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San José State University · Department of Design

Master of Design (MDes) in Animation

MDesMaster of DesignFunding not verified

Overview

A two-year, 60-unit Master of Design in Animation culminating in a Master Project, admitting for the Fall term only.

Official program name
Master of Design (MDes) in Animation
Awarded degree
Master of DesignMaster's · Master of Design
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Qualification classification
Academic degreeDescribed as a terminal degree program.Titled as a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in its own national system.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Degree-awarding body
The institution itself unless stated otherwise on its official page.
Country
United States
Teaching language
  • English — Page requires international students to demonstrate English language proficiency.Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Application route
Other route
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
School
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Location
San Jose, CA
Delivery
Format not verified
Required attendance
Not verified
Study intensity
Not published
Duration
2 years
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Credits and credit system
60 unitsCredits (system as published) — not directly interchangeable with other countries' systems.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Start
Fall
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Specializations

SpecializationClassificationEvidence
General AnimationDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Why this degree is listed

Dedicated Master of Design in Animation, a terminal degree at a public university.

Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

We list verified animation degrees only — no certificates, short courses or generic degrees with a few animation modules. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Graduation film, thesis or capstone

Capstone projectCulminating Master Project with public exhibition, oral presentation and a research-and-process digital journal.

Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Studio projects

  • Core Master Project sequence DSGN 291, 292, 293 and 298 supports the individual capstone project.
    Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Software, equipment and costs

Software and equipment are shown only as the school publishes them: required, taught, provided or bought by the student. Tuition does not include hardware, software or materials unless the school says so, and online students do not automatically share campus facilities.

Software

Software list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Equipment, computers and facility access

Equipment and facility access: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Published equipment and software costs

Equipment and software costs: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare equipment and software

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
PortfolioRequiredOnline portfolio of up to 15 pieces uploaded through SlideRoom; AI-generated pieces are not permitted.Length: up to 15 piecesSource: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Research proposalRequiredMaster Project pre-proposal of 1-2 pages.Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Other requirements

Prior qualification
RequiredCompleted bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Statement of purpose
RequiredPersonal statement of 1-2 pages.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation emailed directly by recommenders.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
Not requiredGRE is not required.
Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

  • Application deadline

    February 1, 2027 · for Fall 2027

    Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026
    Upcoming

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its original currency, applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures — and different currencies — are not comparable with each other. Equipment and software costs are listed separately above.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All studentsUSD 1,109per credit · 2027-28EstimateUSD 66,540 = 60 credits × USD 1,109 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, equipment and software costs, travel, and any rate change during the program.Source: sjsu.edu · verified October 14, 2026

Funding

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Funding not verified

Funding policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 14, 2026.
  1. sjsu.edu/design/graduate-programs/animation-master/admissions.php — Official program page, verified October 14, 2026
  2. sjsu.edu/design/graduate-programs/animation-master/index.php — Official program page, verified October 14, 2026
  3. sjsu.edu/design/graduate-programs/animation-master/requirement.php — Official program page, verified October 14, 2026
  4. sjsu.edu/design/graduate-programs/animation-master/tuition.php — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 14, 2026

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