Graduate Program in Animation Media

The Graduate Program in Animation Media prepares students for advanced roles in real-time cinematic production, game development, and technical direction. Throughout the curriculum, students critically integrate AI-assisted tools to enhance ideation, automation, and workflow efficiency while maintaining ethical standards and creative authorship. Most students may complete the program in 18 to 24 months.

Program at a Glance

Program Duration

18 Months Full time

24 Months Part time

Intake

Fall

Format

Hybrid

Schedule

Evenings and Online at BBC Campus

Speak with an Advisor

Ph: 305.919.5634
Email: ngaray@fiu.edu

Program Details

The graduate program in Animation Media is designed to train students in real-time production pipelines for both cinematic and interactive media. Built around industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, the program prepares students to design, build, integrate, and deliver complete projects that meet professional standards in animation, game development, and virtual production.

What you’ll learn

Students in the Graduate Program for Animation Media develop the skills needed to work in modern real-time production environments, combining creative storytelling with technical execution using industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine.

Through a structured, pipeline-based curriculum, students will learn how to:

  • Design and implement real-time production pipelines from concept to final delivery
  • Create high-quality characters, environments, and assets for cinematic and interactive experiences
  • Develop character animation and performance, including keyframe animation and motion capture workflows
  • Build and integrate visual effects and cinematic sequences using real-time rendering systems
  • Apply lighting, rendering, and compositing techniques to enhance visual storytelling
  • Utilize AI-assisted workflows and technical tools to optimize production processes
  • Integrate assets, animation, and systems into cohesive projects within Unreal Engine

Students graduate with a strong understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of production, preparing them to work across disciplines in animation, game development, and virtual production.

Why earn your Graduate degree in Animation Media at FIU

The Graduate Program in Animation Media at FIU is designed to reflect the way modern studios operate, preparing students for careers in a rapidly evolving industry.

Industry-Aligned Curriculum

The program is structured around a real-time production pipeline, ensuring students gain experience with workflows used in animation studios, game development, and virtual production.

Hands-On Project Development

Rather than working on isolated assignments, students develop a single, evolving project across the program, culminating in a professional, portfolio-ready final deliverable.

Real-Time Production Focus

The curriculum is centered on Unreal Engine and real-time workflows, aligning with industry trends in cinematic production, virtual environments, and interactive media.

Technical and Creative Integration

Students develop both artistic and technical skills, gaining experience in:

  • Animation and storytelling
  • Gameplay systems and interaction
  • Pipeline design and technical direction

Program Format and Schedule

The program is offered in both full-time and part-time formats, providing flexibility while maintaining a structured production-based learning experience.

Full-Time Format (4 Semesters)

Students complete the program in approximately two years, progressing through a structured sequence:

Year 1 – Fall (Planning and Development)

  • Pipeline planning
  • Asset development
  • Story development

Year 1 – Spring (Production and Animation)

  • Rigging and animation
  • Visual effects and asset creation

Year 1 – Summer (Integration and Performance)

  • Unreal Engine integration
  • Motion capture and performance workflows

Year 2 – Fall (Final Production and Delivery)

  • Capstone project development
  • Final rendering and presentation

Part-Time Format (7 Semesters)

A part-time option is available for students who require a more flexible schedule. Courses follow the same sequence and maintain the same academic standards and outcomes as the full-time program.

Capstone Experience

In the final semester, students complete a capstone project that serves as their primary portfolio piece.

Depending on their track, students will deliver:

  • A fully realized cinematic sequence (Animation Track), or
  • A playable game experience (Game Development Track)

This final project demonstrates mastery of real-time production pipelines and prepares students for entry into professional production environments.

Curriculum

TheTheGTheThe Graduate Program in Animation Media focuses on:

  • Character animation and performance
  • Lighting, VFX, and rendering
  • Final output: Fully rendered cinematic sequence

Both the animation and gaming track share a unified production pipeline and collaborate using the same real-time tools. In the final semester, students complete a portfolio-ready project, either:

  • A professional cinematic sequence (Animation Track), or
  • A fully playable game (Game Development Track)

Projects are refined to industry standards and presented through formal critique and demonstration.

