Here is a list of courses (organized by department) that are offered at NCSU and may be useful for game researchers and designers.
ART AND DESIGN
ADN 219 - Digital Imaging
Introduction to exploring, creating, and modifying images through the use of computers. Emphasis is on creativity, experimentation and intuitive image-making using various computer techniques
ADN 319 - Intro to Animation
An intensive introduciton to animation which integrates traditional hand generated animation, digital techniques and technology. Students will explore animations fundamental principles of linear formats, sequenced movement and time-based imaging.
ADN 419 - Multimedia and Digital Imaging
Intensive hands-on investigation of the tools, techniques, and processes for the development of interactive multi-media projects. Media teams will emphasize shaping an idea into a well thought-out design that works as an interactive experience.
ADN 460 - Multimedia and Advanced Digital Imaging Studio
An intensive study of advanced image-making processes, software, and various computer platforms used in the creation of multimedia. In a studio mode, students will place emphasis on creating interactive programs and finally transfer images to CD Rom and video with audio and special effects.
ADN 560 - Advanced Animation Studio
The studio serves as an intensive investigation of the tools, techniques, and processes for experimental multimedia animation. The studio will address the entire creative animation process, from initial storyboard concept to final production. The studio will serve as an advanced study of animation and imaging by investigating multimedia animation from numerous perspectives, including filmmaking, cognitive psychology, the fine arts and interaction design. Creativity in concept and execution (thecreative process) will be a major focus of the studio experience.
ADN 561 - Digital Animation and Imaging Seminar
Intensive research, presentation, and discussion of animation. Addressing historical animation issues related to media, culture and technology. Advanced study of animation and imaging through study of the history of multimedia animation from numerous perspectives, including filmmaking, painting and drawing, theater and animation history.
ANTHROPOLOGY
ANT (SOC) 261 - Technology in Society and Culture
Processes of social and cultural change with a focus on role of technological innovation. Cross-cultural emphasis. Workplace changes and societal risks associated with technological innovations. Special attention to the role of scientists and engineers in socio-cultural change. Topical case studies apply course concepts and principles. Core sociological and anthropological concepts, methods, theories.
ARCHITECTURE
ARC 445 - Aesthetics and Design
An examination of the identity, nature, and function of aesthetic experience, cognition and action as related to the design disciplines and reflected in designed artifacts.
ARC 511 - Mapping the Modern Site
Examination of American ideas about nature (including relevant European influence) from the mid-18th century to the present as manifested in architecture, landscape architecture, art, and theory. Focus is on underlying dichotomies, ambiguities, interpretations, and misconceptions that characterize our relationship with the natural world. Discussion and readings facilitate understanding of motivations underlying architectural representation and their role in revealing and enacting these often unrecognized values.
ARC 545 - Contemporary Architectural Theory and Criticism
Practice and production of contemporary theoretical architectural discourse. Traces the intellectual framework and architectural manifestation of four classifications of theory - prescriptive, proscriptive, affirmative, and critical - through the foundations, evolutions, and employment of each.
ARC 570 - Anatomy of the City
A morphological investigation of cities throughout urban history, with emphasis on formal principles of spatial organization. Part one: examination of the descriptive properties of cities in terms of interdisciplinary concepts and principles. Part two: examination of the organizational characteristics of urban space.
ARC 574 - Place and Place Making
Examination of the definitions, concepts and emergent research findings useful in explaining the human sense of place through seminar-lecture course. Particular emphasis upon those physical aspects and relationships influencing this sense of place and affording some designer control.
ARTS STUDIES
ARS (MDS) (STS) 257 - Technology in the Arts
The interaction between technology and the arts with an emphasis on developments in Western art of the twentieth century. Historical and emerging issues include: sound and film recordings, the addition of sound to films, the impact of films and television on theater, the impact of radio, computer applications to music, the visual arts, and literature.
ARS (MDS) (MUS) 306 - Music Composition with Computers
Survey of the theory and history of computer music, compositional algorithms, digital synthesis techniques, composition of at least one computer music work -- a computer-assisted composition for traditional instruments, a piece for computer music ontape, a real-time piece, or a piece that combines tape and instrument(s).
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
BUS 504 - Technology, Law, and the Internet
Legal aspects of technology management. Examination of intellectural property law, mainly focused on software. Contract law for e-commerce as well as warranties and new product development. cyberlaw issues such as protection of privacy, freedom of expression, crime, and fraud.
BUS 510 - Managing the Digital Enterprise
Principles of managing an enterprise in the realm of the Internet. Navigation, digital design, business models, acutions, security, privacy, and intellectual property.
