Potential employers will want to take an in-depth look at a candidate’s portfolio to ensure that they are hiring someone with highly developed animation skills and experience. Usually an animator will be taken on as an intern and after having shown his or her worth will be hired on as a full-time employee. This internship serves as a proving ground for the potential employee and is a time to show off his or her worth in small and big ways to their potential employer.

Jobs in the computer animation industry increase at the same rate as those in the entertainment industry. Salaries are difficult to estimate since employment can range from small firms to huge animating companies, however the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that an average salary for a computer animator was approximately $61,010 in the year 2007.

Obviously, the larger the company or project an animator is involved in, the larger the compensation. Computer animators can also decide to do freelance work and be sort of independent contractors. They are hired on for certain projects and once the project is completed, they are compensated and move along to another project. Obviously, this is a little riskier in terms of job stability but it also reduces boredom and feeling trapped in a job that isn’t right for the individual.

For those who decide to pursue computer animation college, there is plenty of opportunity in this ever changing field. As the demand for more sophisticated computer animation increases, so does the demand for those individuals who are skilled at making it happen. As such, the field of computer animation is an exciting and challenging way to earn a living.

Computer animation is also used in less glamorous fields such as accident recreation, weather report technology and training for various companies. Those considering a career in computer animation must have an inherent knack for technology paired with creativity and also must possess at least a bachelors’ degree from a computer animation college.

The choice of a computer animation college is wide and different schools offer different levels of education. Some computer animation colleges even offer a master’s degree in computer animation that students can pursue to ensure that they are extremely attractive to potential employers.

All computer animation colleges teach a basic core curriculum with courses such as 3D Modeling, Character Development and Design and 3D Animation.

• Collins College was founded in 1978 as the Al Collins Graphic Design School in Phoenix, Arizona
• Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
• Offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in design, media or technology
• Choose from School of Visual Arts & Design, School of Film, Video and Visual FX, or School of Interactive Media

Top 10 reasons to consider enrolling with Collins College Online:

1. Convenient locations
2. Award winning student services department
3. Career Services
4. Internationally recognized film facility
5. Campus WIFI access
6. Tutoring
7. Campus Clubs and Organizations
8. Industry/Alumni speakers
9. Scholarships

10. Faculty Collins College Online has three schools with detailed degree programs:

• The School of Visual Arts & Design - designed for students seeking careers in Graphic Design, Interior Design and Game Design
• The School of Film, Video and Visual FX – designed for students seeking careers in Video Editing, Motion Graphics, Cinematography, and Film and Television Production; the new Film & Video Center gives students the opportunity to learn in an environment modeled after a professional film studio
• School of Interactive Media – designed for students seeking careers in Game Design

Collins College Online Game Degree Programs

Collins College Online offers game degree programs for those seeking careers in game design and development. The Collins College Online game degree programs include the following:

• BA in Game Design
• BA in Visual Art with Game Art Major
• BA in Animations

Tuition and Financial Aid

Collins College prides itself on having a financial plan to fit any student’s needs. Therefore, Collins College Online offers a variety of financial aid resources, including grants, scholarships, federal loans, and work-study programs.

• Kaplan University Online is Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Established in 1937
• Part of Kaplan Higher Education, a premier education provider, with 70 campus-based schools in 20 states
• Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions is the world leader in test preparation
• Online courses offer interactive seminars, online quizzes, one-on-one feedback, discussion boards and web field trips

Want to earn a game design degree?

There are several different paths you can take to working in the game industry, and Kaplan University Online offers the courses to get you there. Whether you are looking to design graphics, do the software programming or manage a team of developers, you can get the education and experience you need at Kaplan University.

Software Development – Game Programming

There are programs offered in software development, that you could use to enter the gaming industry as a programmer or a coder. The Bachelor of Science in Software Development program allows students to focus on the full software development life cycle, including software requirements, specifications, design, and implementation techniques in order to fully understand the industry. This is a two- to four-year program, and upon completion you will have a degree that will get your a head start in the gaming industry.

Kaplan University Online – Web Multimedia and Animation

There are also some programs at Kaplan University that combine information technology with art, to give you an edge in the graphic design field. Through these programs, such as the Web Multimedia and Animation Emphasis in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, students will develop cutting-edge websites that blend interactive media with consumer-targeted information. You’ll also learn animation and producing games and virtual tours. This is the perfect course if you want to blend art with technology, and create scenery, characters or any other aspect of a video game.

• Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
• The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – AI Online Division was launched in 2000
• The Art Institute of Pittsburgh supports the Online Division with over 85 years of experience in higher education
• 15 academic programs with focus on online creative arts education
• Uses the same curriculum taught at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
• Prepares students for employment by helping them create an individualized portfolio of their work

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online (AI online) is a highly respected institution of higher learning in the creative and digital arts. Although it is a relatively new school, it is backed by its parent school, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and thus has experienced professors and established curriculum as some of its many resources. Among the many creative courses offered by this school is the Game Art and Design Bachelor’s Degree, which is one of the most valuable assets you can have if you are interested in designing video games.

The gaming industry is a multi-billion-dollar a year giant, but you don’t have to know any computer programming to get in on the action. If creative arts is more your thing, then try launching your career by obtaining the Game Art and Design degree from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. You will strengthen your basic art skills and apply them to designing game play and backgrounds, fantasy environments and characters, and also develop analytical skills to help you plan the stages of a game’s environment from beginning to end.

Game and Gaming careers

There are many careers that you can pursue after obtaining a degree in Game Art and Design. If you enjoy playing games, you could become a tester and play for 8 hours a day while getting paid! Or if you want to go behind the scenes, there are jobs such as 2-D conceptual artist, 3-D character builder, 3-D object modeler, background artist, interactivity designer and much more. Because the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online is a leader in the creative arts and gaming education industry, your degree will take you places after graduation.

The Art Institute Online Courses, Degrees, and Diploma Programs

• Game Art & Design
• Media Arts & Animation
• Web Design & Interactive Media
• Digital Design
• Graphic Design
• Web Design
• Advertising
• Interior Design

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Tuition

Tuition for most courses at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online is comprised of a $427 regular tuition fee and a $100 lab fee per course. The lab fee is the cost of using graphic design programs and other tools that the school supplies.

AI online has a counselor to help you with your finances and develop a payment plan so that your education is affordable. In addition, there are links to applications and information for Federal financial aid, military discounts and benefits, employer reimbursement, grants, scholarships, private loans and much more. There are also frequently asked questions, and a question submission form, if you feel your needs are not met by all of the information available online.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online is committed to delivering quality education at an affordable tuition rate, and choosing this well-established online school as your portal to an industry-related degree will not only increase your eventual salary and position, but also your skill level and satisfaction with your education.