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If you’d like to learn more about the Animation program, we’d love to talk with you.
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Financial Aid Available
Program Transfers
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Program Overview
Gain professional skills in traditional and digital 3D animation and concept planning and development.
Madison College’s Associate of Arts Degree in Animation and Concept Development classes will provide you with a broad foundation of skills in:
- Concept drawing and layout
- Figure/life drawing for concept work
- Concept presentation
- Digital modeling, texturing, rigging and animation
- Level design and construction
- Asset creation and management
- Digital lighting and cinematography
Graduating students have the opportunity to apply for professional internships and mentorships, and create a professional portfolio and demo reel.
Program Details
Students in the Animation program must attend classes full time.
Animation classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Careers in Animation
Earning your associate degree in the Animation program at Madison College prepares you for valuable work as a:
- Character Animator
- Concept Artist/Designer
- Storyboard Artist
You will also be prepared for work as an animator, modeler, lighter, or illustrator in the following industries:
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Broadcasting
- Entertainment
- Game Design
- Instructional
- Medical and Scientific
- Multimedia Production
- Printing/Publishing
- Product Design Development
- Web Design
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Prior to Start of ProgramFirst SemesterSecond SemesterChoose one of the following:Choose one of the following:Third SemesterChoose one of the following:Choose one of the following:Choose one of the following:Fourth SemesterChoose one of the following: -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- There is currently 0-1 year between acceptance into pre-program and the start of core classes. The estimated time to enter the core program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
- Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Animation career.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
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Petition
After Admission (Petition Requirements)
Run a Degree Progress Report to confirm which pre-program requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Complete the Petition Requirements for Animation. Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. A grade of C- will not be accepted.
Mandatory workshop in Brightspace.
Course Requirements:
- 2D Fundamentals
- 3D Fundamentals
Petitioning
This program petitions for entry into the following term:
- Fall - Petition window opens on April 1
Review the Petition Process for details on how and when to petition.
After Petitioning
If awarded a seat, you will receive instructions regarding the below required items. If you do not complete the required items, it may result in losing your seat and starting the application process from the beginning.
- Enrollment in core program courses. Students who are awarded a seat are expected to start the core program courses for the awarded term. Students who choose not to begin the core program courses or are not able to begin core program courses may be discontinued from pre-program status.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Transfer Opportunities
Wisconsin Private Schools
Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Bachelor of Science in Business Management and LeadershipOut-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the Animation program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in the technical and aesthetic skills necessary to meet challenges in the animation profession.
- Apply the principles and theories necessary to contribute to the creation of professional animation in a business setting.
- Apply critical thinking skills to solve complex problems and demonstrate effective organization in a high-pressure workplace.
- Communicate effectively and professionally using appropriate media, including written, verbal, graphic and electronic communications.
- Demonstrate creativity, innovation and flexibility in order to work successfully in a continuously changing animation business environment.
- Assume responsibility for continuing education in order to maintain, expand and enhance professional and artistic growth.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with colleagues in a team setting and understand workflow processes in a business environment.
- Exhibit desirable interpersonal skills, including but not limited to respect and sensitivity for diverse cultures and individuals.
- Practice desirable professional ethics, honesty, and confidentiality as applied to copyrighted materials when working on various facets of animation.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply principles of intellectual property and intellectual freedom to the professional production of animation.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2022 2023 2024 Number of Program Graduates 8 6 5 Number of Surveys Sent 8 5 5 Number of Surveys Returned 3 4 2 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 3 4 1 Percent Available for Employment 100.0% 100.0% 50.0% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Available for Employment
2022 2023 2024 Graduates Employed 2 3 1 Percent of Graduates Employed 66.7% 75.0% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 0 1 0 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 0.0% 33.3% 0.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 2 1 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 100.0% 66.7% 100.0% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 1 1 0 Percent Seeking Employment 33.3% 25.0% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2022 2023 2024 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.3 3.3 3 Number of Satisfaction Responses 3 4 1 Very Satisfied (4) 1 1 0 Percent Very Satisfied 33.3% 25.0% 0.0% Satisfied (3) 2 3 1 Percent Satisfied 66.7% 75.0% 100.0% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2022 2023 2024 Number of Primary Reason Responses 3 4 1 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2022 2023 2024 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 2 3 1 Before Enrollment 1 2 0 Percent Before Enrollment 50.0% 66.7% 0.0% While Attending the College 0 0 1 Percent While Attending the College 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% After Training at the College 1 1 0 Percent After Training at the College 50.0% 33.3% 0.0% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2022 2023 2024 Number of Employment Location Responses 2 3 2 In College District 1 3 1 Percent In College District 50.0% 100.0% 50.0% In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 1 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 50.0% Salary Trend 2022 2023 2024 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 1 Average Monthly Wage $6,616 Average Hourly Wage $38.46 Average Work Hours per Week 50.0 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count Average Hourly Wage Average Work Hours per Week
