Computer Graphics
These certificates provide a firm grounding in basic elements through advanced techniques. In these fast-moving fields, we offer the opportunity to use, learn, and understand the various types of specialized equipment that exist in today's electronic design and animation studios.
- Computer-Aided Design and Visualization
- Computer Animation and Video
- Electronic Imaging and Illustration
- Electronic Publishing
- Interactive Media

The certificate program in computer graphics is designed to provide graphic and fine artists with the skills necessary to utilize the computer as a graphics tool, enabling them to incorporate computer graphics technology into their work.
The Latest Technology
The curriculum includes terminology, software instruction, conceptual development, and hands-on experience. Students work on state-of-theart equipment, using the latest software. The certificate provides a firm grounding in the basic elements of this fast-moving field, and an opportunity to use, learn, and understand the various types of specialized equipment that exist in today's electronic design offices. Through collaboration with leading hardware and software vendors involved with computer graphics, the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies offers its students the latest in computer graphics education.
Pratt's commitment to professional education and commercial applicability is stressed in course planning, faculty selection, and the latest equipment.
A Strong Foundation
Pratt's approach consists of a foundation designed to teach computer literacy, the basic terminology and operating concepts of these machines, and finally, a personalized course of study tailored to the specific educational goals and career needs of different types of students. This method combines theoretical and practical knowledge that is essential to effective education in this field. Students may take these courses individually or as part of the certificate program.
CG Requirements
In order to receive Pratt's Certification Computer Graphics, students must complete foundation courses, core courses, and electives within your chosen career track: interactive media, electronic imaging and illustration, electronic publishing, computer animation and video, and computer-aided design and visualization.
Students will receive a lettergrade in each course and must maintain a "C" average. Eighty percent attendance must be maintained in order to pass, as well. Students with particular application requirements outside of these career tracks can select courses from different tracks as long as the foundation and certificate requirements are satisfied.
Certain courses may be waived with permission of the coordinator of the program. Eighty percent attendance is also required in these courses of study.
Students must have an understanding of the basics of design before pursuing their area of concentration.
Please note: Computer Competency (Mac/PC) will be waived outright, if you have PC or Mac competency.
Prerequisites
The acceptance of prerequisites is subject to the approval of the Associate Director, Center for Continuing and Professional Studies, or the Associate Director, Academic Computing. Also, if you are competent in any other software application, you may waive that course, but you do need to take another course in its place in order to complete the certificate program requirements.
Fees
Application Fee
$100, non-refundable
Computer Facilities Fees
Students registering for thirty-hour computer courses are required to pay a non-refundable facilities fee of $25 per course.
Lab Time
Two hours of lab time is available per week, per course. Students also receive an additional six hours of floating lab time for the semester.
Daytime seminars do not include lab time.
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN AND VISUALIZATION
This program is designed for architects, engineers, interior designers, and industrial designers. Expert CAD curriculum-from fundamental to complete customization-combined with special topics in 3D design, visualization, and scripting are included. Students lacking a drafting or technical drawing background are required to take PMFA 428 Perspective Drawing and Rendering.
Required Foundation Course:
PMCG 101 Computer Comp. (PC)
Core Courses: Choose six.
PMA 401 ACAD Professional Level I
PMA 402 ACAD Professional Level II
PMA 403 ACAD Professional Level III
PMA 404 3D Model and Rendering ACAD
PMA 405 AutoCAD Architecture: Essentials
PMA 406 Revit Architecture I
PMA 407 Autodesk Inventor I
PMA 392 AutoLISP w/Visual LispPMCG 223 Autodesk®3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering I
PMCG 240 Autodesk®3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering II
PMCG 252 Arch. Design w/Autodesk VIZ
PMCG 253 Arch. Visualization w/Autodesk®3ds Max®PMCG 254 Autodesk®3ds Max® Animation I
PMCG 255 Arch. Visualization ACAD and Autodesk®3ds Max®
PMCG 256 Arch. Model II w/ Autodesk®3ds Max®
PMCG 257 Arch. Rendering and Lighting in Autodesk® 3ds Max®
Special Topics: Four seven-hour workshops count as one course.
(Please see catalog for description.)
