Media Arts and Studies—Animation (B.S.)

Major code BS5402*

School of Media Arts and Studies
Scripps College of Communication
The Schoonover Center for Communication
3rd Floor
20 E. Union St.
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4870
mediaschool@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/mdia

Josh Antonuccio, contact person
antonucn@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The School of Media Arts and Studies prepares and develops students for successful careers in multiple creative industries across media and technology.

The School of Media Arts and Studies is ranked as one of the top 50 Media programs in the U.S. by the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Our students have exceptional opportunities to grow in their field through nationally-recognized production facilities, hands-on learning, industry-engaged experiences, and excellent faculty.

The school is a national leader in experiential education, providing several regional and traveling course opportunities in the U.S. and beyond. These opportunities enable our students to engage directly with industries and learn first-hand from professionals and leaders. As well, we offer several student organizations for students of all skill levels and encourage participation in internships. Our engaging program opportunities and extensive alumni community lead to important connections for our students, fostering internships and job placement.

With over 600 undergraduates and a community of creative and research-engaged faculty, the School of Media Arts and Studies has established a global reputation for excellence. Our students distinguish themselves, graduating to become leaders and change agents across numerous creative industries. As such, there is strong demand to join our program.

The Animation program encourages students to explore skills to design, create, and engage with technologies to produce digital animation content across diverse storytelling platforms.

All students enrolled in MDIA programs must complete core course requirements at the freshman and sophomore levels and a comprehensive production capstone in the Junior or Senior year. These courses integrate with courses specific to each program throughout the baccalaureate program.

Ohio University’s Zanesville, Lancaster and Southern campuses offer an associate’s degree program in electronic media. This program offers a smaller, more intimate setting for the first two years of University coursework. Students participating in the two-year programs at these campuses and who desire to continue their study with the School of Media Arts and Studies will apply for transfer into the School during the spring semester (see transfer policy below). For additional information, see the Electronic Media program in the Regional Higher Education section.

The School of Media Arts and Studies also offers an Honors Tutorial College program for students with outstanding high school records. MDIA freshmen with strong academic records may also qualify.

*This program was previously BC5386 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Communication. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS5402 and will award the Bachelor of Science effective the 2024-25 catalog year.

Admission Information

Freshman Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Transfer Policy

Because the School of Media Arts and Studies sets high academic standards and limits enrollment, students from other universities or other programs and campuses at Ohio University must show strong academic performance. An accumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above will be required for consideration. Applications are accepted twice per year by the seventh week of either the fall or spring semester.

In addition, transfer students from outside Ohio University must abide by the policies indicated in the Admissions section of this catalog.

Further information regarding transfer policy can be found at: www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/mdia/current-students-resources/transfer.

Internships

Students with majors in the School of Media Arts and Studies are strongly encouraged to undertake an internship. The School and the College have hundreds of professional internship opportunities available to students, with nearly every major media organization in the United States, as well as internationally. Students can receive one hour of credit for an on- or off-campus practicum (MDIA 3910 & 3911 ) as early as the summer following the freshman year. Students may undertake the formal internship (MDIA 4910 ) during the junior or senior year. More information can be found at: www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/mdia/current-students-resources/internships.

MDIA 4911 (Internship in LA) is conducted through the Ohio-in-LA program and requires a separate application through Ohio University’s Office of Global Opportunities.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

By using scripts, sound, moving image, and interactivity to create stories through music, games, animation, video, and social media our students learn the pre-production, production, and post-production processes, while continuing to hone the skills needed to analyze the media they are creating. Alumni of the Media Arts and Studies program work in a variety of media industries. They create, analyze, and oversee media for education, entertainment, activism, journalism, or public relations purposes in the corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial media industries.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.

Media Arts and Studies Core

Complete the following four courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better (‘C-’ will not fulfill requirement) in each course:

EM 1010 - Introduction to Electronic Media Credit Hours: 3
or
MDIA 1010 - The Evolution of Media Credit Hours: 3
EM 1020 - Writing For Media Credit Hours: 3
or
MDIA 1020 - Media Storytelling and the Creative Process Credit Hours: 3
EM 2010 - Electronic Media Analysis/Criticism Credit Hours: 3
or
MDIA 2010 - Media Analysis and Criticism Credit Hours: 3
EM 2011 - Electronic Media as Business Credit Hours: 3
or
MDIA 2011 - The Business of Media Credit Hours: 3

Global Impact of Media

Choose one of the following courses:

COMM 3800 - Communication Industries and Organizations Abroad Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 2150 - Media Globalization Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 2305 - Recording Industry Survey Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3307 - Music Publishing and Licensing for Media Productions Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3601 - History of Hollywood Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4011 - Media and the Digital Divide Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4015 - Media and Development Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4111 - Media Phenomenology Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4160 - Global Animation Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4170 - Media and the Muslim World Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4175 - Media and Sexual Representation Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4176 - Technology, Communication, and Culture Credit Hours: 3

Animation Core

Complete the following courses:

MDIA 1350 - Animation Foundation Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 2500 - Animation I Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3500 - Animation II Credit Hours: 3

Animation Elective

Complete two courses from the following:

MDIA 2510 - Traditional Animation Techniques Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 2701 - Visual Storytelling Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3160 - History of Computer Graphics Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3510 - Character and Production Design for Animation Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3550 - Animated Documentary Production Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 3801 - Motion Graphics Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4500 - Animation III Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4805 - Compositing Credit Hours: 3
MDIA 4905 - Special Topics in Games and Animation Credit Hours: 3

Capstone

Complete one course.

MDIA 4405 - Animation Capstone Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4023 - Storytelling, Technology and Digital Media in Theme Parks Credit Hours: 4

Cognate

Complete three Additional Courses in MDIA, ECT or COMM courses at the 2000, 3000 or 4000 level.

Media Arts and Studies Related Area

Students in the School of Media Arts and Studies are required to complete 30 credits hours of coursework in three (3) academic units, outside the School of Media Arts and Studies. These academic units and courses are selected by the student and the student’s academic advisor to enhance and support the student’s area of acaedmic and professional interests.

Requirements

At least 15 of the 30 credit hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
At least six (6) credit hours must be completed in each chosen academic unit.
At least one (1) academic unit must be outside of the Scripps College of Communication.
Students completing a minor or certificate can count those courses toward this requirement, but may need to take additional hours to meet the requirements.
MDIA courses cannot count toward this requirement, even if they are a part of a certificate program.