The Computer Science Animation Emphasis is new for Fall 2008. Students graduating with the emphasis will learn both the technical and artistic side of creating and implementing digital animation and games, preparing them for technical careers with animation and game programming studios.

The emphasis is not an open-enrollment program. Students wishing to enroll must apply in the Computer Science Department Office by Friday, August 1, 2008.

Click here to download the application.

For more information, please contact Kiersten Nielsen, 3361 TMCB; 422-9439.

Computer Science Animation Emphasis MAP

Computer Science Animation Emphasis Prerequisite Chart

The creation of the Computer Science Animation Emphasis, in conjunctionwith BYU's newly created Center for Animation, will continue the trendof preparing BYU students to enter the workforce with the technologicalbackground and skills necessary to influence the growing animationindustry.

The 79-hour BYU Computer Science Animation Emphasis gives students astrong background in computer science fundamentals (38 hours) , whichis complemented by courses in visual arts (21).

Computer Science Animation students may also choose to augment theirstudies by participating in undergraduate research with one of the manygraphics-oriented research projects in the department

Advanced 3D Animation Laboratory, Dr.Parris Egbert

Computer-Generated Natural Phenomena Laboratory, Dr. Mike Jones

Computer Graphics, Vision, and Image Processing Laboratory, Dr. Robert Burton, Dr. Bryan Morse, Dr. Tom Sederberg, and Dr. Bill Barrett

The BYU Computer Science Department has a long history of contribution to the field of computer-generated animation. BYU Computer Science students have been instrumental in the production of each of BYU's celebrated animated shorts. These short films, including "Lemmings," "Petshop," "Faux Paw," "Turtles," "Noggin," "Las Piñatas," "Lion and the Mouse," and "Pajama Gladiators" have been widely heralded by the animation industry. They have garnered 7 "College Television Awards" or "Student Emmys" from the Acadmey of Television Arts and Sciences as well as 2 "Student Academy Awards" from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Upon entering the industry, BYU Computer Science students continue to excel. Each computer science student who has worked on one of BYU's animated films has gone on to graduate school or has accepted a position at an animation studio. BYU Computer Science Alumni are employed with some of the top studios in the industry, including Pixar, Disney Animation, Entertainment Arts, Industrial Light + Magic, Avalanche Studios, and LucasFilms Animation. BYU Computer Science students have contributed to a number of recent blockbuster films, including "Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Dead Man's Chest," "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," "Cars," "Ratatouille," "Shrek 3," and "Transformers." Recently, one computer science alumni, Jason Smith, who is currently employed as a technology lead at Industrial Light + Magic, was named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the industry's "Brightest and Most Talented 35-and-Under Artisans."During a speech given at BYU in 2008, Ed Catmull, president and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and president of Disney Animation, lauded the work in animation at BYU. He remarked, "over the years, Pixar has worked with a lot of different universities around the country and hired people. One of the interesting things is, all of a sudden, in the last few years, we found that BYU has risen to the top." Later that afternoon in a press conference, Dr. Catmull told journalists that BYU students hired as interns "come in and do production work right away and do a fantastic job." He continued, "it's amazing to suddenly see that BYU is producing the best in the industry. It's the perception not just at Pixar but also at the other studios that something pretty remarkable is happening here."