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MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology

MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology 2008

The MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology is a study of the technical and aesthetic foundations, design and development of Computer Graphics. This program prepares students for technical careers in the graphics industry.

What Students Learn From This Program

  • Develop a sensitivity to human perception, including a comprehension of fundamental design concepts, color theory, and the interaction of light with surfaces
  • Build a deep understanding of such technical concepts as interaction design, modeling objects, controlling cameras, rigging characters for animation and using particle and surface techniques
  • Learn to apply perceptual and technical abilities in creating shaders, textures, characters, scenes and animations
  • Acquire hands-on experience with a wide range of commercially-available tools
  • Develop a grasp of fundamentals that allow implementations beyond the extant user interfaces
  • Become appreciative of the two “cultures” of computer graphics – the one drawing on communication design and the other deriving from computer science

Concentrations



The degree program offers two concentrations: a Technical Director concentration and a Developer concentration. While both concentrations have a balance of technical and aesthetic, the Technical Director will have a greater emphasis on the aesthetic while the Developer concentration will focus on the technical.



After graduation, Technical Directors will be ready for jobs assisting Creative Directors in such activities as creating virtual sets, adjusting lighting and rigging characters for animation. Developers will learn technologies for graphics systems development, including game engines and plug-ins.

Course Requirements

The MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology program consists of 13 courses with six or seven prerequisite courses. Students choosing the Technical Director concentration take six courses while students taking the Developer concentration take seven courses.

The degree has five components :

  • Prerequisite Phase
  • Fundamental Phase
  • Core Phase
  • Advanced Phase
  • Electives

Grade and GPA Requirements


Grades: Students must received a grade of B- or better in each prerequisite course and a C- or better in all other courses.

GPA: Students must maintain a graduate level GPA of 2.50 or higher while pursuing their degree. Students will not be approved for graduation with less than a 2.50 GPA. Students with a 3.85 or higher will graduate with distinction.


Program Requirements 2008


To view Graduate Program Requirements for previous years click here.
Master of Science in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology 2008
 

Prerequisite Phase
The courses in the Prerequisite Phase for the MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology are:
Both Concentrations
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
         HCI 402 Foundations of Digital Design    
         GPH 212 Perceptual Principles for Digital Environments II   
√ √      IT 240 Introduction to Desktop Databases   Self Placement Test  
 
 
Technical Director Concentration
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
√ √      CSC 211 Programming in Java I   Self Placement Test  
√ √      or  CSC 261 Programming in C++ I   
√ √      CSC 212 Programming in Java II   
√ √      or  CSC 262 Programming in C++ II   
√ √      or  CSC 224 Java for Programmers   Self Placement Test  
         or  CSC 396 Programming in Java I and II   
√        GPH 259 Design Geometry   
 
The Technical Director prerequisite track requires two quarters of programming in either Java or C/C++ so students entering with prior course work in C++ will satisfy this requirement. Any TD student who wishes to eventually take courses in the Developer track as electives are encouraged to take the C++ programming track CSC 261 and CSC 262 to satisfy their prerequisite programming requirement.

Developer Concentration
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
√ √      CSC 261 Programming in C++ I   
√ √      CSC 262 Programming in C++ II   
√ √      CSC 393 Data Structures in C++   
√        MAT 150 Calculus I   
 
 
By taking these courses and receiving a grade of a B- or better in each, the student will have completed the requirements of the Prerequisite Phase. All or part of the Prerequisite Phase may be waived if a student has the equivalent academic background. Alternatively, students with practical experience may complete a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE) to show competency in a prerequisite. All students are blocked from enrolling in Foundation Phase courses prior to completing their prerequisites. The student must submit an online Change of Status request when the Prerequisite Phase is completed to inform the Student Services offices that the block can be removed. The online request must be submitted two weeks before the student intends to register for graduate level classes. The student will then be considered a fully admitted student, and may pass to the Graduate Phase of the program. Students may submit the Change of Status request by logging in to MyCTI.

Fundamental Phase
The courses in the Fundamental Phase for the MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology are:
 
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
√ √      HCI 470 Digital Page Formatting I   
         GPH 425 Survey of Computer Graphics   
√        GPH 438 Computer Animation Survey   
         GPH 448 Computer Graphics Scripting   
 
 

Core Phase
The Core Knowledge Phase courses for the MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology are:

Technical Director concentration
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
√        GPH 450 Digital Modeling I   
√ √      HCI 422 Multimedia   
         GPH 560 Modeling Spaces   
√ √      HCI 440 Usability Engineering   
 
 
Developer concentration
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
         GPH 436 Fundamentals of Computer Graphics   
√        GPH 469 Computer Graphics Development   
         GPH 572 Principles of Computer Animation   
 
 
 
Advanced Phase
The Advanced Phase courses for the MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology are:

Both concentrations
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
         GPH 539 Advanced Rendering Techniques   
 
 
Technical Director Concentration
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
         GPH 565 Designing for Visualization   
 
 
Developer Concentration
 
Offered Winter  
In class Online  
         GPH 570 Visualization   
         GPH 580 Hardware Shading Techniques   
 
 
Elective Courses
Three Electives must be taken in the following areas. Elective courses must not have been otherwise used to satisfy degree requirements.
 
 
CTI Courses (2) - 420 level or above
GPH Course (1) - 420 level or above
 
All courses in degree
 
 
DePaul University's College of Computing and Digital Media
243 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago IL. 60604 | (312) 362-8381
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