MS - Computer Graphics & Motion Technology - DePaul

MS in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology 2009

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

 This degree prepares students for careers in graphics/animation production and software development.  Students acquire both the aesthetic and technical knowledge reuired in this changing industry.  Students can choose from three concentrations, depending on their career aspirations:

The Developer Concentration is a more traditional computer science path, focusing on the mathematical and programming techniques necessary to build graphics/animation software.  Developers study not only the necessary data structures to build software such as game engines and production renderers but also the knowledge required to know what software artists will need and how they will use it.

The Visualization Concentration focuses on graphics/animation for displaying, explaining and analyzing scientific and medical data.  Visualization displays numerical data in an accurate, high-density and compact form in which patterns are revealed, emphasized and clearly communicated.  Students focus on the mathematics, statistics and programming techniques necessary to analyze and display such data.  At the same time students are given a firm grounding in the aesthetics that allow them to build visualizations that communicate effectively and beautifully.

The Technical Director Concentration prepares students for jobs that facilitate artistic production.  It gives students a solid aesthetic background while also providing a firm grounding in the scripting techniques necessary to take the industry's software as far as it can go in realizing the artist's creative intent.  Graduates will be able to assist creatiave directors in such activities as creating virtual sets, adjusting lighting, asset management and rigging characters for animation.


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 receive 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 2009