BUS 564 - Project Management
Life cycle view of organizing and managing technical projects, including project selection, planning, and execution. Methods for managing and controlling project costs, schedules, and scope. techniques for assessing project risk. Use of popular project management software tools. Application of project management tools and methods to product development, software, and process reengineering projects.
BUS 565 - Product Design and Development
Total product realization process, including customer needs analysis, product design and engineering, manufacturability assessment and marketing plan development. Definition of relevant market, design and engineering principles, financial considerations and manufacturing aspects of product development process. Application and integration of business, design and engineering methodologies, concepts and tools on actual product design and development project.
BUS 574 - Management Of Technology
Development of technology policy and strategy. Management and implementation of new technologies. Technology sourcing, technology forecasting and life cycles, economic and financial analysis of technology. Innovation process and impact on organizations.
BUS (MSE) 576 - Technology Evaluation and Commercialization Concepts Commercialization potential of new technologies, products and processes. Interdisciplinary teams, marketing, organizational design, operational, finance, and manufacturing issues. Innovation management, strategic assessment and planning. Entrepreneurial and technology transfer mechanisms including spinoffs, licensing, and high technology startups. Practical application with project and team management skills development.
BUS (MAT) (MSE) 577 - High Technology Entrepreneurship
Commercialization strategies for prioritized technologies. Industry assessment. Core and complementary asset evaluation. Large company development processes. Corporate political processes for technology and product development. Product market, ownership strategies, customer requirements and technology capabilites. Business plan development and market acceptance. Practical application of technology management skills.
BUS (MSE) 578 - Implementing Technology Commercialization Strategies Commercialization implementation of new technologies, products, and processes. Interdisciplinary management teams, angel investing, venture capital investing, Securities and Exchange Commission. Identifying institutional investors, investor relations. Investor notebook, complementary asset acquisition. Presentation of high technology business plans.
COMMUNICATION
COM 250 - Communication and Technology
Examination of past and current intersections of technology, culture, and communication. Implications for future intersections. Impact of technology and communication policy. Methods of message evaluation. Exposure to technology applications in the discipline. Basic technology skills for the competent communicator. Practical experience in interactive communication technology.
COM 257 - Media History and Theory
Historical development and social implications of telecommunications, print, photography, film, broadcasting, and computer-mediated communication. Theoretical and methodological approaches to the field of communication media: media history; media economics and policy; media effects and power; media as producers of meaning; media audiences; media technologies; and roles of the media in social, cultural, and political change.
COM 307 - Digital Audio Production
Basic principles of digital audio production, including studio operation, performing, writing and producing.
COM 314 - Advanced Audio Production
Advanced multichannel techniques for audio production. Studio acoustics, audio signal processing, and advanced microphone techniques, writing, and performing.
COM 317 - Television Production
Basic techniques of television studio production, including producing, writing, directing and electronic graphics production.
COM 327 - Critical Analysis of Communication Media
Theoretical frameworks, methods, and aims of various approaches to critical analysis of the media. Critiques of power over media production; social biases of informational, fictional, and hybrid media content; and historical forms of audiences and the public. Critical awareness of the media's effects in politics, public culture, and everyday life.
COM 344 - Film Production
Principles of cinematography, production, and editing technologies for film. Script, shoot, and edit short 16mm films. Post-production on digital non-linear editing systems. Critical analysis of production of classic and contemporary feature films.
COM 357 - Digital Video Production
Principles of producing, directing, and editing techniques for digital video. Students script, storyboard, shoot, and edit short video projects.
COM 367 - Multimedia Production and Digital Culture
Production lab and seminar combined. Digital production of visual images, audio, and video for the web. Readings in theories of visual communication and electronic culture. Critical analysis of assumptions underlying development and deployment ofelectronic media, and their social, economic and political impact. Development of practical skills and critical thinking.
COM 387 - Advanced Television Production
Television program production utilizing advanced production techniques. Emphasis on refinement of writing, producing, and directing skills through work in TV studio on production of sophisticated program formats.
COM 437 - Advanced Digital Video
Hands-on experience in digital video production. Production of instructional videotapes. Practical experience in all phases of production process, including pre-production organization and critical analysis of final product.
COM 487 - Internet and Society
Exploration of major issues involved in the growth of computer-mediated communication and information technologies. Construction of self and body; relation of information technology to social, civic, and political life; gender, race, and class as continuing critical points; knowledge and intellectual property; the implications of software and design on the nature of communication, knowledge, and information.
COM 528 - Communication Culture and Technology
Examine communication technology via historical examples. Inquiry into the development of early sound and screen technologies. Analysis of computer-mediated communication genres.
