Graduate Certificate in Digital Creature Animation - Technical Direction

at Sheridan College Canada

Sheridan now offers a four-year bachelor's degree in game design.
A program incorporating material from multiple disciplines
To complement core game design courses, you'll study:

• Game design and mechanics
• Level design
• Programming and technology
• Game narrative and audio
• 2D and 3D art and animation
• Professional development and project management

Professors with industry experience:-
As a world-renowned leader in digital media and animation, Sheridan is uniquely positioned to educate the next generation of game designers. Our professors' expertise, technology savvy, and industry experience offer students an unmatched foundation for careers in the game design industry.

In Sheridan's Computer Systems Technology – Software Development and Network Engineering program, you'll gain experience with many platforms and environments. Using cutting-edge computer systems technologies (such as Android, iOS and Unity) and industry standards (such as Java, Oracle, C, C# and .NET), you'll learn to create solutions to real-world problems.

Program Highlights

• Software development in Java, Java EE, C, C# and .NET.
• Web technologies and web application development.
• Database technologies and database administration.
• Direct, hands-on instruction.
• A capstone project in your final year where you'll follow industry best practices to design and develop a real-world software solution from start to finish.

Gain valuable, practical experience
During your time at Sheridan, you'll have the opportunity to apply for a co-op placement where you can get paid workplace experience in software development and network engineering. You may be able to earn a high-paying co-op placement, and many of our students are hired by their co-op employers after graduation. You'll need to fill out a separate co-op application and enrolment is limited.

Enter an in-demand career field with digital product design

A Digital Product Design certificate from Sheridan can launch you into a growing and lucrative field in eight months. The average entry-level salary for a User Experience Designer in Ontario is $64,000 and statistics show demand for UX designers has increased 107%.* Job seekers with the broad range of skills taught in this post-graduate can be highly employable in a wide variety of industries.

Become well-rounded in all aspects of product design

The product design industry needs designers who know more than web design or UI design. Our unique program teaches required essentials for a career in multimedia design and development. You’ll learn business strategy, research methods, visual design, prototyping and more. With skills in many experience design elements, you can position yourself as a well-rounded designer and work in many roles.

Work with industry experts, software and processes

Courses are taught by experts who bring their unique industry experience into the classroom. You'll use the same software as design professionals, such as Sketch and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Our course structure is even designed to mimic the workflow of the modern workplace. Content from one class carries over into others, ensuring you'll learn to fully develop and iterate on your ideas.

Build on your existing skills and talents by learning the technical and creative process of 3D animation! Our instructors will guide you through an intense curriculum, teaching you all of the stages required to create compelling moving images. Enjoy creative and technical flexibility in your final projects, allowing you to explore and specialize.

Learn from 3D animation experts
Sheridan was the first animation school to teach computer animation, and we're still industry leaders today. Our instructors have worked on hundreds of television and film projects for major international studios. They're also mentors who are committed to supporting your success. You'll learn proven real-world solutions to production challenges while staying current with emerging tools and techniques.

A collaborative studio environment
At Sheridan, we believe a culture of sharing ideas and solutions is key to student success. In addition to your individual assignments, you'll also have opportunities to collaborate with professors and peers in our immersive and supportive studio environment. Using state-of-the-art facilities to create animated projects and a signature demo reel is great preparation for your first day on the job.

In our Craft and Design – Ceramics program, you'll develop new skills and ideas in pottery, sculpture and design to begin an exciting career.

Hands-on learning
We offer hands-on learning in one of Canada's leading Ceramics studios. Inspiring, dedicated faculty help you explore a full range of processes and techniques with an awareness of contemporary ideas and community. You'll learn innovative approaches to clay, such as wheelthrowing, handbuilding, moldmaking, slipcasting, clay/glaze formulation and firing salt/soda, wood, pit, gas and electric kilns.

In Ceramics, you'll gain real-world experience and engage with the local and international community through professional events, workshops, competitions and exhibitions in galleries and museums. You'll build leadership skills through volunteering, fundraising and organizing initiatives. You'll participate in an internship and connect with renowned visiting artists and our large alumni network.

Get a foundation in all Craft and Design studios
Our program provides a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to Craft and Design. You'll major in your studio of choice while building skills in the four other disciplines. You'll work with students and faculty from across all five studios on interdisciplinary projects that bring together a range of expertise and experiences to explore the potential of contemporary art, craft and design.

Sheridan’s program combines hands-on, real-world experience backed by theoretical learning in all aspects of the industry.
Lights, camera, education!
In the first two years of this degree, you'll get a taste of everything this industry has to offer. Under the guidance of industry-experienced professors, you'll choose electives in direction, production, writing and editing to find where your talent lies. In your final semesters, you'll specialize — documentary or drama production, scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, editing or sound.

