Computer Animation...This course presents concepts and techniques of 3D computer animation for students in multiple disciplines, providing an overview of modeling, lighting and motion.  One of the leaders in the 3D modeling industry is Maya, developed by Autodesk. Maya has a wide range of tools for animation, simulation, and modeling. Maya is used by top feature film animation studios and many of your favorite studios use Maya as a critical piece of their production pipeline, from rigging and modeling, all the way through to character animation. 

For someone with no prior experience in 3D modeling or animation, it can take several months or even up to a year to learn the basics of Maya and start creating simple models and animations.  As long as you understand how the tools work, you'll pick up the software faster than other people. However, the more time and effort you put into learning the software, the faster you can progress. 

Computer Animation Syllabus