COM 598A - Gaming and Social Networks
This graduate seminar explores the inter-relations among mobile technologies (cell phones, PDAs), location-based activities, and playful/social spaces. It investigates how multiuser games/environments can be brought into physical spaces, thus transforming our perception of urban public spaces. By creating social networks in public spaces, these games also change communication patterns among players, as well as the very concept of the cell phone.
COM 498A - Games and Culture
The undergraduate level of COM 598A
COM 498M - Mobile technologies and cultures
The undergraduate level of COM 598M
COM 598A - Mobile Technologies and Social Practice
This course explores the emergence of mobile communication technologies and its influence on communication patterns and social behavior. It conceptualizes cell phones beyond mobile telephones (two-way voice communication devices). Rather, it defines the mobile interface as a micro-computer, a remote control and a game device. The lecture class focuses on the history, current uses and future perspectives for the social use of mobile interfaces. How do mobile interfaces change our perception of both digital and physical spaces? Do they allow the creation of new types of communities? How do the uses of mobile images (still and video) influence the way we communicate and deal with information spaces? How does the use of mobile technology differ in distinct parts of the world, like Asia, Scandinavia, North and South America? The course engages students on discovering new sociability patterns created by mobile interfaces.
COMMUNICATION, RHETORIC, AND DIGITAL MEDIA
CRD 701 - History and Theory of Communication Technology
Intensive study of the evolution of communication systems and of essential historical, theoretical, and critical accounts of such systems and their implications. Foundation course for doctoral study.
CRD 702 - Rhetoric and Digital Media
Intensive critical study and evaluation of the conceptual vocabulary of rhetoric and its application to digital communication and digital media. Focus may include the following concepts: community, genre, figuration, argument, narrative, dialogue, deliberation, topoi, pathos, ethos, kairos.
CRD 703 - Communication in Networked Society
Intensive study of theories, histories, and practices of networked communication. Emergence, development, acceptance, and dissolution of a variety of networks organized around information and communication technologies. Survey of network theory and methods for studying networks, networked communication practices, and their effects on issues such as identity, labor, organization, power, etc. Research/applications project developed in consultation with the instructor.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
CSC 116 - Introduction to Computing - Java
An introductory course in computing in Java. Emphasis on algorithm development and problem solving. Careful and methodical development of Java applications and applets from specifications; documentation and style; appropriate use of control structures; classes and methods; data types and data abstraction; object-oriented programming and design; graphical user interface design.
CSC 216 - Programming Concepts - Java
The second course in computing, intended for majors. Emphasis is placed on interpretation of inductive definitions (functions and data types); testing strategies; specification and implementation of finite-state machine; encapsulation; polymorphism; inheritance; class invariants; and resource management
CSC 316 - Data Structures for Computer Scientists
Abstract data types; abstract and implementation-level views of data types. Linear and branching data structures, including stacks, queues, trees, heaps, hash tables, graphs, and others at discretion of instructor. Best, worst, and average case asymptotic time and space complexity as a means of formal analysis of iterative and recursive algorithms.
CSC 411 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Overview and definitions of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Search, including depth-first and breadth-first techniques with backtracking. Knowledge representation with emphasis on logical methods, Horn databases, resolution, quantification, unification, skolemization and control issues; non-monotonic reasoning; frames; semantic nets. AI systems, including planning, learning, natural language and expert systems. An AI programming language may be taught at the instructor's discretion.
CSC 454 - Human-Computer Interaction
A survey of concepts and techniques for user interface design and human computer interaction. Emphasizes user-centered design, interface development techniques, and usability evaluation.
CSC 461 - Computer Graphics
Principles of computer graphics with emphasis on two-dimensional and aspects of three-dimensional raster graphics. Topics include: graphics hardware devices, lines and polygons, clipping lines and polygons to windows, graphical user interface, vectors, projections, transformations, polygon fill. Programming projects in C or C++.
CSC 462 - Advanced Computer Graphics Projects
Principles of computer graphics with emphasis on three-dimensional graphics. Topics include: 3-D projections and transformations, curves and surfaces, color and texture, animation, visualization, and global illumination techniques. Programming project required.
CSC 467 - Multimedia Technology
Methods of creating, recording, compressing, parsing, editing and playing back on a computer the following media: sound, music, voice, graphics, images, video, and motion. Introduction to basic principles: signal processing, information theory, real-time scheduling. Also includes discussion of standards, programming tools and languages, storage and I/O devices, networking support, legal issues, user interfaces, and applications. Includes significant hands-on experience.
