Program Overview

3D Digital Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Overview

The 3D Digital Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree program at RIT focuses on preparing students to create 3D assets for games, VR, simulations, and more. The program emphasizes industry networking, accelerated degree options, alumni relationships, and STEM-OPT visa eligibility.

Why Study 3D Digital Design at RIT

• Industry Networking: Participate in Creative Industry Day, connecting with professionals in the field.
• Accelerated Degree Option: Combine Bachelor's and Master's degrees in as little as five years.
• Alumni Relationships: Alumni work in top companies worldwide, applying skills learned to design solutions.
• Two Options to Choose from: Game arts or 3D visualization.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: Full-time, on-campus international students can stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

RIT's 3D Digital Design Degree

• Learn design software professionals use for real-world digital design.
• Collaborate with engineers, musicians, scientists, animators, and medical professionals.
• Develop skills in motion and facial capture, projection mapping, and 3D printing.

Enhance Your 3D Digital Arts Major

• Choose from two focused degree options:
  • Game arts: Create visual elements and assets for game platforms.
  • 3D visualization: Pursue a broad range of applications using digital design as the platform for 3D content creation.

Furthering Your Education in 3D Digital Design

• Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees: Earn both degrees in as little as five years.
• +1 MBA: Add an MBA to your bachelor's degree after your first year of study.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• AR/VR Designer
• Architectural Modeler
• Character Artist/Designer
• CG Artist
• Concept Artist
• Digital Art Designer
• Digital Asset Designer
• Digital Sculptor
• Environment Designer
• Forensic Artist
• Game Designer
• Game Developer
• Level Designer
• Lighting Technical Director (TD)
• Motion Graphics Artist
• Rigger
• Special Effects Artist
• Technical Artist
• Texture Artist
• User Interface Artist
• Visualization Artist

Industries

• Design
• Animation
• Advertising, PR, and Marketing
• Internet and Software
• Movies, TV, and Music
• Computer Games
• Non-Profit

Cooperative Education and Internships

• Gain real-world career experience through co-ops and internships with top companies.
• Apply artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings.
• Make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.

Creative Industry Days

• Connect with design industry leaders.
• Network with company representatives and interview for co-op and full-time employment positions.

Featured Work and Profiles

• Building a Virtual Production Curriculum
• 3D Digital Design Reel
• Alumni Spotlight: Marty Pietras '17
• Bringing Board Games to Life
• Recent alumna receives industry recognition
• 100 Hour Project - Into the Wormhole

Curriculum

3D Digital Design (game arts option), BFA degree, typical course sequence

• First Year:
  • ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
  • ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH course (General Education – Global Perspective)
  • DDDD-101: Introduction to Modeling and Motion
  • DDDD-102: Introduction to Visual Design
  • DDDD-103: Imaging for 3D
  • FDTN-121: 2D Design I
  • FDTN-131: 3D Design I
  • FDTN-141: 4D Design
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year:
  • DDDD-201: Modeling and Motion Strategies
  • DDDD-202: Layers and Effects
  • DDDD-203: Scripting
  • DDDD-207: Lighting, Materials, and Rendering
  • DDDD-209: Project Planning and Production
  • IGME-220: Game Design & Development I
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • Art History Elective
• Third Year:
  • DDDD-301: Professional Practice (WI-PR)
  • GAMA-301: The History of Game Arts
  • GAMA-302: Contemporary Practices: Technology in Game Arts
  • IGME-320: Game Design & Development II
  • IGME-580: IGM Production Studio
  • Open Elective
  • Game Arts Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 1, 2
• Fourth Year:
  • DDDD-402: Senior Capstone I
  • DDDD-403: Senior Capstone II
  • GAMA-302: Contemporary Practices: Technology in Game Arts
  • Open Electives
  • Game Arts Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 3

3D Digital Design (3D visualization option), BFA degree, typical course sequence

• First Year:
  • ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
  • ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH course (General Education – Global Perspective)
  • DDDD-101: Introduction to Modeling and Motion
  • DDDD-102: Introduction to Visual Design
  • DDDD-103: Imaging for 3D
  • FDTN-121: 2D Design I
  • FDTN-131: 3D Design I
  • FDTN-141: 4D Design
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year:
  • DDDD-201: Modeling and Motion Strategies
  • DDDD-202: Layers and Effects
  • DDDD-203: Scripting
  • DDDD-207: Lighting, Materials, and Rendering
  • DDDD-208: Anatomical Frameworks for 2D & 3D Applications
  • DDDD-209: Project Planning and Production
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • CAD Elective
  • Programming Elective
• Third Year:
  • DDDD-301: Professional Practice (WI-PR)
  • DDDD-302: General Education Elective: History of Digital Graphics (WI-PR)
  • DDDD-303: Collaboration Project
  • 3DDD Professional Electives
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 1, 2
  • Art History Elective
• Fourth Year:
  • DDDD-402: Senior Capstone I
  • DDDD-403: Senior Capstone II
  • 3DDD Professional Electives
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 3

Electives

Game Arts Electives

• DDDD-304: 3D Motion Graphics
• DDDD-516: Advanced Studio: Topic
• DDDD-517: Experimental Workshop
• DDDD-521: Character Design and Rigging
• DDDD-522: Environment Design
• DDDD-523: Hard Surface Design
• DDDD-526: Physical Interface Design
• DDDD-527: Real Time Design
• DDDD-528: Simulating Natural Phenomena
• IGME-382: Maps, Mapping and Geospatial Technologies
• IGME-384: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
• IGME-484: Geographic Visualization
• ILLS-371: 2D/3D Pre-Visual World Building
• ILLS-373: Concept and Story-Inspired Art
• ILLS-468: Fantastic Illustration
• ILLS-563: Zoological and Botanical Illustration
• SOFA-107: Principles of Animation
• SOFA-108: Drawing for Animation
• SOFA-218: Concept and Character Design

3DDD Professional Electives

• DDDD-304: 3D Motion Graphics
• DDDD-516: Advanced Studio: Topic
• DDDD-517: Experimental Workshop
• DDDD-521: Character Design and Rigging
• DDDD-522: Environment Design
• DDDD-523: Hard Surface Design
• DDDD-526: Physical Interface Design
• DDDD-527: Real Time Design
• DDDD-528: Simulating Natural Phenomena

Programming Electives

• CMPR-271: Computational Problem Solving for Engineers
• CSCI-141: Computer Science I
• GCIS-123: Software Development and Problem Solving
• GCIS-127: Software Development for Transfers
• IGME-101: New Media Interactive Design and Algorithmic Problem Solving I
• IGME-105: Game Development and Algorithmic Problem Solving I
• ISCH-110: Principles of Computing

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social studies and/or history
• 3-4 years of mathematics
• 2-3 years of science
• Studio art experience and a portfolio of original artwork are required.

Transfer Admission

• Studio art or design experience and a portfolio of original artwork are required.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• 100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
• RIT's personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs.

Faculty

• Nina Park: Assistant Professor
• Joey Byun: Visiting Lecturer
• Philip Szrama: Assistant Professor

Facilities

• 3D Digital Design Seminar Room
• 3D Computer Lab
• MAGIC Spell Studios

Related News

• Student brings photographic precision to 3D visual effects
• Virtually endless possibilities
• RIT ranked a top-10 university for game designers and developers

Contact

• Gary Jacobs: Undergraduate Program Director, 3D Digital Design
• School of Design
• College of Art and Design
• 585-475-6987