Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Development
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Master degree
DURATION
6 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,615 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,407 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The Visual Development MFA program provides advanced coursework in still life painting, figure drawing, character design, concept painting, layout design for animation, and other core skills of professional visual developers. The goal of each graduate student is the completion of a signature thesis book showcasing design work for a story-based project.
Paths
- Emphasis in Entertainment Art
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
MFA Thesis Project
- Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
- Demonstrate the feasibility of their thesis project
- Produce a professional-standard project, with topical content for the industry, showcasing the artistic ability
Artistic Ability
- Demonstrate strong drawing and compositional skills
- Create value studies that demonstrate an understanding of lighting, composition, and space
Research and Critical Thinking
- Apply visual research to design solutions
- Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline by presenting an effective timeline at the Midpoint Review (MPR only)
Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects
Visual Development
- Apply color and design elements consistent with the overall look of the film.
- Design elements to support the narrative
- Demonstrate continuity in visual storytelling
Presentation Skills
- Create visually compelling, professional-quality presentation materials
- Pitch ideas clearly and professionally
Professional Readiness
- Produce a professional-level digital and print portfolio suitable for seeking employment within the industry
- Demonstrate accountability for planning complex projects, prioritizing tasks and meeting project milestones.
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel as a future visual development artist. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring artists and designers with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the visual development industry.
Art Director
The job of the art director is to oversee and unify the visual look of a project. You'll control the overall look of the project, and make creative decisions based on mood, style, and target audience.
Character Designer
As a character and creature designer, you'll help create the standard appearance for a character including poses and gestures.
Concept Artist
Collaborate with creative and art directors to generate images that clarify their vision and create visual representations of the ideas that will be realized in films, animated movies, comics, and video games.
Matte Painter
As a matte painter, you'll create paintings to be used in photography and special effects to combine disparate elements into a single final image.
Production Artist
Working with art directors and designers, production artists are responsible for creating assets across various marking initiates in keeping with the visual style of the product.
Vector Artist
Using standard tools, a vector artist recreates images for high-resolution output for billboards, printing, and 3D modeling.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 30 |
|---|---|
| Directed Studies | 18 |
| Graduate Liberal Arts | 9 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Total | 63 |
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
- A minimum grade of C in all required 63 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
- 1 Cross-Cultural Understanding course
Curriculum
Semester 1
- ANM 610: Figurative Concepts (Major)
- FA 602: Head Drawing (Elective)
- FA 630: Color Theory (Major)
- GLA 624: History of Visual Development (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Semester 2
- ANM 685: Storyboarding Principles (Major)
- ILL 610: Clothed Figure Drawing (Major)
- ILL 625: Perspective for Characters & Environment (Major)
- ILL 660: Digital Painting (Major)
Semester 3
- ANM 633: Drawing and Design for Animation (Major)
- VIS 660: Fundamentals of Environments and Prop Design (Major)
- VIS 670: Portfolio Development (Major)
Semester 4
- GLA 617: Mythology for the Modern World (Graduate Liberal Arts)
- VIS 611: The Visual Elements of Story (Major)
- VIS 800: Directed Study (Directed Studies)
- VIS 900: Internship (Directed Studies)
Semester 5
- FA 605: Landscape Painting (Elective)
- VIS 800: Directed Study (Directed Studies)
- VIS 850: Group Directed Study: Visual Development for Thesis Project (Directed Studies)
Semester 6
- GLA 679: Professional Practices for Visual Development (Graduate Liberal Arts)
- VIS 800: Directed Study (Directed Studies)
- VIS 850: Group Directed Study: Visual Development for Thesis Project (Directed Studies)