New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) announced the launch of a new Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate program with a specialization in computer graphics and animation.
The colleges Computer Graphics Lab, formed in 1974, pioneered 3D computer animation for nearly two decades and was staffed by a digital dream team of future computer graphics pioneers, including Pixar president Ed Catmull, Pixar co-founder Alvy Ray Smith and Netscape and Silicon Graphics founder Jim Clark. Building on the success of the colleges Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program, NYITs College of Arts and Sciences will offer the new MFA program at the colleges Old Westbury, New York, and Manhattan campuses beginning this fall.
NYITs new masters program will produce graduates ready to excel in the highly competitive and technologically advanced fields of digital visualization and communication, said professor Peter Voci, chair of NYITs fine arts department and MFA graduate program director. Under the guidance of our internationally recognized professors, students will hone their skills in our advanced technology labs and studios.
Students participating in the program will learn advanced theories backed by the practical knowledge needed to succeed in the competitive media arts industries. In addition, students will be exposed to some of the finest technology available among MFA programs, including NYITs Fine Arts Digital Sculpture Lab, which features a rapid prototyper essentially a 3D printer and Cyberware 3D head and face scanner.
When students graduate, they will have a portfolio of innovative, exhibition-quality computer animation and selections of commercial shorts, each with well-developed characters and a well-defined story, said Voci. This showcase will show future employers that NYIT students have the skills required for commercial and post-production work in video games, television and film.
The MFA in computer graphics and animation requires 64 credit hours of graduate coursework in topics such as 2D and 3D modeling, character animation, storyboard development, new media history, digital compositing and special effects. Internships with metropolitan-area studios will enable students to develop workplace and industry networking experience. Additional MFA specializations, including graphic design and fine arts and technology, will be offered in the future.
Applicants should hold a BFA degree from an accredited college or university and have a minimum grade point average of 2.85. An electronic portfolio of work must be submitted with the application. For more information, visit iris.nyit.edu/finearts.
NYIT is the college of choice for more than 14,000 students enrolled in more than 100 courses of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees from several schools, including engineering, architecture, business, communication arts and medicine. A private, independent college, NYIT embraces an educational philosophy of career-oriented, professional education for all qualified students and supports applications-oriented research to benefit the greater global community. Students attend classes at NYITs Manhattan and Long Island campuses, as well as online and in a number of programs throughout the world. To date, more than 69,000 alumni have earned degrees at NYIT. For additional information, visit www.nyit.edu.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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