CSC 481 - Computer game Design and Development
An introduction to the technologies and practices underlying computer and console game development and the principles involved in effective game design and production. Topics include computer game graphics, sound and audio, level design, principlesof gameplay, interactive storytelling, character control and artificial intelligence, user interface design. Programming project required.
CSC 485 - Innovating in Technology
Importance of innovation to the success of the technical individual, State, and Nation. Techniques for becoming more innovative. Innovations important to recent generations. Innovations needed to help humankind. Applying new technologies, e.g. search engines and the Internet, to innovation. Strategies for innovation. Why ideas fail. Why failures are important to successes. Factors influencing success, especially the human interface. Students will develop proof-of-concept prototype or requirements document, write proposal for potential funding, and make oral presentation of innovation. Team work encouraged.
CSC 489 - Fundamentals of Computer Science
Provides the background for graduate students who do not have an undergraduate degree in computer science to take selective, graduate-level computer science courses. Computer organization from both hardware and software viewpoints is discussed. Includes computer system organization, digital logic, microprogramming, conventional machine language, operating systems, assembly language, advanced computer architectures, and data structures.
CSC 554 - Human-Computer Interaction
Basic theory and concepts of human-computer interaction. Human and computational aspects. Cognitive engineering. Practical HCI skills. Significant historical case studies. Current technology and future directions in user interface development.
CSC 562 - Computer Graphics
Principles of computer graphics with emphasis on three-dimensional graphics. 3-D progjections and transformations, curves and surfaces, color and texture, animation, visualization, and global illumination techniques. Programming project required.
CSC 582 - Computer Models of Interactive Narrative
A theoretical and practical study of the computational models supporting the creation of interactive narrative systems. Topics include basic introductions to cognitive, linguistic and film theoretic models of narrative; representations and reasoning techniques from artificial intelligence related to the creation of storylines, dialog, camera control and other features of narrative in text-based and/or 3D virtual worlds; mechanisms for controlling character behavior in multi-agent multi-user stories; and applications of these techniques ranging from interactive entertainment to educational software to training simulations.
CSC 725 - Intelligent Multimedia Systems
Principles and issues underlying intelligent multimedia technologies. Animated intelligent agents, intelligent behavior planning, affective reasoning, gesture and locomotion planning, mixed-initiative multi-modal dialogue control, and natural language generation. Intelligent multimedia presentation planning. Intelligent 3D virtual cinematography. Interactive narrative planning with animated intelligent agents. Selected examples of applications in knowledge-based learning environments, intelligent training systems, interactive entertainment.
CSC 761 - Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics
Understanding and discussing current advances and research topics in computer graphics. Possible topics include nonphotorealistic rendering, modeling natural phenomena, illumination and rendering techniques, model simplification, animation, visualization, graphics hardware. Learning to critique research papers from important venues in the computer graphics field. Learning to read, interpret, and present computer graphics research papers in a conference-type environment.
DESIGN
DDN 770 - Research in Information Design
Research problems in information design with a focus on the cognitive, cultural, or technological implications of visual communication or product design. Students design research studies in response to questions arising from co-requisite study in Information Design seminars.
DDN 771 - Design as Cognitive Artifact
Relationship between theories of human cognition and design. Analysis and critique of design objects as cognitive artifacts and extension, transformation, or diminishing of human thought by their form and content. A critical examination of cognitive, linguistic and social science theories shaping design.
DDN 772 - Design as Cultural Artifact
Recent theories in various disciplines concerning a cultural understanding of graphic design. Theories of mass and popular culture, critiques of creativity and authorial intentionality, influences of interpretive criticism, theories of consumption and issues of cultural representation. Emphasis on adaptation of these theories to an understanding of the cultural significance of graphic design. Non-majors by permission only.
DDN 773 - New Information Environments
Changing role of design in new information environments. Implications of new technology on social construction of meaning, impact of electronic media on culture and cognition, and differences in designing artifacts and designing interactions.
DDN 830 - Information Design
Directed study in information design with a focus on the cognitive, cultural or technological implications of visual communication design. Students design visual research studies in response to questions arising from co-requisite study in Information Design seminars.
DDN 831 - Information Design
Directed study in information design with a focus on the cognitive, cultural or technological implications of visual communication design. Students design visual research studies in response to questions arising from co-requisite study in Information Design seminars.
DF 101 - Design Fundamentals Studio I
Introduction to the design disciplines and departments of the College of Design. A studio course examining the techniques and attitudes for dealing with identification, solution and evaluation of problems arising from the design of physical artifacts in the natural and built environment. The design studio process includes the acquisition of languages and skills appropriate to design studies.