PMA 500, PMA 501, PMA 502, PMA 503, PMA 504, PMA 505, PMA 506, PMA 507, PMA 508, PMA 510, PMA 512, PMA 520, PMA 521, PMA 522, PMA 524, PMA 525, PMA 526, PMA 533, PMA 534, PMA 535, PMA 538, PMA 539, PMA 540, PMA 541, PMA 542, PMA 543, PMA 544, PMA 545, PMA 546, PMA 547, PMAM 224
COMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIDEO

This program is for students who wish to pursue careers in film, entertainment, special effects, game design, and broadcast design. Program focus is on the creation and design of time-based media. Choose an area of specialization- 2D and 3D animation, digital video, and broadcast design. Study the choreography and design of complex animated sequences.
Students lacking a background in illustration or design are required to take PMFA 429 Basic Drawing, PMFA 476 Basic Drawing for Animation, PMGD 430 Elements of Design or PMGD 429 Color Theory, and PMFA 452 Intro to Illustration.
Courses
Required Foundation Courses: Choose five.
PMCG 100 Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
PMCG 101 Computer Comp. (PC)
PMCG 210 3D Computer Graphic Theory
PMCG 250 Continuity Storyboards
PMCG 251 Design 3D Computer Anim.
PMFA 479 Traditional Animation I
Core Courses: Choose five.
PMCG 202 Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 223 Autodesk®3ds Max® Model and Rend I
PMCG 230 Maya I Fundamentals
PMCG 240 Autodesk®3ds Max® Model and Rend II
PMCG 241 Maya II: Modeling, Animation and Effects
PMCG 254 Autodesk®3ds Max® Animation I
PMCG 330 Autodesk®3ds Max® Animation II
PMCG 331 Autodesk®3ds Max® Adv Char Design
PMCG 340 Maya Adv Character Design
PMCG 422 Imaging I
PMCG 435 Adobe Premiere Pro
PMCG 436 Adobe After Effects
PMFA 480 Traditional Animation II
Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 213 form·Z Fundamentals: Model and Render I
PMCG 243 Autodesk®3ds Max® Game Level and Character Design
PMCG 270 Graphics Pro I w/C++
PMCG 332 Autodesk®3ds Max® Adv. Char. Anim.
PMCG 333 Special Effects w/Autodesk®3dsMax®
PMCG 334 Intro. to Discreet cleaner XL
PMCG 337 Autodesk®3ds Max® Adv Projects
PMCG 341 Special Effects w/Maya
PMCG 360 Computer Animation and Visual Effects:XSI
PMCG 361 Z Brush Sculpture for Animators
PMCG 425 Imaging II
PMCG 434 Non-Linear Video Editing w/ Final Cut Pro
PMCG 438 Flash I
PMCG 462 Adv Tech in Final Cut Pro
PMCG 463 Compositing w/ Shake
PMFA 482 Characterization
PMFA 483 Intro to Stop-Motion Animation
Special Topics: (Four seven-hour workshops count as one course.)
PMAM 224, PMAM 237, PMAM 238, PMAM 239, PMAM 245, PMAM 246, PMAM 247, PMAM 248, PMAM 249
ELECTRONIC IMAGING AND ILLUSTRATION
This program is designed for the art director, designer, commercial and fine artist, with the curriculum emphasis on the image itself. Whether creating a fine art piece or a commercial illustration, computer graphics technology offers a wide range of image-making tools, combining the conceptual tools of drawing and painting with photography and typography, and adding new digitally based forms of image composition. Create images for publication design, fine arts, presentation graphics, interactive systems, and broadcast and
web design.
Requirements
Students lacking a background in illustration are required to take PMGD 430 Elements of Design
or PMGD 429 Color Theory, PMFA 429 Basic Drawing and PMFA 452 Intro to Illustration.
PMPH 481 Intro to Photography is recommended.
Required Foundation Courses: Choose three.
PMCG 100 Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
PMCG 101 Computer Comp. (PC) or PMCG 180 Computer Comp. (Mac)
PMCG 422 Imaging I
Core Courses: Choose six.
