Catalog 73 - National University

Course Descriptionsprepress production methods and project management.Emphasizes practical development techniquesto produce digital visual images efficiently. Softwareinstruction is in Adobe Illustrator.MUL 335: Digital Design for Print(Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and COM 100/COM 103)This course covers the stages of publishing in printmedia from the inception of a project through thedistribution of a finished product. It provides studentswith the opportunity to put their theoreticaland classroom knowledge to practical use in thedesign, creation and printing of a project. Topicsinclude: typography, layout theory, pre-press productionand project management. Students learnthrough intensive practice layout techniques for digitaland print delivery. Software instruction is inQuarkXPress and InDesign.MUL 336: 2-D Graphic Imaging(Prerequisites: MUL 200, MUL 205, MUL245, MUL255,MUL 265, MUL 275)An intermediate course in computer-aided photographicmanipulation and the merging of vector andraster graphic files used in web authoring and printdesign. Students produce images in a variety of digitalformats, applying aesthetic and compositiondesign principles. Covers technological limitationsof Internet graphics. Software instruction is inAdobe Photoshop and Illustrator.MUL 345: Applied Web Design(Prerequisites: MUL 200 level requirements or equivalents)This course provides hands-on application of principlesand techniques of web design for digital media.Provides an in-depth study of effective web pagedesign and efficient site architecture. Covers projectsin content development, navigation, and usability.Software instruction is in DreamWeaver.MUL 355: Game Scripting(Prerequisites: MUL 200 level requirements or equivalents)Provides hands-on in-depth application of web programming,game scripting, and web presentation.Students apply aesthetic and usability criteria to produceweb presentations, “movies” and other animatedcomponents for placement into student projects.Covers applied technological constraints of web presentationand animation, game design, game scripting,appropriate uses of motion in a web page, anddigital asset management for optimal delivery ofanimated content. Software instruction is inMacromedia Flash.MUL 365: Applied Digital Audio and Video(Prerequisite: MUL 265 or equivalent)In this course, students develop hands-on experiencein advanced nonlinear editing. Students assessthe aesthetic impact of editing decisions and demonstrateproficiency with timing, continuity, musiccuing, transitions, and the use of text elements. Theyalso become familiar with the pivotal role of sound,including the art of layering sound, voice and musicelements to foster a rich multimedia experience.Software instruction is in Adobe Premiere, SonicFoundry Sound Forge and Acid Pro.MUL 370: Digital Interactivity(Prerequisites: MUL 200, MUL 205, MUL 245, MUL255, MUL 265, MUL 275)Provides a hands-on introduction to the basics ofWeb interactivity and its potential for e-business,entertainment and education. Students apply aestheticand usability criteria to visual, textual andaural components integrated into interactive presentations,games and instructional media. Covers technologicalconstraints of Web delivery, interactivedesign and composition and media integration techniques.Software instruction is in MacromediaDirector.MUL 375: Applied 3-D Modeling and Rendering(Prerequisites: MUL 200 level requirements or equivalents)Provides a hands-on application of 3-D graphics instill and animated formats. Students produce basic3D elements and apply aesthetic and usability criteriato their projects in digital, animated sequence,video, and print media applications. Students comparetechnological constraints of 3D applications,appropriate uses of still and motion 3D elements toenhance message delivery, and the management ofdigital assets for optimal delivery of media. Softwareinstruction is in 3-D Studio Max.MUL 381: Video Game Art(Prerequisites: all general core courses)A hands-on course to learn video game art and itsdesign for entertainment, military, and education;the course presents the current software tools usedto build and deliver video game art. Students learnthe fundamentals of how video game art is createdfrom its inception to incorporation into a videogame; they learn the role of artists in the video gamedevelopment team; and also the current tools usedto create game art.MUL 385: Video Game Animation(Prerequisites: all general core courses)Provides a hands-on introduction to the basics of 3-D and character animation for video game development.Students produce basic 3D environments andanimation, as well as animated characters for use invideo games and simulations. They apply aestheticand usability criteria specific to video games. Thecourse covers technological constraints of 3D andcharacter animation; appropriate uses of animated3D characters and elements to enhance game messagedelivery and interactivity; and