Environments such as social networking sites, multiplayer online games and other online communities are becoming an increasingly large part of how we work, play, and learn. This course introduces the fundamentals for the interdisciplinary study of cyberculture and online social behavior. By examining core scholarship in this area, together with analyzing an existing virtual world, game, or online community, students will learn to research and understand new technologically-enabled social forms as they are emerging. PREREQUISITE(S) WRD 104

This lecture course focuses on effective communication throughout the development process from writing game design documents to playtesting reports and postmortems. Special attention will be paid to the critical and analytical components of design writing and the clarity of articulation. A further emphasis is put on the preparation and delivery of engaging presentations, particularly game pitches. PREREQUISITE(S): GAM 226 and WRD 104

This workshop introduces computer programming to artists and game designers. Programming is an art, but before students can create masterpieces they first need to explore, play, and sketch with code. Students learn basic concepts and techniques of computation and apply these to craft gameplay experiences, improvisational experiments, and software toys. Students will author code from scratch and remix code to complete their weekly projects. No prior programming experience or knowledge is required. PREREQUISITE(S): None

Students will use current industry standard design applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator, and beginning hand-coding in HTML, CSS for introductory web design. An introduction to visual design fundamentals will include composition, typography, web color, and digital imaging. Informational navigation, structure, front-end design, and implementation will be studied. PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course discusses the basic problems and techniques of visualizing quantitative and qualitative data. Topics include: perception, types of information, representation of univariate and multivariate data and relational information, analysis of representations, presentation, and dynamic and interactive visualizations. Students will create visualizations using graphical software PREREQUISITES: LSP 120

The scientific principles determining the structure of metallic, polymeric, ceramic semiconductor and composite materials; electronic structure, atomic bonding, atomic structure, microstructure and macrostructure. The basic principles of structure-property relationships in the context of chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of materials. (Taught at Illinois Institute of Technology as MS 201.)

Basic experiments with analog and digital circuits; familiarization with test and measurement equipment; combinational digital circuits; familiarization with latches, flip-flops, and shift registers; operational amplifiers; and transient effects in first-order and second-order analog circuits; PSpice software applications. (Taught at Illinois Institue of Technology as ECE 212)

Intermediate framework-based web development. Students design and develop web applications supporting social-networking, content-sharing and functionality for business and organizational needs. Web concepts include AJAX, server-side caching, security threats. Application of object-oriented concepts. PREREQUISITE(S): IT 231 and IT 211

Introduction to applications of measurement instrumentation and design of engineering experiments. Generalized characteristics of sensors and measurements systems. Signal conditioning and computer-based data acquisition and analysis. Measurement of motion, force, strain, torque, shaft power, pressure, sound, flow, temperature and heat flux. Design of experiments proposals. Team-based projects addressing application of engineering measurements to a variety of engineering problems. Effective communication of experimental results. (Taught at Illinois Institute of Technology as MMAE 430.)

This is a design-focused web class on intermediate concepts and techniques in the visual design, development and implementation of websites for commercial purposes. Students will use industry standard web design applications and some hand coding in HTML and CSS. PREREQUISITE(S): GD 110 or IT 130 or HCI 201 or AMD 385

Study of the formal structures of letterforms and text. Exploration of typography to create and extend meaning, emphasizing the relationship between form and content. PREREQUISITE(S): GD 105, ART 105, ANI 105 or GPH 211

Course introduces a variety of basic animation techniques for cinema and gaming, such as hand-drawn, cutout, stop-motion and (very basic) 3D, with an emphasis on the use of computer technology. Examples of diverse animation genres and styles (experimental, cartoon, anime, special effects, computer games) from different cultures will be screened and discussed. Students will explore the unique qualities of the medium through a series of hands-on projects that can be adapted to their own personal interests. They will learn about professional animation process (storyboard and animatic) during the production of a final project that encourages them to consider the role and potential of animation in our society.

Classical and modern theories.

This course is a beginning workshop in narrative film production. The course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of cinema, including camera and lens technology, composition, lighting, directing and sound recording. Utilizing digital technology, students will produce several films with an emphasis on visual storytelling and personal expression. This course has an additional fee. PREREQUISITE(S): DC 220

This course explores complex systems both natural and man-made, characterized by the relationships between interacting entities. Network structures can be found in the Internet and its many applications, but also in social relationships, marketplaces, ecosystems, even cells. We will examine a wide range of networks including technological, social, and natural. Students will learn basic concepts from graph theory, algorithms and network analysis, apply tools for extracting, analyzing and visualizing network properties, using data sets drawn from a variety of areas. PREREQUISITE(S): LSP 120

Principles of interactive design for web pages and sites. Design patterns for information navigation. Use of HTML and CSS to produce standards- and accessibility-compliant web pages. Overview of technologies supporting dynamic and interactive content. Prerequisites: IT 130 or HCI 201

Development of professional communication and collaboration skills for the global IT workplace. Students cultivate proficiency with traditional in-person and electronic communications, modeling the conflict resolution, personal initiative, and personal presentation behaviors necessary for career advancement. Students become comfortable users of virtual communication and collaboration toolsets such as VoIP, collaborative editors, web presentation software, virtual team portals, and virtual scheduling tools. PREREQUISITE(S): WRD 104. For students required to take LSP 120, it is also a prerequisite.

An introduction to the Internet, the World Wide Web, and web development for students with a strong interest in technology. Students will create interactive web pages by writing HTML and CSS and by programming in JavaScript. Topics include the origins of the web, the roles and operations of web browsers and web servers, interacting with web applications through forms, and using style sheets to separate document structure and document formatting. PREREQUISITE(S): NONE.

Introduction to application development and problem solving. Basic programming constructs including control structures, I/O functions and object-based programming. Projects include small-scale applications using web-services, file processing, databases and application software. PREREQUISITE(S): IT 130

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming. Students will use object-oriented programming to integrate systems and applications on multiple platforms, developing and understanding basic distributed applications and how they communicate. PREREQUISITE(S): IT 211

(Formerly IS 315) This course presents a structured approach to analysis and design of an information system for a business. The systems development life cycle will be defined and described. Process descriptions, user and task analysis for interface development, prototyping, data flow and entity relationship diagramming will be presented. Case studies that promote critical-thinking skills provide the context for these techniques. PREREQUISITE(S): none

Introduction to framework-based web development. Students create interactive, dynamic web sites using a common web architecture and object-based database access. Programming for web development includes control structures, objects, functions, and use of composite data types. Prerequisite: IT 130

This course will introduce students to the design, implementation and use of desktop databases. Major topics include: modeling using ER diagrams, creating and maintaining a database using a PC based application, compose and use queries in Structured Query Language, create and customize forms and reports, and integrate databases with other sources of data and applications. PREREQUISITE(S): NONE

Graphical user interface development for web and desktop applications. Event-driven user controls. Development involves use of a visual integrated development environment (IDE). Prerequisite: IT 232