Typically, the Animation and Visual Effects program follows the course sequence outlined below. However, Expression College for Digital Arts reserves the right to modify or change the school calendar, curriculum, class schedules, and/or course sequence as it deems necessary to ensure that student and institutional goals are met.
Please note that only 2490 total contact hours are required for completion of the Animation and Visual Effects BAS program unless the student chooses to take the Independent Study elective which requires an additional 27 contact hours for a total of 2517 contact hours.
General Education Courses For Animation & Visual Effects
ANTH110: Cultural Anthropology
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
A comparative examination of family organizations, personal kinship, marriage, household, and family conventions within the context of class, gender, race, ethnicity, ruralization, urbanization, and globalization across different social and cultural systems. Students will study global norms, and use research materials and multimedia channels to analyze and frame cultural facets within a historic context. Outcomes include an in-depth understanding of social organizations, including group dynamics and the role that cultural differences can play in global society. Students will be assessed using in-class and self-directed work, which includes research assignments, analysis, multimedia presentations, and topic-based reporting.
PSY111: Introduction to Psychology
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
This course serves as an introduction to psychology, focusing on the examination of historic developments and empirical approaches. Students will explore ideas of perception, cognition, personality and social psychology, and biological aspects of behavior. Topics include the development of personality, achievement motivation, self-understanding, and anti-social behavior. The course surveys current theories in psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics.
ENG112: American Literature
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
An introductory study of several genres of American literature, emphasizing both analysis of particular works and the range of forms and styles in prose and poetry; students will analyze the stylistic and technical attributes of American literary masters through the evaluation of representative texts, primary sources, and multimedia channels. Class topics include postcolonial literature; literature from the South, Native American literature, Jazz Age, and Harlem renaissance, and crime/mystery/science fiction through history. Frequent writing assignments will be made, including analysis of source material, topic research, and style essays. Students are assessed and graded on journal entries, research papers, and in-class participation.
ENG114: Analytical Writing
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
A constructive introduction to the practice of written analysis; students classify and categorize literary elements, develop thesis statements, and identify themes. Heavy emphasis is placed on analysis and interpretation of information and texts as well as critical reasoning and strategies. Students will develop a critical voice, and will learn how to read and write from an analytical perspective. Texts include the Modern Language Association handbook, and a collection of modern American short stories and prose.
ENG120: Creative Writing
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
This course presents the principles of writing fiction. Students will write both in prescribed forms and in experimental forms. Style, language, and structure in prose and poetry will be examined, and topic and thematic-based writing will be used to assess aesthetic choices and stylistic development. Students will learn best practices in developing and revising original composition, and will develop an aesthetic identity and personal frame of reference through developmental writing assignments and analysis.
PSY121: Sociology
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
A survey and exploration of sociological concepts and perspectives concerning human groups and infrastructure.; aspects of study include development of groups and related socialization trends, culture, organization, roles and facets of past and modern societies, and conformity and deviance in societies. Students will analyze data through research and text analysis, with a specific focus on theory and application. Students will develop a greater understanding of social organization and how it conditions human behavior.
SOC131: Popular Culture
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
This course will survey the social mechanisms that shape modern popular culture. High, folk, and mass culture will be covered and related to the historical emergence of popular culture. Topics include mass media, commercialization, ideology, and cultural styles. Theories and methods for analyzing cultural expressions in popular music, art, film, television, and advertising will be presented. Students will be introduced to the ethical and economic issues that define popular culture, and will complete the course with a better understanding of the forces and events that shape current consciousness.
SCI141: Concepts in Science
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
This course presents essential principles in science, including an overview of systems and practices in physical, chemical, and biological science such as scale, energy, time, and systems of measurement. Related topics include the scientific method, good and bad science, research, and writing in the physical sciences. Students will develop an understanding of the scientific method and its approaches to problem solving.
HIS151: Modern Western Civilization
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
The growth of Western Civilization from antiquity to the present, emphasizing themes in social, religious, military and political organization, and art and literature that reflect cultural interaction and change. This course emphasizes the political, social, cultural, and intellectual characteristics of history which influenced the 21st century. Students will use text and multimedia to enhance their understanding, and will be assessed using in-class presentation, personal journal writing, and special project development.
