Digital arts bachelor programs teach the theories and hands-on skills needed to create computer-aided art. Learn about degree requirements, areas of concentration, course topics and career options after graduation.
What Are Digital Arts Bachelor's Degree Programs Like?
Digital arts bachelor's degree programs educate you on how to collaborate on animation, modeling and gaming projects. You can often choose a concentration in these areas, and you usually spend time working with design and animation software in your school's computer studios. You also take a range of foundational courses that give you a solid artistic background.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs are available to you in digital arts. Typically, you need to take more credits to earn a BFA, and you spend more time in studios honing your digital arts skills. Some BFA programs take up to five years of full-time study to complete, while B.S. and B.A. degree programs typically take four years. Online programs are difficult to find because of studio and collaboration requirements.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Options</b></td><td> Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Fine Arts</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Drawing, design, color theory, modeling, web design, animation, art history</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Possible Careers</b></td><td> Game designer, movie producer, animator, digital artist</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary (2021)</b></td><td>$55,540 <i>(Animators)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td>4% growth <i>(Multimedia Artists and Animators)</i>**</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *Payscale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCoursesWillITake">What Courses Will I Take?</h3><p>The courses you take in digital arts bachelor's degree programs usually include in-depth instruction in drawing and design. You explore techniques for sketching, drawing figures, and storyboarding. Additional courses include color theory, content development, 3-D modeling, web design and drawing animation. Some programs include a course that covers 4-D animation, which discusses space and time within animated works. You may also be required to take art history courses that give you a sense of the relationship between digital art and other art forms.
</p><p>If you choose a concentration within digital arts, you take additional courses that focus on your chosen interests. For example, a concentration in 3-D animation teaches you how to create animated characters and objects using computers and traditional methods. You can also take concentrations in game design and modeling.
</p><h3 id="section---WhereWillIWork">Where Will I Work?</h3><p>Game design companies and movie production firms are common employers of bachelor's holders. Animators and digital artists are also hired by training developers, website developers and medical imaging companies. Animators made a wide range of salaries in May 2021 according to <i>Payscale.com</i>, where the average salary of animators was $55,540.</p>
