Bachelor's Degree In 3d Design

SOFTWARE UTILIZED

Software utilized in 3D Modeling & Design program Prerequisites:

An Associate Degree in Graphic Design or Digital Media Design from Platt College San Diego or equivalent from another college.
OR
An Associate Degree (any major) and a strong understanding of Adobe Photoshop.

Each Core course is 5-days-a-week, 5-weeks in length, Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm, 100 hours, hands-on, and completed one-at-a-time.

IA104 Introduction to 3D Modeling

(4.50 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Introduction to 3D (IA104) introduces students to 3D and 3D applications, techniques, and theory with an emphasis on Autodesk's Maya®. Students will learn and practice the fundamental methods of modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering. Polygon Modeling, UV Texture Mapping, and Arnold Rendering Engine.

IV104 Introduction to Digital Video Production

(4.50 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Introduction to Digital Video Production (IV104) offers the fundamentals of Digital Video Production from pre-production (planning, storyboarding) to production (shooting, lighting, sound, green screen) to post production (editing, compositing, titles, audio). Professional film and video analyses, genre division, and film fundamental elements will be studied. Video compression, with an emphasis on web delivery, will be introduced.

IW104 Fundamentals of Web

(4.50 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Fundamentals of Web (IW104) will offer a strong foundation in web design, Graphical User Interface (GUI) and web page structure. Topics will include HTML, CSS, FTP, project management, usability and interactive design strategies. Beginning concepts of programming (PHP and JavaScript), behaviors and CMS (Content Management Systems) will also be introduced.

3D310A Hard Surface Modeling – Prop Modeling

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Hard Surface Modeling – Prop Modeling (3D310A) discusses, in detail, traditional subdivision modeling techniques in Autodesk Maya. Special emphasis is placed on clean topology and advanced UV layout techniques. Finished models will be custom textured using Substance Painter.

3D320A Advanced Materials

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Advanced Materials (3D320A) focuses on materials, textures, rendering and lighting. Physically based rendering (PBR) workflow is the core foundation of this course. Students will learn how to apply materials, normal maps and textures directly to their models as well as how to render directly inside the Unreal Game Engine, and turntable animation.

3D330A Anatomy for Character Modelers

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Anatomy for Character Modelers (3D330A) focuses around human anatomy. Students learn surface anatomy and bony landmarks to help create believable human forms. The goal of this class is to have a clear understanding of the underlying muscle anatomy that could translate to any type of organic creature. Base meshes are created in Autodesk Maya with Pixologic ZBrush used for the detailing.

3D410A Advanced Organic Modeling

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Advanced Organic Modeling (3D410A) focuses on creating a high-resolution organic creature model from scratch. Students use Pixologic ZBrush to create the character. Next, students will learn how to apply their texturing skills to creating realistic organic tissue. Projects will be rendered in Autodesk Maya and Marmoset. Edge-flow, Displacement maps, Normal Maps and advanced ZBrush techniques are key concepts of this course.

3D420A Game Character

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
Game Character (3D420A) class instructs students on the entire character workflow from beginning to end. Students will create a single original character from the ground up and carry it through the entire pipeline, including modeling, high-poly sculpting, texturing and shading, and rigging for animation. Finally, students will learn how to package and export their finished character into a game engine.

3D430A Modeling Thesis

(5.00 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
In the Modeling Thesis (3D430A) class is the students' will design and model an original 3D model based on their desired specialty within the industry. This may include characters or props for video games; characters or props for film production, product design, architectural visualization, 3D printed toy design, etc. Heavy emphasis will be placed on self-reliance and problem solving. Lectures will be custom tailored to the needs of each student.

PP200 Portfolio Project

(4.50 semester credit hours/100 clock hours)
As an outcome of the Portfolio Project (PP200) students will create a digital portfolio (demo reel and web page) to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have acquired in their specialized program. Emphasis will be placed on presentation skills and strategies suitable for gaining employment.

