Listed below are the graduate courses most relevant to the visualization program. Included in the listing are the course number, course title, number of lecture and laboratory hours per week, number of Credits: hours, course description, and course prerequisites.
Visualization Sciences (VIZA)
VIZA 611 Concepts of Visual Communications I (2-4). Credits: 4
Theory and practice of visual communication using a variety of media to explore perception, form-making, color, and historic and personal sources of creativity.
Prerequisite: Graduate classification in visualization or approval of instructor.
VIZA 612 Concepts of Visual Communications II (2-4). Credits: 4
Further exploration of perception, vision and self-expression for communication through visual images; image making processes include conventional and digital media. Prerequisite: VIZA 611 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 613 3-D Modeling and Animation (3-2). Credits: 4
Principles of 3D computer animation with an emphasis on aesthetics and techniques for 3-D modeling, color, texture, lighting, motion control, and rendering.
Prerequisite: Graduate classification in Visualization Sciences program or approval of instructor.
VIZA 614 Form/Installation/Environment (1-2). Credits: 2
Aesthetic and functional concerns involving public spaces; interdisciplinary investigation of audible, visual, and form potential of environmental space utilizing models and electronic imaging technology; ethical responsibilities regarding the environment and its use.
Prerequisite: VIZA 613 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 615 Computer Animation (3-2). Credits: 4
Intermediate level computer animation-focusing on production of sync-sound three-dimensional computer generated animation, which may or may not integrate video and photographic elements .
Prerequisite: VIZA 613 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 616 Rendering and Shading (2-2). Credits: 3
Exploration of advanced rendering and shading techniques for the attainment of a desired visual effect; topics may include shading languages, attainment of visual realism, integration of rendering and modeling tools, and non-photorealistic rendering.
Prerequisites: VIZA 613 and VIZA 653 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 617 Advanced Animation (2-4). Credits: 4
Development of advanced three-dimensional computer animation with emphasis on successful story-telling and visual communication. Topics may include story development, expressive character design, motivation, acting, speech animation, choreography, staging lighting, storyboards, soundtracks, story reels, production efficiency, and successive refinement. May be taken twice.
Prerequisites: VIZA 615 and approval of instructor.
VIZA 618 Facial Modeling and Animation. (2-2). Credits: 3
Design and analysis of articulated 3D models for creating facial animation; includes designing expressive 3D faces, exaggerations, facial expressions and facial animation techniques.
Prerequisite: VIZA 613 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 622 Design Communication I (2-4). Credits: 4
Theory and practice of visual communication employing a variety of digital and conventional media. Emphasis on creating effective, self-expressive images employing the combined use of
a variety of media. Completed works are characteristic of work in broadly based multimedia.
Prerequisite: VIZA 612 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 623 Design Communication II (1-4). Credits: 3
Development of concepts and forms in visual communications; organization of complex problems in production; synthesis of skills, information tools, and methodology.
Prerequisite: VIZA 622 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 625 Multi-Media Web Design (2-2). Credits: 3
Examination of aesthetic, narrative, technical strategies; multi-media content on the web; methods of integrating imagery, animation, sound; non-linear multi-media narration. Application of multi-media techniques for navigation, interaction, animation, vector drawing, video, audio.
Prerequisite: Graduate classification in visualization or approval of instructor.
VIZA 627 Design Communication III (2-2). Credits: 3
Advanced methods in video, photography, and/or animation production; application of image strategies used in contemporary media. May be taken twice.
Prerequisite: VIZA 622, VIZA 643 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 629 Digital Media: Inspiration and Process (2-2). Credits: 3
Exploration of artwork and literature that has informed contemporary creativity provides a broad basis for discovery through reading, writing, studio projects; students will demonstrate a knowledge of creative strategies including, but not limited to mapping, database, allegory, sampling, and generative systems. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in visualization or approval of instructor.
VIZA 643 Videography (2-4). Credits: 4
Vision and perception represented through use of video presentation methods and techniques; theory and practice of staging, lighting, sound, camera, editing, script generation, special effects in produciton and post-produciton video practices.
Prerequisite: VIZA 612 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 644 Time Based Media (1-4). Credits: 3
Advanced theory and production of art forms with motion, tempo, sequencing and duration as integral components; projects may include in-depth creation using a single medium or may emphasize a combination of media such as video, audio, networked communication, animation, performance or installation. May be taken twice.
Prerequisite: VIZA 643 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 647 Color Photography (1-4). Credits: 3
Theory and practice of still color photography; appropriate uses of color processes related to digital photography and other graphic media; exploration of vision through the photographic image as a medium of self-expression. May be taken twice.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
VIZA 652 Computing for Visualization I (3-2). Credits: 4
Introduction to digital computing environments as used in visualization practice and research; human-computer interface, operating system tools, and programming for graphics. Prerequisites: CPSC 110 or equivalent and approval of instructor.