Your own film:-
Many students also want to achieve a portfolio film, and this program culminates in an exciting capstone project: create your own short film, television or transmedia project. You'll work in teams, partnering with others in different specializations to pitch, seek funding, write and produce your project. You'll go through the same process filmmakers do to prepare you for the real industry.

You'll earn your graduate certificate through classes that involve:

• Researching styles, trends and new developments within the industry.
• Developing two-dimensional special effects concepts and work-ups of what they might look like complete.
• Using specialized products and equipment to animate, sculpt, create, cast and mold your creations.

Professors who know the business
Because classes are small, you'll receive lots of personal support from your professors who are themselves highly experienced in the field. Most are still active in special effects makeup. Through your study you'll also be introduced to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the union representing the profession.

Practical, hands-on experience
During the summer following the first two semesters, you'll participate in a field placement where you can use your newly acquired special effects makeup skills in a professional setting. This invaluable work experience and exposure to professionals in the field can be a springboard for employment.

This program was designed specifically for those who have completed university or college programs. It is also open to those already working in the school system as Educational Assistants who wish to further their understanding of exceptionalities in Ontario classrooms and obtain an Ontario College Diploma.

Outstanding career preparation
This program will equip you with competencies to support students with diverse learning needs while maintaining a safe and professional environment that promotes students' well-being.

Things you'll do and learn

• Support students with academic, behavioural, and personal care needs in educational settings from kindergarten through high school
• Use Universal Design for Learning principles
• Foster social inclusion
• Work as part of the special education team
• Accurately report information related to student learning

Field placements
In Semesters 1 and 2, you'll be placed in a school where you'll support students with special needs in the classroom. Sheridan arranges the field placement experience for you. During your placement experience, you'll encounter students with a range of exceptionalities including physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioural disorders, visual or hearing impairments and autism.

In this program, you'll also:

• Use assistive technology and other educational resources to implement individualized educational goals.
• Report information related to the learning environment.
• Maintain a safe and professional environment that promotes the well being of the student with special needs.
• Support inclusion of the student to aid his or her social development and sense of belonging.

You’ll learn from professors with specialized graduate degrees and who are highly experienced in the field of special education. Your Educational Support classroom activities will include:

• Group seminars and cooperative learning.
• Reflective practice linked to field placement experiences.
• Lectures combined with activity-based learning that incorporates the laptop.

This program helps beginning students assess their talent, build a basic portfolio, and chart a course for further study
Learn the fundamentals of art
You'll get classical instruction in the fundamentals of art such as:

• Life drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Two-dimensional design
• Technical drawing

Join the creative community

The Art Fundamentals program emphasizes studio work. You'll produce art from the first day of class, gaining practical skills while discovering your strengths and your preferences. You'll also have the opportunity to explore many options for further study and careers in the visual arts. By the end of the year you'll have a body of work and the beginnings of an artistic identity.

ATVF integrates the practical, technical and creative aspects of television and film studies while providing direct, industry-relevant experience. You'll develop your creativity while gaining the specialized skills you need to bring your ideas and vision to life on the screen. You'll also acquire an understanding of new technologies and production methods, enabling you to stay current.

Get immersed in the industry

• Learn sophisticated production techniques and explore a variety of digital image capture systems and technologies.
• Gain skills in areas such as directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, production design and post-production.
• Build career connections during a four-week job placement.
• Produce dramatic or documentary films.

Professional faculty and facilities
Our instructors and production facilities rank second to none among film schools in Canada. You'll work in professional surroundings, learn from practicing filmmakers with years of industry experience, and be immersed in the culture of the television and film industry — and, in just one academic year, you can become part of it.

In the technical areas, camera students will work in professional-style camera teams coached by industry gaffers, 1st ACs and cinematographers. Students shoot on both documentary and cinema cameras. Audio students are trained in software such as Pro Tools. Sheridan has two industry-style mixing theatres for audio mix playback. Students can screen their final films on a cinema-size screen with an industry-quality projector and a Dolby surround-sound environment.

Award-winning film students and graduates
Sheridan's Advanced Television and Film (ATVF) program provides a benchmark of excellence for film schools in Canada. Our student work consistently wins awards at film festivals in North America, and our camera students have won Canadian Society of Cinematographer "Best Student Cinematography" nominations in two of the last three years. Our graduates continue to achieve professional and artistic success with nominations for Oscars, Emmys, Canadian Screen Awards and ACE (Editing) awards.

Outstanding career preparation
We're unique because we train students to understand emerging technology and industrial workflows so our graduates are well placed to work anywhere notwithstanding technological change. New interactive courses keep students current.