtual reality labs. They also work in the interactive web and app development field creating educational, entertainment-based and commercial mobile apps, and websites. Graduates have also gone on to work in the television and film industry as directors of photography, videographers, special effects artists, and editors. The printing, graphic design and photography industries also employ Digital Arts majors to manage color printing, create and manipulate digital art, and develop promotional materials. Many graduates have also started their own businesses.

In recent years, graduates have been hired by companies such as DreamWorks Animation (creators of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda), Blue Sky Studios (creators of Ice Age and Robots), Volition (The Punisher), DNA Productions (Jimmy Neutron), Rhythm & Hues Studios, Blizzard (World of Warcraft), Friendly Software (Microsoft games), American Greetings, Epic Games (Unreal Tournament), Apple, Designing Digitally (virtual worlds), Root Learning (interactive training), LogicJunction (interactive web) and many more digital art companies.

Admission and Portfolio Reviews

Prospective students are not required to take a Portfolio Review. Admission into the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is selective, and if students opt to pursue this degree, they will be required to pass a Portfolio Review at the end of their first year of study in the School of Art.

Please visit the School of Art website for more information regarding the policies and procedures: www.bgsu.edu/art/.

Curriculum

The Digital Arts program focuses on creative expression using digital technology. Students are encouraged to investigate aesthetic, conceptual and perceptual possibilities as they engage in alternative art discourses. Digital arts courses examine theoretical, aesthetic and technical information while providing hands-on experiences with state-of-the-art equipment and software. Courses merge the technical and aesthetic aspects of digital art.

The program offers three focus areas:

Computer Animation & Video—both 2D and 3D with a strong emphasis on 3D as well as video art production, motion graphics, special effects and composting.
Imaging—still images including both 2D digital imaging and 3D modeled & rendered images. Emphasis on collage, digital photography, digital painting, and hybrid media. Works may be realized using various printing techniques including large format and experimental alternative printing techniques.
Interactive Multimedia— emphasis on creative art development using HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Processing for creative production of websites, mobile phones and tablets as well as installation art and interactive physical artworks.

Digital Arts Courses

3D Digital Animation
3D Modeling
Advanced Digital Imaging Art Studio
Advanced Digital Video Art
Advanced Interactive Art Studio
Alternative Digital Print
Animation Principles & Techniques
Art and Virtual Environments
Artistic Animation Effects
Collaborative Multimedia Development
Computer Art Practicum
Contemporary Practices in Digital Arts I
Contemporary Practices in Digital Arts II
Digital Character Animation I
Digital Character Animation II
Digital Imaging
Digital Video Art
Interactive Art
Photography for Digital Artists
Professional Practices and Presentation
Senior Studio in Digital Arts

Facilities

The School of Art's Digital Arts laboratories in the new Wolfe Center for the Arts include: 20 high-end PCs, 20 high-end Macs, 20 Mac non-linear video editing workstations, Stereoscopic Geowall, Cintiq monitors, a full range of film and flatbed scanners, Wacom tablets, and green screen.

A few of the software applications include: Adobe Production Premium (Photoshop, Flash, After Effects, Audition, Illustrator, Dreamweaver), Apple Final Cut Studio (Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Compressor, Motion, Color), Autodesk Maya, zBrush, Dragon Stop Motion, GenArts Sapphire plugins, and many more industry standard software.

The School of Art houses the MCaP (Media Cage and Print lab) which co-locates both printing and equipment check out for students. The large-format printing lab allows students to print their work using a variety of media such as cloth, canvas, watercolor paper, and glossy photo stock.

Through the MCaP, students can borrow a vast array of high-end and consumer equipment including: LCD and handheld projectors, light kits, DV, HDV and HD camcorders, DSLR cameras, electronic circuit boards, and more. Students are also able to create digital etchings and 3D prints of models created in Maya and have access to a 3D scanner.

Student Organizations

The Computer Art Club is open to all students in the School of Art. The goal of the club is to promote awareness of digital arts, highlight advances and opportunities in the field and assist digital arts students.

Club activities include workshops, demonstrations, competitions, field trips, art shows, visiting artists, conferences, and social events. Members share knowledge with each other in a cross-collaborative environment.

Preparation for College

Completing the requirements for high school graduation is necessary for admission to BGSU. To enhance your future college experience in art, consider taking two to four years of the same foreign language, a course in computer use, and courses that provide exposure to the visual and performing arts.

For Further Information

Coordinator of Fine Arts Admissions
School of Art
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0204
www.bgsu.edu/art

Internet Access

BGSU's website for future students contains University highlights, admissions procedures, financial aid information and many department profiles. It can be accessed at www.bgsu.edu.

The University

Bowling Green State University is a vibrant university that engages, challenges and prepares students for meaningful futures. At BGSU, students enjoy an education that integrates personal growth, academic excellence and an environment that expands their thinking and potential. A mid-size residential university, BGSU has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 and a full-time faculty of more than 900 on its main campus. More than 200 undergraduate majors and programs are offered as well as master's and doctoral level programs.

NOTE: Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. To learn more about the official program of study for Digital Arts, please check the undergraduate catalog online at: choose.bgsu.edu/catalog/ARTD

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