Creative Arts & Technology Courses

Each spring semester, this course will study in depth the classical art and the contemporary arts scene of a major international city, and then visit that city during spring break. A broad spectrum of arts will be covered, including whenever possible music, film, painting, literature, sculpture, architecture, photography, animation, theatre, and new media, as well as cuisine and traditional crafts. Artistic creativity will be examined in relationship to the history, politics and culture that shape it. Cities to study and visit will be selected from such art centers as Paris, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Mexico City, Athens, London, Beijing, Kyoto, Marrakesh, and Rio de Janeiro. Each student will choose a specific topic to focus on and will conduct their own research on it during their visit to the city.

Designing Environments for Story will focus on developing core skills used for layout and background design for animation production, drawing from life, perspective, composition, staging, understanding scripts, translating storyboards to layout, color theory, mood, camera movements, lenses, traditional and digital painting.

This course is an ensemble, open by audition only, in which students perform on an advanced level, potentially for public performance. Ensembles may be based on instrumentation (guitar, voice, electronics) or repertoire (Improvisation Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, etc). May be repeated for credit.

In-depth study of a topic in the fine and performing arts. Topics may be interdisciplinary or focus on one field in the arts (e.g., Far Eastern Art; Rock & Rap; The 60’s). Some attendance at performances and art exhibits required. This course may be repeated once for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic.

In-depth study of the latest developments in technology and the arts (digital video, 3-D animation, the Internet). This course may be repeated once for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic.

In-depth study of the latest developments in the technical aspects of communications and the arts (e.g., virtual reality, hypertext, etc.). This course may be repeated once for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic.

Students will learn to construct CG 3D models by breaking down complex shapes into simpler components that can be modified, transformed and animated using the industry standard software in 3D computer generated model building and animation.

Study the historical development of type, typeface design, and the use of type as an expressive image. This course will teach you the typographical skills to succeed as a graphic designer.  

Learn the methods graphic designers use to give products a brand identity. Explore ways to creatively and effectively execute the brand concept in print and digital design. Invent your own product and produce an ad campaign for it.

This course is a practical approach to learning Motion Capture and the fundamentals of MotionBuilder. Students will learn how to work with the motion capture data on a professional level with an emphasis on navigating the interface, importing and applying motion capture data to a virtual actor and virtual character. Concepts of character retargeting, filters, f-curves, plotting 3D data, constraints, cameras, rendering, lights, materials, and shades will also be addressed.

This course is a collaborative interdisciplinary art class, which concentrates on the development of concepts through research and practice. As a semester long project, students will be asked to write and invent a creation myth, do research around their project and implement their story through artworks.

Students explore the fundamentals of time-based motion for animation, video and game using a combination of motion design, image compositing and Adobe After Effects. Emphasis will be on design, composition, conceptualization and ability to communicate ideas. Students also apply basic principles of storytelling to create shor sequences and narrative works.

What does it mean to create meaningful interactive experiences? Students will create interactive installations and environments. Contemporary software and hardware will be covered, with students creating physic projects. A variety of mechanisms (edge detection, color tracking, capacitance sensors, presence sensors, custom switches, etc) will be covered. Class discussions include topics of interactivity, art, media, design, space, and installation.

This course introduces game theory concepts and critical analysis with a focus on European game mechanics.

This course provides the web site Creative Director with a working knowledge of the latest Internet technologies necessary for sophisticated interactivity and business-related functions. Topics include managing a web server, DHTML, XML, Java Script, CGI, FTP, Telnet, and databases. This course will keep pace with the most recent developments in the field.

A continuation of Introduction to Acting. Students work extensively with texts, both classic and contemporary. The course develops practical skills in script analysis, developing a character, study and training methods, working with a director, rehearsal technique, and performance.

(Formerly CAT 334 Character Animation II) This course continues with the latest industry standard software exploring more advanced 3D modeling construction along with a strong emphasis on the theories and principles of motion for animation.

A semester-long internship required of CAT majors in their junior year: Placement will be in professional settings appropriate to the student's area of specialization and where the student will have ample opportunity to actually use their new skills: theatres, art galleries, music production companies, television, video, and radio studios, design firms, service bureaus, publishing houses, community service organizations, small businesses, and corporations. Field placement is required.  

In stimulating workshop atmosphere, students are free to experiment and to combine their work in mixed media: traditional and digital. The goal of the course is to create works that expand and eventually represent the student's creative outlook. There will be frequent individual and group critiques. Experimental, collaborative, and interdisciplinary projects are possible and are encouraged. Highly recommended as a pre-Capstone prep elective for CAT majors. This course may be repeated once for credit.

Continuation Of CAT 299. Course may be repeated for credit.

This is an advanced imaging/print production class, designed to prepare students to conceptualize a Capstone project. Students tackle advanced creative challenges, acquire advanced production skills, and write and gain approval of a Capstone proposal.

(Formerly CAT 321) Students lean the history, musical impact, and technical fundamentals of electronic music with an emphasis on analog synthesizers and their digital counterparts. Through directed listening, reading, and sonic experimentation, students become conversant in the history of electronic music and skillful in the exploration of sonic possibilities.

(Formerly CAT 351) This is a project based class, and can serve as a preparation for the capstone preparation. Students focus on creativity and logistics of an audio production, through process of classcritiques.

This is an advanced animation pre-production class, designed to prepare students to conceptualize and write the proposal for their senior Capstone project. Before students can advance to CAT 420 Capstone, an approved proposal, including the treatment, a script/screenplay, storyboard and production schedule must be completed.

This class will allow seniors working on original creative projects to share ideas with other students who may or may not be working in the same media or genre. Students shall explore the creative process and the shared concept among the arts, as well as the distinct differences. Students shall discuss the progress of the projects over the course of the semester. Related contemporary works shall be discussed and analyzed as well. In addition to creating original projects, students will be expected to clearly articulate their ideas in a final essay.