Program Overview

Introduction to the Computer Science + Animation Program

The Computer Science + Animation (CS+ANI) Bachelor of Science degree program is a multidisciplinary program that prepares students to span the boundary between computing and its application in animation. This program provides students with a career path to technical artistic roles in the animation and game development fields.

Program Description

The CS+ANI curriculum combines a solid computer science core customized to fit the specific needs of this discipline, with a foundation in 3D animation designed by animation and game art faculty. There is a heavier emphasis on programming than on art due to the technical demands of this field. CS+ANI students receive valuable interdisciplinary collaborative group project experiences with teams of students majoring in 3D animation, storyboarding and character design, game design, game art, and game programming.

Concentrations

The program offers two concentrations:

• Animation Technical Director Concentration
• Game Art Technical Director Concentration

Animation Technical Director Concentration

An animation technical director (referred to as a TD in the industry) in the motion picture and television industries serves as a bridge between animators/artists and programmers. TDs manage and develop the production and rendering pipeline, develop features and add-ons to software, develop custom tools, and work with programmers on larger software projects.

Game Art Technical Director Concentration

An animation technical director in the game industry is sometimes referred to as a technical artist. They serve as a bridge between the artists, designers, and programmers on game projects. TDs manage and develop the art pipeline, develop features, custom tools, and add-ons to software for the artists, and work with programmers on larger software projects.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum for both concentrations includes a combination of computer science and animation courses. Some of the key courses include:

• ANI 105 - Motion Graphics Foundations
• ANI 230 - 3D Design and Modeling
• ANI 231 - 3D Animation
• CSC 241 - Introduction to Computer Science I
• CSC 242 - Introduction to Computer Science II
• CSC 300 - Data Structures I
• CSC 301 - Data Structures II
• GAM 325 - Applied 3D Geometry
• GAM 370 - Rendering and Graphics Programming

Senior Capstone

Students are required to complete a senior capstone project, which can be one of the following:

• GAM 394 - Game Development Capstone I and GAM 395 - Game Development Capstone II
• ANI 394 - Animation Project I and ANI 395 - Animation Project II
• CSC 394 - Software Projects
• Any 300-level ANI, CSC, or GAM course

Liberal Studies Requirements

Students must also complete a set of liberal studies requirements, including:

• LSP 110 - Discover Chicago or LSP 111 - Explore Chicago
• LSP 112 - Focal Point Seminar
• WRD 103 - Composition and Rhetoric I
• WRD 104 - Composition and Rhetoric II
• LSP 200 - Seminar on Race, Power, and Resistance
• Experiential Learning
• Arts & Literature
• Historical Inquiry
• Philosophical Inquiry
• Religious Dimensions
• Scientific Inquiry - lab
• Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry

Degree Requirements

To graduate, students must:

• Complete a minimum of 192 credit hours (generally 48 courses)
• Earn a grade of C- or higher in WRD 103, WRD 104, and all Major and Minor courses
• Earn a grade of D or higher in all other Liberal Studies and Open Elective courses
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

Academic Honors

Students who earn a cumulative DePaul University GPA of:

• Between 3.500 and 3.699 will graduate cum laude
• Between 3.700 and 3.849 will graduate magna cum laude
• Of at least 3.850 will graduate summa cum laude

Faculty and Resources

The program is supported by a faculty of experienced professionals in the fields of computer science and animation. Students also have access to a number of resources, including game labs, the DePaul Unreal Research Group, and the DePaul Originals game development studio. Additionally, students can participate in the LA Quarter program, which allows them to study and intern in Los Angeles for three months.