the managementof digital assets for optimal delivery of media.Software instruction is in 3-D Studio Max.MUL 401: Advanced Video Game Design(Prerequisites: all general core courses)Students learn advanced video game design techniques.They become familiar with advanced techniquesfor game production management, gameasset management, and advanced prototyping tools.The advanced design documents and prototypedeveloped in this class will be used to further produceand/or further modify a video game in the follow-oncourse, MUL 411 (Video Game ProductionProject).MUL 410: Authoring Corporate Training I(Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and COM 100)Provides an introduction to instructional design forcorporate training through e-learning and multimedia.Students evaluate digital training packagesaccording to instructional design theory and learnmultimedia authoring skills to apply to instructionalmodules they produce. Covers learning theories,authoring tools, multimedia development andusability criteria applied to instructional media.Software instruction is in Macromedia Authorware.MUL 411: Video Game Production Project(Prerequisites: all general core courses; MUL 325; MUL318, MUL401)Students apply advanced theory and practice to createa professional video game design and product.They develop the game concept they evolved inprior classes into a commercial quality set of gameproduction documents together with a high qualityprototype or game engine modification suitable for acommercial pitch to a client.MUL 420: Multimedia Arts Portfolio Project(Prerequisites: all general core courses; completed concentrationcourses)In this two-month capstone course, students assemblea portfolio of their best work from previousMultimedia Arts courses and edit and/or improvethose pieces. Suitable to show a prospective employer,the portfolio will include digital presentations—graphics, websites and animations—and printedsamples, as well as multimedia documentation, suchas creative briefs, proposals, flow charts, executivesummaries and descriptive critiques. Grading is S orU only.MUL 430: Advanced 2-D Imaging(Prerequisite: all general core courses)An advanced course in computer-aided graphicmanipulations as used in Web authoring. Studentsproduce images in Web-standard formats, applyingaesthetic and composition design principles. Coversstrategies to overcome technological limitations ofintent graphics; software add-ons and extensions toaid graphic design; and digital design project managementtheory and practice to produce graphicsefficiently. Software instruction is in AdobePhotoshop and Illustrator.MUL 431: Advanced Page Layout/Production(Prerequisites: all general core courses; MUL 336; MUL430)A hands-on course on advanced techniques of webgraphics production. The course presents the currentsoftware tools and techniques for the creation andproduction of web graphics intended to create identity,atmosphere, and navigation on websites.Students will be exposed to advanced techniques ofweb graphics, including working with layers, slicing,hotspots, rollovers, using graphics as framingdevices on websites and the use of graphics for content.Students will use current industry software tomaster the skills of print production, includingPhotoshop, ImageReady and Dreamweaver.MUL 432: Print / Web Production(Prerequisites: all general core courses; MUL 336; MUL430; MUL 431)This is a hands-on course in print production. Thecourse presents the current software tools and techniquesfor print production of a wide variety of projectsand materials. Students will be exposed to theconcepts and techniques of print production, includingdigital pre-press, color management, and thesteps required to prepare printed pieces for finaloutput. Students will use current industry softwareto master the skills of print production, includinglearning the Adobe Acrobat PDF workflow for digitalpre-press and the latest digital production tools.MUL 440: Multimedia Design for the Web(Prerequisite: all general core courses)Intermediate Web page authoring and site design.Students compile graphics, animation and text toproduce sites that demonstrate e-business, entertainmentand distance education uses of the Internet.Students apply aesthetic and usability criteria towebsites developed according to industry practice.Software instruction is in MacromediaDreamweaver. Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)curriculum included.MUL 445: Management of Web Projects(Prerequisites: MUL 200 level requirements or equivalents)Advanced course in managing the development ofWeb-based products. Students use project managementtools as they produce websites for e-business,entertainment and distance education. Covers productlife cycle planning, risk analysis and client-orientedrapid development. Software instruction is inMS Project, Excel and Word.MUL 450: Advanced Web Presentation(Prerequisites: all general core courses; MUL 440)Provides hands-on training in advanced Web pre-CourseDescriptions407