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.

Career Tracks

• Interactive Media
• Electronic Imaging and Illustration
• Electronic Publishing
• Computer Animation and Video
• Computer-Aided Design and Visualization

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 30-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.

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Career Tracks

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

This program deals with the construction and delivery of interactive information.

Learn about the tools, design issues, and burgeoning technology of various forms of interactive media, such as the World Wide Web, DVD’s and mobile devices. Integrate text, sound, animation, video, and graphic elements to create content-rich 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 preferences for design, theater, writing, education, film and video, and publishing, as well as those in the visual arts. Students lacking a design background are required to take PMGD 430 Elements of Design or PMGD 429 Color Theory and PMFA 429 Basic Drawing. Students without computer experience must also take PMCG 180 Computer Comp (Mac).

Required Foundation Courses:

Choose four.

PMCG 100 Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
or
PMCG 312     Social Media Marketing
PMCG 180     Computer Comp (Mac)
PMCG 202     Adobe Illustrator: Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 422     Photoshop: Imaging I
PMCG 324     Dreamweaver/Fireworks: I
PMCG 308     Design for the Web

Core Courses: Choose six.

PMCG 322    HTML and Web Design I
PMCG 325    Intro to XHTML and CSS
PMCG 425    Photoshop: Imaging II
PMCG 438    Flash I
PMCG 444    Flash II: Action Scripting
PMCG 450    Dreamweaver II: ColdFusion w/Dreamweaver
PMCG 467    Intro to PHP Programming for the web
PMCG 468    Dreamweaver II: Web Standards – Content, Presentation, and Behaviors
PMCG 473    Interactive Web Design with JQuery and Spry
PMCG 500    Digital Photography I

Electives: Choose at least two.

PMCG 317    Great Web Design w/ CSS
PMCG 445    Flash II: Character Anim
PMCG 446    Motion Graphics w/Flash and Video
PMCG 461    Character Anim w/Flash
PMCG 466    Creating Mobile Content in Flash
PMCG 471    Theming WordPress

 

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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. 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 four.

PMCG 100     Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
or
PMCG 312    Social Media Marketing
PMCG 180    Computer Comp (Mac)
PMCG 202    Adobe Illustrator: Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 422    Photoshop: Imaging I

Core Courses: Choose six.
PMCG 303    Adobe InDesign
PMCG 304    Desktop Pub/Quark XPress I
PMCG 324    Dreamweaver/Fireworks: I
PMCG 420    Adobe Illustrator:  Graphic Illustration II
PMCG 425    Photoshop: Imaging II
PMCG 426    Photoshop Retouching
PMCG 477    Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design
PMCG 478    Adobe Illustrator for Artists and Illustrators
PMCG 500    Digital Photography I

Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 213    3D Modeling with form•Z
PMCG 223    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Model and Rend I
PMCG 325    Intro to XHTML and CSS
PMCG 352    Adv Adobe InDesign with Photoshop and Illustrator
PMCG 434    Non-Linear Video Editing and Video Effects with Final Cut Pro
PMCG 436    Adobe After Effects I
PMCG 438    Flash I
PMCG 440    Adobe After Effects II
PMCG 442    Photoshop for Photographers
PMCG 458    Photoshop Montage and Collage
PMCG 461    Character Anim w/Flash
PMCG 462    Adv Tech in Final Cut Pro
PMCG 480    Making Masterpieces w/ Corel Painter
PMCG 481    Photoshop: Channels, Masks and Layers: Essent. and Adv Tech
PMCG 510    Create a Professional Design Portfolio

 

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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.
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 or PMCG 180 Computer Comp (Mac).

