With the addition of a bachelors degree at the recently endowed John C. Hench division of Animation & Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, undergraduates can now take advantage of an international and multicultural program that focuses on animation in all its forms.
The Bachelor of Arts degree enables students to specialize in concentrations that range from character and experimental animation, to visual effects, science visualization, interactive media and more, while at the same time giving them an education within the framework of a major research university.
Were thrilled that the Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts offers students the opportunity to draw from the wealth of educational opportunities available at USC, said division chair Kathy Smith. This solid foundation underscores the fact that animation relates to every field of study.
In addition to learning a varied array of animation and digital arts techniques, undergrads pursuing the four-year degree are also exposed to knowledge gleaned from disciplines across the university. Among them are the Davis School of Gerontology, where students probe the complexities of the human aging process and movement; the Department of Psychology, where they learn what drives a persons emotions; and the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences, where they observe first-hand the wonders of the marine world.
Encouraging innovation and experimentation is the fundamental philosophy of our program, added Smith. Offering a B.A. emphasizes imagination, creativity and critical thinking to a whole new group of talented animators.
The John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts is now accepting applications for fall 2007. For more information, visit cinema.usc.edu.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
