Visual Communications Multimedia (VCM)

Introduces basic computer animation as it relates to advertising using industry standard software. Uses software to create 2-D animations for various multi-media functions. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Introduces students to the basics of video production. Includes scriptwriting, storyboards, and planning a video production project. Familiarizes students with video, lighting, and sound equipment, along with legal considerations and copyright laws within the video production industry. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces students to the basics of user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design as it relates to digital interaction. Emphasizes research, ideation, and testing for creating user-centered website/application designs. Explores tools for developing user interface components, wireframes, and prototypes. Includes the use of Adobe XD or similar software applicable for digital interaction. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours); Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Presents techniques for digital audio and video acquisition, equipment, and editing software. Emphasizes planning and creating storyboards and/or timelines for digital video projects from conception to final product. Develops an understanding of digital distribution. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Introduce basic technical skills, recording equipment, and vocabulary for audio production. Develop skills in evaluation and listening to audio recordings. Utilize industry software for audio recording and editing. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces the principles of animation. Uses commercial 3-D animation packages and storyboards to produce 3-D models and animations. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours). Lab: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Introduces basic compositing techniques and motion graphics using Adobe After Effects. Emphasizes an understanding of pre-production for After Effects, including green screen, lighting, key-framing, creating mattes, animating text, syncing to audio, and exporting projects. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces students to principles and elements used in web design. Explores basic web design tools such as mark-up languages, cascading style sheets, and web authoring software. Identifies fundamentals including website layout, navigation, font usage, color schemes, and site structure to create visually pleasing websites. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Familiarizes students with advanced techniques of computer animation. Covers the production of 3-D animations using advanced lighting and rendering tools, inverse kinematics, and dynamic scene elements. Students must receive a letter grade of "C" or better. Lecture: 0.5 credits (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2.5 credits (75 contact hours).

Utilizes HTML and CSS and an advanced web-authoring software for design and development of a website. Utilizes fundamentals of web design, such as site layout and structure, navigation, font usage, and color schemes, to create a visual pleasing and responsive website. Introduces aesthetic, navigational, accessibility, and interactivity issues for web designers. Lecture: 1 credits (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).

Emphasizes the planning and creation of digital video projects through a non-linear editing environment. Deploys audio/video content through various delivery systems. Lecture: 1 credit (15 contact hours). Laboratory: 2 credits (75 contact hours).