All General Education Courses are completed within 15-weeks at the end of the Bachelor of Science Degree: Media Arts (emphasis in 3D Modeling & Design). Each General Education course is 5-weeks in length, Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm, and 30 hours. The 15-weeks is broken up into three, 5-week blocks.

ART202 Fundamentals of Illustration

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
Fundamentals of Illustration (ART202) will explore the techniques and key historical developments of illustration. Students learn the process of concept building and how to visibly depict ideas in illustrations. Working in a variety of media such as markers, colored pencils, and watercolor, students demonstrate knowledge of design, color and rendering skills. Each project will explore the imaginative, expressive and meaningful influence and impact of illustration.

ENG202 Digital Media Writing

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
Digital Media Writing (ENG202) will provide students with a fundamental understanding of Digital Media writing, including: web page writing, copywriting, script writing, script formats, critique writing, storyboarding, and more. The focus will be on developing clear, coherent, tight, and original writing skills that include a strong understanding of grammar and style.

ENG204A Marketing and Business Communication

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
Business & Marketing Communications (ENG204A) provides an insight into a variety of professional communication styles, both written and oral, with a goal to introduce a sound foundation for the refined culture of business. The emphasis will be placed on grammar, composition, effect, thought, expression as well as presentation skills. In addition, students will learn to perform fundamental market research, identify and develop a strong brand, build an engaged community, and communicate authentically with stakeholders. The course will be driven by the development of a Marketing Plan, created by student marketing teams, which will incorporate the use of online technology and social media—including the application of blogs and social networking accounts. The course culminates in a presentation of a marketing package, with a unique marketing message aimed at a customer with a specific demographic and psychographic profile.

ENS201 Environmental Science II

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
This course focuses on the contribution of ecological theory to the understanding of current issues. Readings and discussions of current issues in environmental science, emphasizing linkages between earth, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere are a major focus. Topics include: climate change; water resources; alternative energy and fuels; population growth; biodiversity; genetically-engineered organisms; deforestation/restoration; food production; trade-offs; problem-solving.

FIL201 Film and Society

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
Film and Society (FIL201) explores the modern venue of film for conveying a story, message, and moral value. The course will analyze theme, story, plots, symbolism, direction, editing, and camera work. Analytical skills, comparison and mainly historical-critical evaluation will be applied in the discussion of documentary film, animation, art films and both independent and commercial films.

HUM203 History of Graphic Design

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
History of Graphic Design (HUM203) will explore how graphic design responded to and influenced international, social, political, and technological developments dating from the antiquity. Emphasis will be on print and photography from 1840 to 2000 and the relationship of these media to other visual arts and design media.

LIT201 Topics and Figures in Literature

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
Topics and Figures in Literature (LIT201) course is a critical study of literature and creative writing. As such, it will take a thematic approach at guiding students through the realm of prose, poetry, and drama. Furthermore, it will contribute to an appreciation of the intrinsic beauty of a written text. Through analyzing examples of literature, attending live readings and the theater, and through writing original, creative and critical pieces, students will acquire an understanding of the different genres in literature and the principles of character, conflict, point of view, setting, symbolism, figurative language, tone, and theme.

MAT204A Mathematics & Computation

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
The Mathematics & Computation course introduces students to the mathematics most used in web, 3D and digital computing. The course explores mathematical logic, numbers and set theory, binary arithmetic, Boolean algebra, algebraic structures, linear algebra and vector spaces, graph theory, combinatorics and probability, algorithms, and model and automata theory. Programming with Python is taught as a supplement, introducing students to variables and data types, tuples, lists, arrays, matrices, classes, functions, branching, loops, recursion, and other concepts central to computing.

MUS201 Enjoyment of Music

(2.00 semester credit hours/30 clock hours)
The Enjoyment of Music (MUS201) will provide students with an introduction to the music world and an understanding of the fundamentals, principles, categories and vocabulary of music. Students will also learn how to comprehend the distinctions of particular eras of Western music. Through the examination of music samples spanning medieval time to present, and through creating music together, students will explore an approach to enhance their personal enjoyment of music.