BS in Computer Science: Animation Emphasis
(80–81 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the department office for information regarding requirements for admission to this program.
Application deadline: April 15 and October 15 after completing the prerequisite courses listed below.
Program Requirements |
View MAP
- Grades below C- are not allowed in major courses.
- Complete the following prerequisite courses:
C S 142 : Introduction to Computer Programming.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | Knowledge of algebra. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to object-oriented program design and development. Principles of algorithm formulation and implementation. |
C S 235 : Data Structures and Algorithms.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 142 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Fundamental data structures and algorithms of computer science; basic algorithm analysis; recursion; sorting and searching; lists, stacks, queues, trees, hashing; object-oriented data abstraction. |
- Apply to the program.
- Complete the following after being admitted to the program:
C S 124 : (C S-EC En) Introduction to Computer Systems.
(3:3:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 142 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | How a computer works, from hardware to high-level programming. Logic circuits, computer instructions, assembly language, binary arithmetic, C programming, program translation, data structures, and algorithm analysis. |
C S 236 : Discrete Structures.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 235 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to grammars and parsing; predicate and propositional logic; proof techniques; sets, functions, relations, relational data model; graphs and graph algorithms. |
C S 240 : Advanced Programming Concepts.
(4:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 236 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Advanced software development with an object-oriented focus. Development and testing of several 1500 to 2000 line modules from formal specifications. UNIX and C++ environment. |
C S 252 : Introduction to Computational Theory.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 236 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Finite state automata, regular languages, lexical analysis; push-down automata, context-free languages, parsing; Turing machines and unrestricted grammars; computability complexity, NP-completeness. |
C S 312 : Algorithm Analysis.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 240 & C S 252 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Analysis of algorithms including searching, sorting, graphs, and trees. |
C S 340 : Software Design and Testing.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 240 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Principles of software design, design patterns, design representation, refactoring. Principles of software quality assurance and testing. Development and testing tools. |
C S 345 : Operating Systems Design.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 124 & C S 240 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Principles and concepts of operating systems design and the implementation of an operating system. |
C S 404 : Ethics and Computers in Society.
(2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 240 & ENGL 316; Junior-senior status. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Societal impact of computer technology, the computer scientist's place in society, ethical issues. Reading, discussion, and writing seminar. |
- Complete the following supporting courses:
ENGL 316 : Technical Communication.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Junior or senior status. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Effective processes of written, oral, and visual technical communication, including collaborative processes. Writing for academic and professional audiences. |
| NOTE: | Carries GE Advanced Written and Oral Communication credit. |
MATH 112 : Calculus 1.
(4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Math 110 and 111 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Differential and integral calculus: limits; continuity; the derivative and applications; extrema; the definite integral; fundamental theorem of calculus; L'Hopital's rule. |
: Honors Calculus 1.
MATH 113 : Calculus 2.
(4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Math 112 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Techniques and applications of integration; sequences, series, convergence tests, power series; parametric equations; polar coordinates. |
STANM 150 : Introduction to Three-Dimensional Computer Graphics.
(1.5:1.5:1.5)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall Blk 1, Blk 2; Winter Blk 1, Blk 2; Spring |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering used in exploring principles and elements of three-dimensional design. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 150 beginning Fall 2012. |
STANM 354 : Shader Programming.
(3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Shading and rendering techniques for the attainment of desired visual effects: use of shading languages for the realization of both photorealistic and non-photorealistic imaging. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 354 beginning Fall 2012. |
STANM 450R : Advanced Senior Film Production 1.
(3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| DESCRIPTION:  | In-depth experiences creating computer animations and visual effects. Senior film front-end development and introduction to full animation production. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 450 beginning Fall 2012. |
TMA 102 : Introduction to Film.
(3:4:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Analytical studies for understanding and appreciating media forms and messages, as well as basic history, theory, and aesthetics. Lab required. |
TMA 294 : History of Animation.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | TMA 102 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Origins and developments of animation internationally to the present, focusing on aesthetic, technical, political, and economic aspects of the medium. |
- Complete one course from the following:
STAT 121 : Principles of Statistics.
(3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Independent Study also; Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| RECOMMENDED: | MATH 110 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Stemplots, boxplots, histograms, scatterplots; central tendency, variability; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing involving one and two means and proportions; contingency tables, simple linear regression. |
: Honors Principles of Statistics.
STAT 201 : Statistics for Engineers and Scientists.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | MATH 112; or MATH 119 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | The scientific method; probability, random variables, common discrete and continuous random variables, central limit theorem; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing; completely randomized experiments; factorial experiments. |
- Complete two courses from the following:
C S 360 : Internet Programming.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | C S 240 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Internet application programming, including sockets, threads, CGI, database, e-commerce, Web services. |
EC EN 425 : Real-Time Operating Systems.
(4:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | EC EN 324 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Hardware/software interface, real-time kernel internals, implementation of high-level language constructs, issues in real-time application software development. |
Any of the 400-level computer science courses (except C S 404, 405, and 455).
Note: If C S 401R is chosen, it must be taken for three hours.
- Complete one course from the following:
STANM 351R : Lighting for Three-Dimensional Graphics.
(3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Developing lighting and color, and the compiling of the various elements for final images for use in three-dimensional applications. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 351R beginning Fall 2012. |
STANM 355 : Photography for Animation.
(3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Spring |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Layout, references, camera technology and terminology, application of composition, lighting, and core art skills emphasized. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 355 beginning Fall 2012. |
STANM 452R : Advanced Senior Film Production 2.
(3:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Portfolio development based on advanced animation/design projects. Senior film production and post production. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 452R beginning Fall 2012. |
STANM 458 : Three-Dimensional Visual Effects.
(1.5:1.5:1.5)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter Blk 2 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Exploring procedural and three-dimensional animation methods to create realistic special effects. Applying a large spectrum of animation principles to integrate their effects aesthetically and convincingly into a live action or animated environment. |
| NOTE: | Course changed to CSAnm 458 beginning Fall 2012. |
Any course not used in item 7 above.
Any of the 500-level computer science courses.
Note: If either C S 501R or 598R is chosen, it must be taken for three hours.
- Complete one course from the following:
MFG 201 : History of Creativity in the Arts, Science, and Technology 1.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Spring |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Western civilization from Egyptian antiquity to Renaissance from perspective of changes in civilization enabled by technology. Creativity throughout history. How to improve personal creativity. |
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.