Academics

The following courses are offered as a part of the computer graphics curriculum. Undergraduate computer science BS students interested in Computer Graphics and Animation may take CSCI 4551 as a Upper Level CS course required in the 4th semester and could take additional courses of CSCI 4552 and 4553 as Unrestricted Electives. Graduate students may not take 4551, 4552, or 4553 for graduate credit. For more information on the degree programs please go to  Department of Computer Science.

CSCI 4551 - Introduction to Concepts and Applications of Computer Graphics

Introduction to computer graphics without programming; 2-D and 3-D graphics principles; Building 3-D geometry and rendering; Computer Animation; Virtual Reality and Computer Games; Hands-on projects in modeling, rendering, and animation using commercial software; Hands-on projects in Photo and Video manipulation. May be taken as a part of the CS undergraduate curriculum. Available for students outside Computer Science. No prerequisite. (Spring)

Resources:  Resources Page 
Prerequisite: None
Offered: Spring
Course Director: James Hahn 

Class Resources from Spring 2007

• Syllabus
• Identity Assignment
• Basic Color Correction
• Make a Sphere in Maya
• Create a Soundtrack and Animate to it
• Texture workflow in Maya
• textures.zip
• Placing a Movie/Image Sequence in Maya

CSCI 4552 - Computer Animation Design I

Creation of artistic works using commercial 3-D animation packages. Principles of animation including timing, exaggeration of motion, and anticipation. Use of 2D paint and compositing software. Process of creating animation for entertainment, art, and engineering from storyboard. Modeling, motion, rendering and editing. Prerequisite: CSCI 4551 (Fall)

Syllabus: Fall 2003, Fall 2006 
Resources:  Demo File
Class Pages: Fall 2006 
Prerequisite: CSCI 4551 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Fall
Course Director: James Hahn

Class Resources from Fall 2006

 

• 12 Principles of Animation
• Stenuation Assignment
• Smooth Proxy Workflow
• Texturing and Bump mapping for a brick shader
• Favorite Texture technique
• Blendshape and Cluster workflow

Also visit Festival of Animation

CSCI 4553 - Computer Animation Design II

Use of commercial 3-D computer animation packages to create digital artistic works and visualizations. Process-spanning concepts of development through pre-production, production, and post-production. Emphasis on developing original content and attaining high production values. (Spring) Prerequisite: CSCI 4552

Syllabus: Spring 2012 Spring 2004
Class Pages: Spring 2007 
Suggested text:
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 4552 
Offered: Spring 
Course Director: James Hahn

Class Resources from Spring 2007

• Syllabus
• CPR Teddy
• Storyboard001.pdf [3 MB]
• Storyboard002.pdf [4 MB]
• Revised Story Script used for recording session
• characterdesigns.pdf
• Motion Capture Workflow
• Mid-Term.pdf
• 12 Principles of animation
• Smooth Proxy Workflow
• Texturing and Bump mapping for a brick shader
• Favorite Texture technique
• Blendshape and Cluster workflow

 

Also visit Festival of Animation

 

CSCI 4554 - Computer Graphics I

Hardware: concepts of graphics subroutine packages; programming concepts for interaction, display, and data structuring; basic clipping and scan-conversion algorithms; homogenous coordinates; three-dimensional viewing transforms; basic rendering. May be taken for graduate credit. Prerequisite: CSCI 2113 or CSCI 6221. (Spring)

Syllabus: 
Class Pages: Spring 2021; Spring 2019; Spring 2018;  Spring 2017; Fall 2015; Fall 2013;  Spring 2011; Spring 2010; Spring 2009;  Spring 2005 
Suggested text: "Computer Graphics: C Version" by Hearn and Baker 
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 2113 or CSCI 6221
Offered: Spring
Course Director: James Hahn

CSCI 4454 - Augmented and Virtual Reality

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CSCI 4455 - Computer Game Design and Programming

Principles, techniques, and design of computer games. Graphics game engines, modeling, motion, AI, and interaction. Sound design and synthesis. Real-time software and hardware issues. Social and psychological issues. Business of game development. Projects in developing games. Guest lecturers from industry who specialize in game development will augment an interdisciplinary group of lecturers. May be taken for graduate credit. (Fall) Prerequisite: CSCI 4554 or permission of instructor.

Syllabus: Fall 2017 Fall 2015 Fall 2014 Fall 2008 
Class Pages: Fall 2014 Fall 2011 Fall 2005
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 4554 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Fall
Course Director: James Hahn 

CSCI 262 - Computer Graphics Programming Tools

Standard graphics, rendering and animation programming tools and packages. Lab-specific software tools for sound, motion control, and rendering. Hardware used for video recording and editing. Peripheral devices such as stereo glasses, head-mounted displays, and trackers. Prerequisite: CSCI 4554. (Spring)

Syllabus:
Class Pages:
Suggested text: A number of user manuals/notes 
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 4554 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Spring 
Course Director: James Hahn 

Assignment Gallery for CSCI 262

CSCI 6554 - Computer Graphics II

Curves and surfaces. Spatial sampling and aliasing. Visible surface algorithms. Illumination and shading models, raytracing and radiosity. Image manipulation and texture mapping. Procedural models. Prerequisite: CSCI 4554. (Spring)

Syllabus:
Class Pages: Spring 2018 Spring 2017 Spring 2016 Spring 2015  Spring 2014 Spring 2013  Spring 2012 Spring 2011  Spring 2010 Spring 2008 Spring 2006 Spring 2005 
Suggested text: "3D Computer Graphics" by Alan Watt
Resources:  Resources Page Point Drawing Program by OpenGL
Prerequisite: CSCI 4554 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Spring 
Course Director: James Hahn 

Assignment Gallery for CSCI 6554

CSCI 6555 - Computer Animation

Euler angles and quaternations; articulated figure motion; forward and inverse kinematics; kinematic, physically based, and behavioral motion control; rendering problems (temporal aliasing); sound synthesis and synchronization; recording and editing techniques. Prerequisite: CSCI 4554. (Fall)

Syllabus:
Class Pages: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015,  Fall 2014,  Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011,  Fall 2010, Fall 2009, Fall 2007, Fall 2005,  Fall 2004
Suggested text: "Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques" by Rick Parent
Resources:  Resources Page 
Prerequisite: CSCI 4554 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Fall 
Course Director: James Hahn 

 

CSCI 8554 - Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics

Seminar on current research and development in computer graphics. Spatial and temporal anti-aliasing; hidden-surface algorithms; illumination models, radiosity, textural mapping. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: CSCI 6554. (Fall, even years)

Syllabus:
Class Pages:
Suggested text: Current literature 
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 6554 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Fall semester even years 
Course Director: James Hahn  

CSCI 8554 - Advanced Topics in Computer Animation and Virtual Reality

Seminar on current research and development in computer animation and virtual reality. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: CSCI 6555. (Spring)

Syllabus:
Class Pages:
Suggested text: Current literature 
Resources:
Prerequisite: CSCI 6555 or permission of instructor 
Offered: Spring semester odd years 
Course Director: James Hahn 

Useful resources for graphics courses