MAT160: Mathematical Concepts
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
Concepts in polynomials, factoring equations, graphs, logarithms, and inequalities designed to prepare the student for college work in mathematics. Students will improve their analytical skills, including formulating mathematical solutions to a wide array of real-world problems, and will solidify a foundation in core concepts.
HIS221: American History
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
The experience of the American people from the Colonial Era to the present, emphasizing themes of immigration, slavery, commerce, personal liberty, culture, warfare, and the growth of democratic institutions. Students will develop independent, critical, analytical skills to assess political and socioeconomic developments in American History.
MAT260: Geometry
Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: None
Vector analysis, curves, and surfaces in three dimensions are covered through an understanding of planar and solid geometry. Students will develop a college-level understanding of the importance of geometry and the role it plays in diverse applications. Topics will include properties and angles of shapes, space analysis, application and use of coordinates, and formulating
accurate proofs.
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Common Core Classes
Common core courses at Expression are professional studies courses that are relevant to students in all programs of study. Common core courses give students the opportunity to work with students from other programs as well as their own. Students are required to take all common core courses as part of their respective program requirements.
CC101: Media Sound and Visual 1
Class Contact Hours (33) Lab Contact Hours (54) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: None
The Media Sound and Visual 1 (MSV 1) course is focused on the visual aspects of digital media production and gives students the opportunity to work collaboratively while creating a short-form cinema project. From writing an original script and creating storyboards to directing, shooting, and editing, students are immersed in the complete production process from start to finish. Students learn how to use digital video cameras, lighting equipment, production sound equipment, and non-linear digital video editing systems. The experience that students gain during the production of an original movie will serve them throughout their career as well as lay the foundation upon which the understanding of more advanced concepts can be developed.
CC102: Media Sound and Visual 2
Class Contact Hours (33) Lab Contact Hours (54) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: CC101 Media Sound and Visual 1
Media Sound and Visual 2 (MSV 2) is an innovative introduction to the fundamental concepts, techniques, equipment, and terminology associated with sound. Through lectures, demonstrations, and discussion students sample the aesthetics, history, physics, mathematics, biology, electronics, and psychology between 20Hz to 20KHz. In laboratory, theoretical knowledge is put to practical use as students step through an entire audio post-production cycle with their films from the previous class.
CC103: Living in a Media World 1
Class Contact Hours (30) Lab Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
Living in a Media World 1 (LMW1) is an introductory course covering theoretical and artistic principles in visual and aural production. Students will be taught basic design, sound and motion software to apply theoretical concepts to their own artistic development. Students will be exposed to artistic work created by some of today’s leading artists in order to gain insight on applying technique to theory. The class will also provide an environment where students can share their work and ideas as well as critique each other’s progress. All artistic, technical, and theoretical work will culminate in a collaborative project in the form of a creative pitch and a final project plan for a podcast.
CC104: Living in a Media World 2
Class Contact Hours (30) Lab Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: CC103 Living in a Media World 1
Living in a Media World 2 (LMW 2) is the second part to a two-course sequence. It is a project-based class focused on creating an online presence. Students will build on visual and aural knowledge while producing a video podcast and a flash website to host the podcast. The class will also provide an environment where students can share their work and ideas as well as critique each other’s progress in production, Web design, and post-production. Lectures will cover media theory, Flash 8, Reason, Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, and Photoshop.
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Click for gallery and award winning movies produced in Media Sound & Visual)
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Click for gallery and award winning fine artwork produced in Fine Arts) (New gallery!)
CC401: Professional Life Skills
Class Contact Hours (30) Lab Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
The Professional Life Skills course is designed to help prepare students for employment, professional interaction, and living skills. Students will experience and explore many of the necessary techniques and tools needed to find employment and be successful in a professional setting. Creation of a professional presentation package is emphasized, as well as interviewing skills, business etiquette, networking, and personal marketing techniques.
