2016-2017 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK COURSE DESCRIPTIONS with a strong emphasis placed on critical analysis, technical analysis, communication, global perspectives, and cultural impacts. Prerequisite: Art Appreciation GRA 3234C Advanced Typography 60 hours, 4 credits In this course, students will expand their understanding of the use of typography for the successful communication of messages and the enhancement of meaning in visual art and design work. The course will expand on topics such as: information hierarchy, meaning, reading order, and the language of kinetics. Prerequisite: Typography GRA 3375C Advanced Color Theory 60 hours, 4 credits This course builds upon the foundations and practices of color theory. In addition to covering more sophisticated methods of color correction, image manipulation and printing, students will learn scanning techniques, digital camera usage, the mechanics of calibration, and other more advanced sets of controls. Students will work within a framework of artistically professional sensibility to develop their own professional workflow and projects. Prerequisite: Digital Photography GRA 3487C Advanced Digital Photography 60 hours, 4 credits This course will engage students in advanced digital imaging projects, building upon instruction, knowledge, and techniques learned in earlier course work, and contributing to a strong, professional portfolio. Thematic art projects such as a photo essay and theme based art image series will be included. This course will include instruction on: setting project requirements, design elements related to digital images, software interface specifics, input, output, image manipulation, and publishing. Experience in industry-standard Adobe software is included in the course. Prerequisite: Advanced Color Theory GRA 3563C Animation History 40 hours, 4 credits Students will examine the historical, cultural, technological, and social factors that contribute to the development of animation as a commercial and experimental art form. Key animated films from the turn of the 20th century to present by independent filmmakers as well as larger production houses will be viewed and discussed with an emphasis on critical analysis. A strong emphasis is placed on writing, critical thinking, information literacy, global perspectives, and cultural impacts. Prerequisite: Introduction to Animation GRA 3678C Advanced 3D Modeling 60 hours, 4 credits This course is designed to explore advanced techniques of 3D modeling. Students refine modeling techniques, texture, lighting, and environmental effects to create one original portfolio-quality project. Further development of primitive objects, polygon modeling, nurbs, booleans, extrusions, lofting, and revolving/lathing will be explored. This course will provide additional training in industry-standard 3D design software. Prerequisite: 3D Modeling GRA 3792C Web Content Management Systems 60 hours, 4 credits This course explores open-source, web-based content management systems (CMS) that allow the web designer to create rich and flexible interactive sites. Using a CMS, a web designer can update a complex web site dynamically and rapidly to meet client needs and visitor expectations. Students will be introduced to key PHP-based content management systems like Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress, and will develop their own topic and theme-based web sites. Prerequisite: Information Architecture for the Web GRA 3844C Search Engines, Optimization, and Analytics 60 hours, 4 credits This course introduces the student to the optimization of web sites for search engine placement. The student will learn how search engines collect and organize information and make it useful and accessible. Search engines and search results will be examined for their impact on information access, copyright and privacy issues, and the changing business landscape. Students will research techniques such as metatags, copywriting techniques, header and footer optimization, site submission, and linking methods used to improve site ranking and guide visitors to business sources or information. The course also examines how to track the success—or failure—of those procedures. Prerequisites: Mobile Web Design; Internet History and E-Commerce GRA 3972C Information Architecture for the Web 60 hours, 4 credits This course explores the use of design principles to positively affect the web visitor’s experience. Subjects include traditional architecture, industrial design, library science, and software design. Additional topics include the evolving standards of web information architecture, such as navigation structure, financial transactions, screen paradigms, gesturing and redundant linking. The student will learn how to organize content into appropriate categories, develop interfaces to support those categories, and develop key project deliverables. Prerequisites: Scripting for Web Servers; Advanced User Experience Design GRA 4002C Advanced Motion Graphics 60 hours, 4 credits Building on knowledge and techniques from Motion Graphics, students will advance their work with compositing video, digital images, 3D animation, vector and pixel graphics, titles, and kinetic typography into professional motion graphics pieces. Film titling, logo bumpers, broadcast titling, and special effects will be explored. Students will build upon and add to their demo reel of motion work. Software training builds on previous knowledge to advance student’s skills with a variety of industry-accepted Adobe design software. Prerequisite: Motion Graphics GRA 4172C Advanced User Experience Design 60 hours, 4 credits Students expand on their knowledge of user experience design to deepen their knowledge of the development process of interfaces and user experiences. Various kinds of software will be examined, from browser-based apps to interfaces for mobile device applications. Authoring software will be employed for demo, testing, and prototyping of interface projects. User data will be planned, test materials such as paper prototypes will be built and tested on user groups, and the data examined then incorporated into user interface projects. Prerequisite: Interactive Publishing GRA 4228C Media Campaign Design 60 hours, 4 credits Students create a project around an original concept, theme, and purpose resulting in a portfolio project that advertises, promotes, or presents a product or service. Some examples may be a new product launch of a real or fictitious product or service, or a public service announcement of a social issue or public concern. The final portfolio piece must contain a component for print, broadcast, and web and may include graphic design, animation, CGI, interactivity, social media, or video. The final project will be presented to the instructor and the class for critique. This course will incorporate a variety of software technology aligned with industry standards. Prerequisite: Digital Media Project GRA 4306C Digital Short Film Project 60 hours, 4 credits This course combines the accumulated knowledge of narrative and