Course Sequence Guide

Graduate Animation Media Full time Course Sequence Guide PDF
Graduate Animation Media Part time Course Sequence Guide PDF

Program Schedule

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Students establish the foundation for a real-time cinematic project through concept development, production planning, workflow design, and technical documentation. The course emphasizes industry-standard pipeline methodologies, project management, and production readiness while incorporating AI-assisted tools to support planning and workflow development.

This course focuses on the creation of production-ready 3D assets for real-time animation pipelines. Students develop advanced modeling, sculpting, optimization, UV mapping, and texturing skills using industry-standard workflows for integration into Unreal Engine and real-time production environments.

Students explore the application of artificial intelligence within modern animation and cinematic production workflows. The course examines AI-assisted tools for concept development, automation, asset generation, workflow optimization, and technical direction while emphasizing ethical use and creative ownership.

This course introduces the principles of visual storytelling for real-time cinematic productions. Students develop storyboards, shot design, animatics, and narrative structures that establish the creative foundation for projects developed throughout the program.

Students develop production-ready character and creature rigs for animation and real-time applications. The course covers advanced rigging systems, deformation workflows, facial controls, and modular rig development to support efficient animation pipelines.

This course focuses on creating performance-driven character animation for real-time cinematic productions. Students apply animation principles, acting techniques, body mechanics, and motion workflows to develop expressive character performances that support narrative storytelling.

Students create and integrate visual effects for real-time cinematic productions using modern VFX and compositing workflows. The course emphasizes atmospheric effects, particles, visual enhancement, and cinematic integration within Unreal Engine.

This course focuses on the creation of high-quality, production-ready character assets for real-time animation and game development pipelines. Students develop hero characters and creatures through advanced sculpting, retopology, texturing, optimization, and Unreal Engine integration workflows.

Students assemble assets, animation, visual effects, and environments within Unreal Engine to establish a fully integrated real-time production environment. Emphasis is placed on scene construction, asset interoperability, system integration, lighting, and project organization.

This course introduces motion capture workflows for animation and real-time production. Students learn performance capture, data cleanup, retargeting, and integration techniques that support realistic character movement and cinematic storytelling.

Students refine and complete their real-time cinematic projects through advanced Unreal Engine production workflows. The course focuses on final integration, optimization, rendering, troubleshooting, cinematic polish, and professional delivery practices.

This advanced asset creation course focuses on the development of environments, props, and supporting assets for real-time cinematic productions. Students create production-ready worlds using modeling, texturing, optimization, world-building, and Unreal Engine integration workflows that support their final project.

Tuition

Tuition and fees vary based on your program, residency status, enrollment, and other factors. To receive the most accurate estimate of your tuition and associated fees, please use FIU’s Tuition Calculator.

Click the link below to calculate your costs

https://controller.fiu.edu/departments/student-financials-systems/bursar-cashiers/calculator/

Application & Requirements

Application Requirements at a Glance

  • Show high promise of success in graduate studies
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
  • In general, have a minimum upper division grade point average of 3.0
  • Provide a professional resume and statement of purpose(500-750) words.
  • Demonstrate proficiency of the English language with admissible test scores (if necessary)

Admission Requirements

  1. All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. All candidates must show promise of success in graduate studies. Applicants must meet the following criteria, in addition to any program-specific requirements:
    1. Meet minimum GPA: Candidates must have a minimum
      grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 earned during the last
      60 hours of upper-level work.
    2. Candidates must submit a 500-750 word essay. Topic
      should reflect why the program is a suitable fit for the
      applicant’s needs.
    3. Candidates must submit a professional and current resume.

Application Procedures

A student applying for admission to the graduate program must:

  1. Complete online graduate admissions application available at Graduate Applicant | FIU Admissions
    1. When selecting your major, please first choose Mass Communication from
      the dropdown menu, and then Animation Media
    2. Have two official copies of transcripts from all colleges or
      universities attended sent to the Admissions Office.
      (Copies submitted by applicants will be rejected.)
    3. Submit appropriate test scores and documents to the Admissions Office

Application Deadline

July 1st

Students should adhere to the Florida International University graduate admissions deadlines for Fall, Spring and Summer terms. These deadlines are listed at Graduate Applicant | FIU Admissions.

(The master’s program follows a cohort model; therefore, new students are admitted only for the Fall semester.)

International Student Requirements

International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

 

Application Process

Start your application process here and apply today!
https://admissions.fiu.edu/how-to-apply/graduate-applicant/index.html