CC402: Business of Media
Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
The course objective is to provide students practical insights into the dynamic industry of media business. This is accomplished through detailed analysis of what considerations today’s industry is facing as well as in-depth explorations of such business aspects as contracts, corporate structures, and negotiation tactics. Also covered are presentation, raising capital, construction, contractual agreements, marketing, personnel, client satisfaction, downside risk analysis, and the myriad other responsibilities and considerations with which students will be challenged.
CC403: DVD Authoring
Class Contact Hours (24) Lab Contact Hours (42) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
The DVD Authoring course guides students through an in-depth exploration of the complex new tools and techniques used to create content for optical disc storage technology-- the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD). Students will gain unique insights into the DVD format, production processes, MPEG-2 compression techniques, and tools required to take full advantage of this medium. Students participate in every aspect of DVD pre-mastering and mastering, from the initial project planning, menu design, and bit budgeting to the actual assemblage and editing of audio and visual assets to create the disc image. Students are also given an in-depth look at DVD specifications so that their skills can be applied to any DVD workstation. All students are required to complete their own personal DVD portfolio by the end of the course.
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Animation & Visual Effects Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Program Course Sequence
Typically, the Animation & Visual Effects program follows the Course Sequence described below. However, Expression College for Digital Arts reserves the right to modify or change the school calendar, curriculum, class schedules and/or course sequence as it deems necessary to ensure that student and institutional goals are met.
ART101: Drawing Bootcamp
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: None
The objective of Drawing Bootcamp is to teach students the tools necessary to enhance their drawing skills as well as teach a new way of seeing and looking at the world in preparation for a future in digital art. This will be achieved through a series of unique exercises, designed to develop skills in the standards of figure drawing, anatomy, perspective, and portraiture. The first half of the course focuses on drawing from life, building artistic skills, honing visual acuity, and hand-eye execution, as well as developing an internal data bank of images and visual understanding. The second half of the course builds on this foundation to explore drawing from the imagination, including concept art, storyboarding, character design, and visual storytelling.
ART102: Concept Art
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
Building upon the foundation of observational drawing skills developed in Drawing Bootcamp, Concept Art provides the opportunity for students to begin exploring their inner observations. The class will initially focus on the process of conceptualizing characters/creatures, props, vehicles, and environments using traditional materials. Students will additionally explore basic principles of visual storytelling and test these methods by creating a storyboard which incorporates their designs. The final project for Concept Art will be to present the storyboards and concept art that describes a cohesive, inhabited imaginary world.
ART103: Design Basics
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: None
A career in the digital art field requires a working knowledge of art and art concepts, as well as familiarity with professional art terminology. Students will explore color theory, composition, figurative and conceptual sculpture, design, painting, and other traditional media, art history, and museum studies. The course culminates in a student art gallery exhibition of final projects. Concepts covered in class will inform students’ future work in both 3D and 2D digital art and design.
ART104: Concept and Imaging
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: CC104 Living in a Media World 2, ART101 Drawing Boot camp, and ART103 Design Basics
Concept and Imaging combines the power of conceptual design with digital photography; working toward the goal of creating a compelling visual composition. Students will create a project that enhances their ability to develop an idea. They will work in a group atmosphere and learn how to brainstorm. They will also dive into the world of concept and imaging via Photoshop and other digital imaging software. They will be introduced to image editing and color correction, as well as learning basic collage and masking techniques through the use of layers, paths, and selection masks. Students will endeavor to develop a critical eye and sharply honed design sense by focusing on the core design principles and typography that will help their individual designs stand out.
AVE310: Compositing 1
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: ART103 Design Basics and ART101 Drawing Boot Camp
Compositing is the art and science of manipulating and combining different images together to create one seamless image. In this course, students will learn the fundamental approaches to compositing for film and video. They will learn to creatively manage transparency, color correct digital images, and develop an understanding of applied lighting and perspective. These skills are implemented along with image manipulation techniques to create a digital matte painting. In the second half of the course, the students will extend these compositing concepts into time-based media. For their final project, students will composite a transformation to a person, object, or landscape.