non-narrative digital film creation as well as motion graphics. The culmination of this knowledge will be a final digital short film project using video, audio, story writing, storyboarding, casting, and production techniques. Students are expected to explore various theories and techniques to complete a professional short film project. Prerequisite: Advanced Motion Graphics GRA 4419C Advanced Portfolio Development 60 hours, 4 credits In this course, students build upon their previous knowledge of portfolio design and construction. Students gather projects from all coursework to date, assess any gaps in their portfolio work, design new projects to fill in those gaps, and incorporate them into their final portfolio. Students will create any documentation needed to incorporate the projects into their portfolio, including, but not limited to: video, image capture, audio recording, 3D renderings, website design, motion graphics, and user interface design. Students will present the included projects within the class to receive feedback from their instructor and colleagues, and then design, build, and assemble a polished web-based portfolio or demo reel as well as a print-ready portfolio. Prerequisite: Expected to be the final upper-level core course completed GRA 4503C Digital Effects 60 hours, 4 credits This course focuses on the use and application of effects in film and video at an advanced, post-production level. Professional methods of controlling digital and video representation and 3D effects are examined. Students exhibit a mastery of the digital workflow by compositing footage, digital imagery, and computer graphics. Topics include virtual cinematography, morphing, lighting, rendering, particle effects, dynamics, camera properties, motion tracking, and filters. Prerequisite: Advanced Motion Graphics GRA 4631C Advanced Character Modeling 60 hours, 4 credits This course is designed to explore advanced techniques of 3D character creation and effects. During this course students will explore advanced 3D modeling and animation theory as well as principles that focus on character design and animation as it applies to virtual environments. Theories and principles of modeling and animation are applied to the context of interactive narratives, simulations, and games. Students will engage in the study of character rigging for games, advanced animation, morphing and blending, and other techniques to create expressive characters. Prerequisite: Advanced 3D Modeling GRA 4752C Advanced 3D Rigging 60 hours, 4 credits In this course, students expand on knowledge from 3D modeling, rigging, and animation to explore advanced techniques of rigging such as: facial rigging, deformation rigs, rigging non-human format characters, analysis of musculature for weight painting, and rigging refinement for precise articulation. This course will further prepare a student for industry certification in Autodesk software. Prerequisite: Advanced Character Modeling GRA 4790C Advanced PHP for E-Commerce 60 hours, 4 credits This course delves further into the use of server- side scripting and the development of web sites utilizing dynamic databases. Students will apply E-Commerce concepts and knowledge of information architecture to develop a reliable, stable, expandable, and secure infrastructure for E-Commerce, including content development and shopping cart management. Students will learn how to use PHP to collect visitor information and interact with a MySQL database. Prerequisite: Web Content Management Systems 888-5-RASMUSSEN GRA 4837 Animation Capstone Project 60 hours, 3 credits Students will apply their accumulated knowledge of animation and motion graphics to create an original animated short. The culmination of this knowledge will be a final animation project using 2D and/or 3D animation techniques. Students will explore various theories and techniques to complete a professional animation project. Prerequisite: Advanced 3D Rigging GRA 4932 Advanced Design Internship 120 hours, 4 credits In this course, students will apply advanced design knowledge, technical proficiency, and coursework within a professional design workplace. Students will create design projects reflective of upper-level competencies and skill sets under the guidance of a workplace mentor or supervisor. Higher order thinking and transferable skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and ethics within the design field will foster growth as a professional. The work completed at the internship site will be complemented by weekly course activities such as reflective journaling, analysis papers, peer reviews, business form documentation, and team-based projects to enhance the authentic learning experience for students. Prerequisite: Expected to be the final upper-level core course completed GRA 4948 Web Capstone Project 60 hours, 3 credits Students will apply their accumulated knowledge of web design and interactivity to create a dynamic, interactive, multi-level website. The culmination of this knowledge will be a comprehensive site delivered online utilizing industry-standard development techniques, languages, and interactive components for multiple devices. Prerequisite: Advanced PHP for E-Commerce GRA 4953C Internet History and E-Commerce 50 hours, 4 credits This course focuses on the history and evolution of the Internet including its influence on business applications for government, corporate, and retail sectors. Various topics will be explored including business structures and operations, communications and data- transfer protocols, web browsers, browser development history and compatibility issues, web security, and E-Commerce. Strategies and organizational models for web-based businesses are emphasized, with a focus on the impact of E-Commerce on consumerism, customer relations, advertising, and site maintenance. Prerequisite: Web Content Management Systems HIM 1103 Coding Foundations 50 hours, 4 credits This course provides the foundational aspects of the health information field along with coding and billing for inpatient, outpatient, and physician settings. The focus will be on learning to use all of the code books and encoder software along with coding guidelines and standards to ensure a student is prepared to learn how to code accurately and develop coding skills. Pre- or co-requisites: Medical Terminology; Structure and Function of the Human Body HIM 1125 ICD-CM Coding 40 hours, 4 credits This course provides in-depth study of the International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification (ICD-CM) using sample exercises and health records to develop skill and accuracy in assigning codes in various healthcare settings. Students will apply ICD-CM coding guidelines appropriate to the coding situation and will cover diagnostic coding of all body systems. Use of coding and grouper software will be introduced as well as the use of registries and indices. Prerequisite: Coding Foundations Pre- or co-requisite: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Health Information 79 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