PMCG 202 Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 303 Adobe InDesign
PMCG 304 Desktop Pub/Quark XPress I
PMCG 420 Graphic Illustration II
PMCG 425 Imaging II
PMCG 426 Photoshop Retouching
PMCG 427 Electronic Pre-Press
Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 213 3D Modeling w/form·Z
PMCG 223 Autodesk®3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering I
PMCG 322 HTML and Web Design I
PMCG 352 Adv Adobe InDesign w/Photoshop and Illustrator
PMCG 421 Desktop Pub I/QuarkXPress II
PMCG 428 Photoshop Master Class
PMCG 434 Non-LinearVideo Editing and Video Effects w/Final Cut Pro
PMCG 435 Adobe Premiere Pro
PMCG 437 Web Design and Graphics w/Adobe Web Programs
PMCG 438 Flash I
PMCG 442 PhotoshopforPhotographers
PMCG 458 Photoshop Montage and Collage
PMCG 462 Adv Tech in Final Cut Pro
PMCG 477 Illustrator for Fashion Design
PMCG 510 Create a Professional Design Portfolio
ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING
This program explores new tools of desktop design, including imaging, illustration, digital typography, and page design. Gain knowledge of typesetting, page layout, color separation, comp production, with projects completed through the printed piece.
Requirements
Students lacking a background in graphic design are required to take PMGD 463 Basic Layout and Design or PMGD 468 Design 2000: Principles of
Graphic Design and Print Production.
Required Foundation Courses: Choose three.
PMCG 100 Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
PMCG 101 Computer Comp. (PC).or PMCG 180 Computer Comp. (Mac)
PMCG 304 Desktop Pub/QuarkXPress I
PMCG 475 Intro to Graphic Design
Core Courses: Choose six.
PMCG 202 Graphic Illustration IStephen Blauwiss
PMCG 224 Imaging for the Web
PMCG 303 Adobe InDesign
PMCG 305 Type and Design w/QuarkXPress
PMCG 322 HTML and Web Design
PMCG 420 Graphic Illustration II
PMCG 421 Desktop Pub/QuarkXPress II
PMCG 422 Imaging I
PMCG 426 Photoshop Retouching
Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 324 Dreamweaver and Fireworks: I
PMCG 352 Adv Adobe InDesign w/ Photoshop and Illustrator
PMCG 425 Imaging II
PMCG 427 Electronic Pre-Press Production
PMCG 428 Photoshop Master Class
PMCG 433 Adv Design and Production Tech
PMCG 437 Web Design and Graphics w/Adobe Web Programs
PMCG 442 Photoshop for Photographers
PMCG 458 Photoshop Montage and Collage
PMCG 464 Motion I
PMCG 477 Illustrator for Fashion Design
PMCG 510 Create a Professional Design Portfolio
INTERACTIVE MEDIA
This program deals with the construction and delivery of information interactively. Learn about the tools, design issues, and burgeoning technology of various forms of interactive media, such as the World Wide Web and CD-ROM. Integrate text, sound, animation, video, and graphic elements to create contentrich interactive pieces. This certificate program is ideal for people from a variety of backgrounds. The nature of interactive media makes it a challenging and interesting creative environment for people with backgrounds in theater, writing, education, film and video, and publishing, as well as those in the visual arts.
Requirements
Students lacking a design background are required to take PMGD 430 Elements of Design
or PMGD 429 Color Theory and PMFA
429 Basic Drawing.
Required Foundation Courses: Choose 3.
PMCG 100 Overview of DigitalCreation and Digital Media
PMCG 101 Computer Comp. (PC) or
PMCG 180 Computer Comp. (Mac)
PMCG 422 Imaging I
Core Courses: Choose 6.
PMCG 202 Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 322 HTML and Web Design I
PMCG 323 Dreamweaver I
PMCG 324 Dreamweaver and Fireworks: I
PMCG 425 Imaging II
PMCG 437 Web Design and Graphics w/Adobe Web Programs
PMCG 438 Flash I
PMCG 450 Dreamweaver II: ColdFusion w/ Dreamweaver
Electives: Choose at least 2.
PMCG 223 Autodesk®3ds® Model and Rend I
PMCG 254 Autodesk®3ds® Animation I
PMCG 270 Graphics Program I w/ C++
PMCG 444 Flash II: Action Scripting
PMCG 445 Flash II: Character Animation
PMCG 446 Motion Graphics w/Flash and Video
PMCG 451 Flash Remoting Using ColdFusion
PMCG 452 Dreamweaver II: Extensions and Cascading Style Sheets
PMCG 455 Flash III: Adv Action Scripting
PMCG 457 Cartooning w/Flash
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