AVE202: 3D Modeling 1
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: ART101 Drawing Boot Camp
In 3D Modeling 1, students examine 3D modeling techniques, terminology, and methods. Students use software to learn basic 3D modeling by utilizing specific toolsets with an emphasis on modeling efficiently and correctly. Students will explore methods of modifying and deforming geometry, and apply skills to architecture, landscapes, vehicles, and characters.
AVE203: Introduction to Animation
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: ART101 Drawing Boot Camp
Introduction to Animation is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of animation. The class focuses entirely on hand-drawn, frame-by-frame pencil animation in order to best teach this art's principles through a series of assignments. Some of these include a walk cycle and a flap cycle, culminating in a final project that encompasses everything learned in the course. Understanding these basics prepares students to produce richer and more engaging animation in later 3D classes.
AVE204: Animation 1
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE202 3D Modeling 1 and AVE203 Introduction to Animation
In Animation 1, students are presented with the fundamentals of animating in a 3D environment. Students will explore the principles used in traditional cartoon animation, and how they affect modern digital animation techniques used in current industries. Students will learn how to pre-visualize an animation before producing it, and then move through a series of basic digital animation techniques to realize the final product. Animation skills will be developed through animating objects and infusing them with human characteristics, including a realistic walk cycle, emotional elements, and final lip synchronization.
AVE205: Texture and Lighting 1
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE204 Animation 1
This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology and techniques of computer-generated 3D texturing and lighting. Students will create and apply textures to 3D objects, as well as work with concepts and techniques that will be used to create digitally realistic objects and scenes. Students will explore the use of Photoshop and other software tools to create texture sources, and will work to create various real-world lighting effects, textures, texture maps and lighting schemes for 3D objects.
AVE301: Game Production
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE205 Texture and Lighting 1
Students will learn the process of making a game level in a team-based environment. Students will select teams and begin designing their UnReal game level by creating a concept, look, and floor plans. The groups will then build their level in 3D and add texture and lighting. Finally, they will add interactivity and make it function inside of a real-time game engine. The final critique is done inside the game environment, where the students can actually explore each other's work as a character within the game.
AVE302: Creative Pre-Production
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: AVE205 Texture and Lighting 1
The goal of Creative Pre-Production is to impress upon our future team members the great importance of planning in a 3D art pipeline, as well as the underlying presentation and communication skills involved. Students will create a Production Packet for a fully realized 30 second short animated piece. The expertise learned by creating this story history and presentation will serve as the foundation for students to envision, explore and execute their first professional demo reel, which will be created from assets developed during future classes. Students will pitch this Production Packet for their final grade. The class encourages creative thinking about unique ways of presenting work, while maintaining a connection with industry standards for demo reels.
AVE303: 3D Modeling 2
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE202 3D Modeling 1 and AVE302 Creative Pre-production
In 3D Modeling 2, students explore advanced techniques for the creation of industrial and organic models. Students will take their designed characters, props, and sets and realize them in 3D using NURBS, polygons and subdivision surfaces. The study of these advanced modeling techniques provides the student with a working knowledge of how to build organic models with the proper topology for animation.
AVE304: Texture and Lighting 2
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE305 Technical Direction
Students will explore advanced use of Maya's procedural texturing abilities. They will also be exposed to the tools and techniques necessary to achieve precise lighting and efficient renders. Topics will also include Mental Ray and other renderers, global illumination and high dynamic range imaging. The final project in this course is to complete the texture and lighting of the characters and sets created in 3D Modeling 2.
AVE305: Technical Direction
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE303 3D Modeling 2
This course demystifies character setup. Students will begin by finalizing their models, then build a skeleton and bind it to the character. They will then build controls and an interface so that the character is easy to animate. The character setup each student creates will be tested by animation assignments both for the body and the face. We will touch on more advanced topics including MEL scripts and expressions. Upon completion, each student will have created, set up and tested a character with a custom graphical user interface.
AVE306: Animation 2
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE304 Texture and Lighting 2
Animation 2 builds on the topics introduced in Animation 1, with a focus on completing an animation worthy of putting on a demo reel. Students will use the Production Packet created in Creative Pre-Production as a roadmap for an animated piece. After the basics are reviewed, students will embark on the creation of the final animation using their custom characters and stories.