VIZA 653 Computing for Visualization II (3-2). Credits: 4
Techniques of design and problem solving for the construction of visualization software systems; advanced operating system tools for system maintenance; fundamentals of 2-D computer graphics including user interface design and programming, mathematical elements, image and file structure, and software development techniques.
Prerequisite: VIZA 652 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 654 The Digital Image (3-2). Credits: 4
Tools and techniques for the generation, handling, and analysis of two-dimensional digital images; image representation and storage, display, media conversion, painting and drawing, warping, color space operations, enhancement, filtering, and manipulation.
Prerequisites: VIZA 653 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 646.
VIZA 656 Image Synthesis (3-2). Credits: 4
Principles of image synthesis from 3D scene descriptions; topics may include local and global illumination, shading, shadow determination, hidden surface elimination, texturing, raster graphics algorithms, transformations and projections.
Prerequisite: VIZA 653 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 647.
VIZA 657 Computer Aided Sculpting (2-3). Credits: 3
Mathematical and artistic principles of 3D modeling and sculpting. Topics include; proportion skeletal foundation, expression and posture, line of action, curves, surfaces and volumes, interpolation and approximation, parametric and rational parametric polynomials, constructive solid geometry, and implicit representation.
Prerequisite: approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 648.
VIZA 658 Experimental Visual Techniques (2-2). Credits: 3
Theory and experimental techniques for computer graphics, animation, video, and other forms of electronic visualization. Topics may include innovative hardware and software systems, artificial life, virtual reality, volume methods, and hypermedia. May be taken twice.
Prerequisites: VIZA 654 or VIZA 656 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 659 Physically-Based Modeling (2-2). Credits: 3
Physical simulation as used in choreography, geometric modeling, and the creation of special effects in computer grphics; a variety of problems and techniques are explored which may include particle-methods, modelng and simulation of flexible materials, kinematics, and constraint systems.
Prerequisites: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 649.
VIZA 665 Digital Compositing (3-2). Credits: 4
rinciples of Digital Compositing—Image based lighting and modeling, camera calibration, shape reconstruction, reconstruction of transparency and specularity and digital compositing of computer generated animations with video images.
Prerequisite: VIZA 613 or approval of instructor.
VIZA 670 Computational Geometry (3-0). Credits: 3
Design and analysis of algorithms for solving geometrical problems; includes convex hull problems, Voronoi diagrams, range searching and proximity problems.
Prerequisites: CPSC 311 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 620.
VIZA 672 Computer Graphics (3-0). Credits: 3
Representation of 3-dimensional objects, including polyhedral objects, curved surfaces, volumetric representaions and CSG models techniques for hidden surface/edge removal and volume rendering; illumination and shading; antialiasing; ray tracing; radiosity; animation; practical experience with state-of-the-art graphics hardware and software.
Prerequisites: CPSC 441 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 641.
VIZA 673 Robotics Programming (3-0). Credits: 3
Manipulator dynamics, position control, hybrid position//force control, and impedance controls; advanced topics in manipulator motion planning, assembly planning and grasp planning; cell decomposition; retraction; back projection; hypothesize-and-test; and potentional field methods; subassembly stability; task-level and fine motion planning; grasp stability; grasp synthesis; dexterous manipulation.
Prerequisites: CPSC 452 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with CPSC 643.
VIZA 675 Geometric Modeling (3-0). Credits: 3
Geometric and solid modeling concepts, freeform curves and surfaces (splines and BeZier) with their relational, intersectional and global mathematic properties; parametric representation of solids, topology of closed curved surfaces, boundary concepts and Boolean/Euler operators; construction and display curves and surfaces, and solid models.
Prerequisites: CPSC 441 and 442 or equivalent. Cross-listed with CPSC 645.
VIZA 679 Advanced Topics in Physically Based Modeling (2-2). Credits: 3
Current research and advanced methods in choreographing motion for animation using a physics-based approach; mainstream research literature in animation; theoretical and methodological topics addressed, through both study and implementation. May be taken twice.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
VIZA 685 Problems in Visualization. Credits: 1 to 6.
Individual problems involving application of theory and practice in visualization. May be repeated for Credits:.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor and department head.
VIZA 689 Special Topics in Visualization. Credits: 1 to 4
Selected topics in an identified field of design communication and/or electronic media. May be repeated for Credits:.
VIZA 691 Research. Credits: 1 or more each semester.
Research for preparation of thesis.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
College of Architecture (CARC)
CARC 601 Foundations of Research in Planning and Design (3-0). Credits: 3
Introduction to the research process and its applications to problems in planning and design; presentaion of philosophy and logic underlying the scientific method; critical analysis of planning and design literature according to each step of the research process; problem definitions, hypothesis development, study design, analysis, and interpretation of the findings.