Program Overview

The VIZ program consists of 32 hours of course work covering the concepts, principles, and techniques of computer graphics, internet media, animation, and virtual reality. In addition to the course work the student will be required to produce a thesis (6 hours). A minor or certificate of specialization can be obtained by graduate students in other programs by taking the 15 hours of core courses in the visualization program.

The college is committed to educate and prepare graduate students to play a significant role in visualization profession. This program recognizes the need for a comprehensive understanding the theory and practicum of visualization. To satisfy these needs, the graduate program presents a balanced alignment of courses, as well as opportunities to participate in research and professional internships.

There are three major areas of faculty interest - virtual environments, industrial processes, and exploratory geometries.

Virtual environments:

Virtual environments (images and animations) based on digital technologies are created to communicate design ideas in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and engineering. The utilization of virtual simulations (i.e. virtual reality) for design visualization is another developing extension of this technology. The gaming industry is creating more sophisticated and compelling real-time virtual environments for the avatars (virtual players) to explore. The use of virtual environments is increasing in the entertainment industry.  The TV and film industries are creating more movie sets as digital environments. These are even called “digital back lots”.  The creation of virtual environments for scientific simulation is also increasingly common. Environmental scientists are taking their raw data and numbers and transforming them into visual form in hopes of getting a better insight into these very complex and dense data sets. Then there is the need for compelling and interactive environments for training simulations of soldiers, police, firefighters, emergency responders, pilots, and automobile drivers. This growing trend in virtual environmental design has created the need for designers with a depth of understanding of digital media and artistry to become active participants in the creation of virtual worlds.

Industrial processes:

The industrial techniques that are utilized to process architectural materials and to fashion architectural products have become more sophisticated.  The protocols that are used to run CNC equipment increasingly resemble animation sequences, which grow naturally from design processes employed by architects.  The result of this change in production logic is that future practice will work more closely with manufacturing concerns.  Architects trained to understand and communicate with industrial machines hold the key to the technology that determines the shape and substance of the parts and products of contemporary architecture.  This trend in industrial processes has created the need for advanced level study of animation techniques that can be used to fabricate building elements and devices.

Exploratory geometries:

The control of geometries associated with the formal spatial organization of a building has always been a constituent of architectural theory.  Initially geometry was seen as the mythical dimension of architecture and certain spatial arrangements became associated with religious intentions—the architectural agenda included structural-spatial arrangements that intended specific spiritual content.  With the Enlightenment, geometry was instrumentalized—it was seen as a device—its mystical dimension was lost.  Contemporary architecture pushes the use of geometry to a new level as increasingly complex forms can be employed to solve architectural problems.  Digital fabrication techniques allow for the most complex forms to be realized without significant economic penalty.  The concomitant problems of structural and envelope systems that use sophisticated geometries have yet to be investigated.  The profession is in need of architects who can handle the numerical, digitally-based computer programs that allow for these geometries to become part of the design and construction process.

Who is better educated and prepared to create these virtual environments, industrial processes and exploratory geometries than the environmental design disciplines (architects, landscape architects, interior designs, and civil engineers)?  But, the creation of these virtual environments, industrial processes and exploratory geometries requires a significantly different set of methods and tools than the typical environmental designer has been educated to use. The breadth and depth of computing knowledge and skills exceeds the basic training of environmental design professionals. These “virtual” environmental designers need to understand the production and postproduction process of these different industries where and how they will apply their knowledge and skills.