AVE401: Motion Studies
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: AVE303 3D Modeling 2
Motion Studies teaches students about acting, timing, kinesthetic motion, and how to apply it to animation through improvisational sessions that use the Vicon 8 motion-capture system. After learning the system, students will apply it to individual 3D characters using Kaydara’s Motion Builder software, and then import it into Maya. The final product of the course will be animation assets submitted inside of the Unreal Engine.
AVE402: Advanced Effects
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: AVE202 3D Modeling 1 and AVE205 Texture and Lighting 1
In this course, we will cover the use of dynamic simulations to create visual effects. Some of the tools that will be covered include particles, fluid effects, soft bodies and rigid bodies in Maya and other innovative software. These will be used to create a series of assignments exploring effects creation such as fire, water, clouds and explosions.
AVE403: Compositing 2
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE201 Compositing 1
In this course students will expand upon the knowledge gained in Compositing 1 through the use of advanced compositing techniques. They will learn articulated and procedural matte creation through the use of greenscreen and rotoscoping techniques. They will learn motion tracking, and matchmoving. Matchmoving is the art of creating a virtual camera based upon actual video/film footage. This is a crucial skill in combining CG imagery with actual filmed footage. The students will learn how to seamlessly blend CG and live action film together and finish it with the knowledge and understanding of multi-pass rendering and compositing techniques. The students will use all of these skills within two projects: integrating a live action element into a virtual background and integrating a CG element into a live action background.
AVE404: Advanced Production
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE402 Advanced Effects and AVE403 Compositing 2
A job in the industry is 80% problem solving. In Advanced Production, we'll start honing those skills and that attitude. Students will learn how to create a production schedule, adjust it, and stick to it, while creating the main piece for their demo reel. While each student begins focusing their work skills towards what they'd like to illustrate in their reel, the group will learn presentation skills from each other through rigorous daily group critique. In addition, we will study job descriptions, definitions, and studio differences across the industry. Class lectures will include general rendering and lighting techniques, guest lectures covering new software and plug-ins, ZBrush, 3DS Max, and more.
AVE405: Final Project
Class Contact Hours (36) Lab Contact Hours (48) Semester Credit Units (4)
Prerequisites: AVE404 Advanced Production
Final Project students create the presentation materials that surround the main demo reel piece completed in Advanced Production. We will learn how to make successful presentations that address the needs expressed in a variety of job descriptions. Presentation materials created in class will include an introduction, a smaller second piece, and the compilation of any traditional artwork. Students will also learn how to layout and implement an artist-friendly portfolio web site. This class will culminate in a finished, professional demo reel on a DVD and the modular portfolio website.
AVE407 Elective: Independent Study
Independent Study Hours (90) Semester Credit Units (3)
Prerequisites: AVE301 Game Production. Students must also have a faculty sponsor.
Independent study provides students the opportunity to pursue individualized study, and is student initiated, advanced level study, focused on specific learning objectives. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member to create learning objectives, goals, and evaluation methods. The purpose of Independent Study is to allow students to pursue advanced academic study in areas where he/she has a foundational background. Students must be prepared to work independently and to meet regularly with a faculty sponsor. Faculty sponsors must be qualified to evaluate your work. Independent Study is intended for advanced-level students who have a substantial background in a particular area and are interested in doing specialized work in that area. Independent study is not appropriate for first and second year students.
AVE408 Elective: Sculpting
Class Contact Hours (27) Lab Contact Hours (36) Semester Credit Hours (3)
Prerequisites: ART102 Concept Art
Sculpting with your hands is the first step in being able to sculpt digitally with the computer. This course puts into action the understanding of anatomy and proportion that students learn by drawing, and applies it in two forms: sculpting from a live model, and sculpting from student-created concept art. Students use their knowledge of the anatomy of human and animal body types combined with their imagination to create a creature or being has believability and grounding. In this class, students will work on 2 live-model sculpts and 2 conceptual sculpts.
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