Required Foundation Courses:
Choose five.
PMCG    100   
Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
or
PMCG 312    Social Media Marketing
PMCG 304    Desktop Pub/QuarkXPress I
PMCG 202    Adobe Illustrator: Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 303    Adobe InDesign
PMCG 422    Photoshop: Imaging I
PMCG 475    Intro to Graphic Design

Core Courses: Choose six.
PMCG 324    Dreamweaver/Fireworks: I
PMCG 325    Intro to XHTML and CSS
PMCG 420    Adobe Illustrator: Graphic Illustration II
PMCG 425    Photoshop: Imaging II
PMCG 426    Photoshop Retouching
PMCG 442    Photoshop for Photographers
PMCG 478    Adobe Illustrator CS5 for Artists and Illustrators
PMCG 479    Graphic Design II
PMCG 500    Digital Photography I

Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 352    Advanced Adobe InDesign with Photoshop and Illustrator
PMCG 458    Photoshop Montage and Collage
PMCG 468    Dreamweaver II: Web Standards – Content, Presentation, and Behaviors
PMCG 477    Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design
PMCG 480    Making Masterpieces w/ Corel Painter
PMCG 481    Photoshop: Channels, Masks and Layers: Essent. and Adv Tech
PMCG 510    Create a Professional Design Portfolio

 

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COMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIDEO

 

This program is for those 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.

Required Foundation Courses:

Choose four.
PMCG 100    Overview of Digital Creation and Digital Media
or
PMCG 312    Social Media Marketing
PMCG 210    3D Comp. Graphic Theory
PMCG 250    Continuity Storyboards
PMCG 251    Design 3D Computer Animation
PMFA 479     Traditional Animation I

Core Courses: Choose six.
PMCG 202    Adobe Illustrator: Graphic Illustration I
PMCG 223    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering I
PMCG 230    Autodesk® Maya® I Fundamentals
PMCG 240    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering II
PMCG 241    Autodesk® Maya® II: Modeling, Animation and Effects
PMCG 243    Autodesk® 3ds Max®Game Level and Character Design
PMCG 254    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Animation I
PMCG 330    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Animation II
PMCG 331    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Advanced Character Design
PMCG 340    Autodesk® Maya® Adv Character Design
PMCG 422    Photoshop: Imaging I
PMCG 436    Adobe After Effects I
PMFA 480    Traditional Animation II

Electives: Choose at least two.
PMCG 213    form•Z Fundamentals: Modeling and Rendering I
PMCG 258    Autodesk® Mudbox®
PMCG 332    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Adv Character Animation

PMCG 333    Special Effects with Autodesk® 3ds Max®
PMCG 337    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Adv Projects
PMCG 341    Special Effects with Autodesk® Maya®
PMCG 425    Photoshop: Imaging II
PMCG 434    Non-Linear Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
PMCG 438    Flash I
PMCG 440    Adobe After Effects II
PMCG 461    Character Animation with Flash
PMCG 462    Adv Tech in Final Cut Pro
PMCG 463    Compositing with Shake
PMCG 601    Special Projects Independent Study

Special Topics:
(Four seven-hour workshops count as one course.)
PMAM 224, PMAM 237, PMAM 245, PMAM 246,  PMAM 249, PMAM 251, PMAM 252, PMAM 261, PMAM 262

 

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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.

Core Courses: Choose seven.
PMA 401      AutoCAD Prof Level I
PMA 402      AutoCAD Prof Level II
PMA 404      3D Model and Rendering AutoCAD
PMA 405      AutoCAD Architecture: Essentials
PMA 406      Autodesk® Revit® Architecture
PMA 407      Autodesk Inventor I
PMA 408      Set Design for Architects and Designers using AutoCAD
PMA 533      Autodesk® Revit® Architecture: Core Concepts for Interiors
PMA 392      AutoLISP w/Visual Lisp
PMCG 223    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering I
PMCG 240    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Modeling and Rendering II
PMCG 252    Arch Design w/Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design
PMCG 254    Autodesk® 3ds Max® Animation I
PMCG 255B  Architectural Visualization using AutoCAD, Autodesk® Revit®  and Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design
PMCG 256    Architectural Modeling II with Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design
PMCG 257    Architectural Rendering and Lighting in Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design

Special Topics: (Four seven-hour workshops count as one course.)
PMA 501, PMA 502, PMA 503,
PMA 504, PMA 505, PMA 506,
PMA 510, PMA 520, PMA 525,
PMA 526, PMA 533, PMA 534,
PMA 538, PMA 539, PMA 545,
PMA 546, PMA 547, PMA 548,
PMA 549, PMA 550, PMA 551,
PMA 552, PMAM 224

 

 

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