DePaul University

DePaul University houses its animation, visual effects, film, and game design offerings within the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, organized under the School of Cinematic Arts and the School of Computing in Chicago. The curriculum emphasizes a combination of creative training and technical production workflows, preparing students for practical studio pipelines.

Production Infrastructure and Virtual Production

Practical film and VFX training centers around DePaul Cinespace Studios, a 60,000-square-foot facility situated on an active commercial production lot. Students have access to six dedicated sound stages, scenic shops, professional lighting and grip equipment, and a Camera Vault featuring ARRI and RED digital cinema camera packages.

A focal point of the facility is the Virtual Production Stage, which integrates a high-resolution LED volume wall with real-time game engines and camera tracking systems. Through coursework using Unreal Engine and Unity, students learn to combine physical sets, live actors, and interactive lighting with digital environments for in-camera visual effects.

Animation and Technical Pathways

The animation curriculum spans traditional and digital techniques, supported by specialized equipment including two dedicated stop-motion stages, a Volo motion control crane, 3D printing and fabrication labs, motion capture stages, and sound design suites. Degree tracks include liberal arts Bachelor of Arts pathways as well as intensive Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, and Master of Fine Arts programs.

Students can focus their studies across several disciplines:

• 3D animation and modeling using Maya, Cinema 4D, and ZBrush
• Visual effects and compositing working with Nuke and Houdini
• Traditional and 2D digital animation utilizing TVPaint and Adobe Photoshop
• Motion graphics, character design, and storyboarding

The program also provides a Technical Artist concentration within the MA in Animation. This pathway bridges creative art and programming, emphasizing character rigging, procedural tool development, asset pipeline troubleshooting, and Python scripting.

Game Disciplines and Campus Facilities

Interactive entertainment is housed within the School of Computing, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Game Design and Game Programming. On the Loop Campus, the Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration offers an 8,000-square-foot environment equipped with XR creative studios, specialized computer labs, and media lounges.

While the majority of animation and film degrees require on-campus access to physical stages and specialized hardware, technical offerings such as the Master of Science in Game Programming are available fully online.

Experiential Learning and Industry Immersion

DePaul connects academic study to professional production through several specialized programs:

• Project Bluelight: An in-house production company initiative where students crew independent films alongside faculty directors and professional mentors.
• The LA Quarter: A ten-week immersion program based at Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Los Angeles, pairing entertainment industry coursework with mandatory studio internships.
• Premiere Film Showcase: An annual screening at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre presenting student work across live-action, animation, and documentary formats to industry juries and festival programmers.