Animation and Games

ANGM 6305 Animation Creative Practices I (3 semester credit hours) An examination of methodologies and practices used to develop animated content. Various animation pipelines and expertise are discussed, examined, and implemented on a project basis. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6306 Animation Creative Practices II (3 semester credit hours) This course is a continuation of Creative Practices I. An examination of methodologies and practices used to develop animated content. Various animation pipelines and expertise are discussed, examined, and implemented on a project basis. Prerequisite: ANGM 6305 or instructor consent required. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6307 Design in Motion (3 semester credit hours) Students will explore the theoretical and practical aspects of motion as a tool for effective communication design. Topics will include graphic design including topography, composition, hierarchy, legibility, content, and message while addressing issues of using animation to enhance meaning. Design research methods as they may be applied to motion design will be examined and explored. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6310 Animation Studio I (3 semester credit hours) Studio-based course where students work individually and in teams to develop creative and varied animated solutions to assigned topics. A variety of animation methods will be explored. (0-3) R

ANGM 6311 Animation Studio II (3 semester credit hours) This course is a continuation of Animation Studio I. Studio-based course where students work individually and in teams to develop creative and varied animated solutions to complex assignments. A variety of animation methods will be explored. Prerequisite: ANGM 6310 or instructor consent required. (0-3) R

ANGM 6312 Digital Cinematography (3 semester credit hours) This course will utilize computer generated pre-visualization techniques and cinematic principles to build a strong foundation in visual storytelling. Topics will include proper camera setup, character staging, moving cameras, line-action management, shot design utilizing color and light, and computer-generated storyboard interpretation. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6313 Animation Project Development (3 semester credit hours) An investigation into various methods and practices necessary for developing and producing successful animation related projects. Topics include team dynamics, time management, budgeting, scheduling, and presentation skills. (3-0) Y

ANGM 6314 Technical Direction (3 semester credit hours) This course examines the application of scripting languages and various technical approaches to animation related problems. Topics include tool development, pipeline usability, and procedurally driven solutions for routine tasks. Prerequisite: ANGM 6305 or instructor consent required. (0-3) R

ANGM 6315 History of Animation (3 semester credit hours) An in-depth examination of the growth and evolution of animation styles and techniques from the early 1900s to today. Topics will include animation technologies, cultural influences, and future animation implications. Critical analysis of a variety of pioneering commercial and experimental animation artists will be included. (3-0) Y

ANGM 6316 Motion Capture (3 semester credit hours) Exploration of advanced methods and techniques in motion capture animation. Students will explore traditional production methods as well as experimental technologies and new research in the field. (0-3) R

ANGM 6317 Procedural Animation (3 semester credit hours) Exploration of advanced methods and techniques for procedurally generated graphics, animation, and other visual imagery through digital media. A variety of animation methods will be explored. (0-3) R

ANGM 6318 Special Topics in Animation (3 semester credit hours) Advanced research in animation procedures and practices. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (9 semester credit hours maximum). (0-3) R

ANGM 6320 Animation and Time-Based Media Research (3 semester credit hours) Research practices in animation and time-based media present and reflect upon the creative portion of academic research, including, although not limited to, animation, motion graphics, art installation, performance, and other related fields that apply multimedia technologies to the creation of moving images and sound. Such works challenge the viewer's perception through the use and manipulation of time and rhythm, inviting critical connections. This course will examine a wide variety of examples, texts, applications, and interpretations of animation and time-based media, allowing students to broaden their understanding of these fields, their connections, and overlaps through lively discussions. Students will apply their knowledge by producing their own creative pieces and reflecting upon them in writing in the context of practice-related research, using critical methodologies and research strategies. (0-3) T

ANGM 6334 Game Production Practices (3 semester credit hours) This course establishes a foundation of practices and concepts in modern, digital Game Development. Students will learn how to plan, visualize, and build playable game experiences, while exploring the various areas and disciplines of game development. Topics may include project planning, game design theory, visual composition, and scripting practices. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6335 Game Design and Development (3 semester credit hours) Advanced study of the structure, content, and design of games, with a particular focus on prototype creation and development. A variety of design practices will be explored for digital, analog, and experimental games. (3-0) Y

ANGM 6341 Game Production Studio (3 semester credit hours) This studio-based course functions as a simulation of the game development industry. Students work individually and in teams to design, develop, and produce large-scale game projects that emphasize innovation, aesthetics, mechanics, and technological achievement. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. (0-3) Y

ANGM 6342 Experimental Games Studio (3 semester credit hours) This studio-based course focuses on exploring games as both the subject of and media for experimental, conceptual, and reflexive critical art. In addition to surveying existing experimental work in games, students will engage in a range of art practices to push the boundaries of current cultural understandings around gaming. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. (0-3) T

ANGM 6343 Educational Games Studio (3 semester credit hours) This studio-based course focuses on the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of educational games and game based simulations. Games developed in this course are expected to contribute toward new research in pedagogy, simulation, training, and formal and informal education. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. (0-3) T

ANGM 6344 Building Virtual Worlds (3 semester credit hours) Advanced research in the conceptualization, creation, and application of interactive immersive environments, including research in synthetic spaces, interactive game engines, and hybrid physical/virtual worlds. (0-3) R

ANGM 6345 Interactive Narrative (3 semester credit hours) Advanced research in the analysis and creation of interactive narrative systems, designs, and models through various philosophical and mechanical approaches. (0-3) R

ANGM 6349 Special Topics in Game Development (3 semester credit hours) Advanced research in aspects of game development, design, production, and implementation. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (6 semester credit hours maximum). (0-3) R

ANGM 6353 Games, Education, and Simulation (3 semester credit hours) Advanced research in the application of gaming technologies, systems, and design principles toward games with applied purposes, including health and medical, social and civil, business, and academic applications. Course includes perspectives from multiple educational structures and theories. Prerequisite: ANGM 6335 or ATCM 6336. (0-3) T

ANGM 6356 Anatomy of a Game (3 semester credit hours) Introduction to core mechanical structures for the understanding of digital and analog games. Students in the course will play, analyze, and critique multiple games that are considered seminal in the field. Instructor consent required. (0-3) R

ANGM 6373 Interactive Environments (3 semester credit hours) Exploration of design principles and practices for the creation of interactive experiential spaces, with an emphasis on techno-cultural impact. (0-3) R