Digital VISUAL EFFECTS Concentration

The Digital Visual Effects concentration gives students the background necessary to work with moving images to create short form work. Students will work with the full production process, from ideas and script, to shooting and editing, and post production with compositing, visual effects, and color grading. Student in the Digital Visual Effect concentration would typically be preparing for careers in motion graphics, compositing, shooting and editing digital film for creative productions. Complete the required courses below and select either the Motion Graphics or Effects Pathway.

What Classes Will I Take in Visual Effects?

The Digital Media Core is required by all digital media majors, regardless of concentration. These classes develop skills required of professionals across all areas of digital media. The last class in this series, Portfolio Development (DIGM4930) prepares students to transition from college life to professional life by working on resumes, cover letters, presentation skills, and most importantly: developing a professional digital media portfolio.

ENTC 1510 Student in University

This course is meant to provide guidance to first-year university students as they begin their search for directions to take in self-definition, intellectual growth, career choices, and life skills. (Offered in the Fall and Spring)
(There are substitutions available for students in the University Honors or Fine and Performing Arts Scholars Programs)

MATH 1710 Pre-Calculus (Algebra) or any higher level Math

Prerequisites: Two years of high school algebra. Studies functions and their graphs, including polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions.

DIGM 1400 Principles of Visual Effects and Motion Graphics

Introduction to practical techniques and awareness in video production, motion design and visual effects as related to motion picture and commercial production.

DIGM 1500 Principles of Digital Game Design

Provides students with an awareness of the gaming, interaction and other 3D industries as well as preliminary hands-on experience in the interactive and gaming fields.

DIGM 1800 Principles of Digital Animation

Provides students with an awareness of animation and other 3D industries, as well as preliminary hands-on experience in animation production.

DIGM 1900 Principles of Visualization

An introduction to practical and theoretical knowledge in visualization. Through lectures and studio application of the underlying principles, students will gain an understanding of visualization through 2D, 3D and moving imagery.

DIGM 2660 Topics in Digital Media History

Special topics of interest concerning digital media discipline history. Students learn to apply digital media historical concepts to their specialized disciplines.

DIGM 2990 Mid-Point Review

Students produce a digital media portfolio for presentation and evaluation in preparation for upper level coursework and careers in digital media.

ENTC 3030 Technical Communications

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. A comprehensive study of technical and professional communication in written and oral form. Covers rhetorical principles and their application in a variety of types of business correspondence, reports, and technical/scientific documents. Lecture and classroom exercises.

ARTH 2010 Art History I

A survey of architecture, painting, sculpture, and the minor arts in the Western world from prehistoric times to the end of the Middle Ages.

DIGM 4930 Portfolio Development for Digital Media

Prerequisites: Senior status and within two (2) semesters of completing all requirements for graduation. Permission of instructor is required. This course provides the opportunity to review and refine selected examples of work for the creation of a digital media portfolio. Topics include industry research, job searching techniques, interview preparation, group projects, presentation skills, and portfolio development and refinement. Lecture and lab. (Offered in Fall, and Spring)

Digital Visual Effects Concentration:

DIGM 2720 Raster-Based Imaging

Prerequisites: DIGM 1400, DIGM 1500, DIGM 1800, and DIGM 1900; or permission of instructor. Studies digital imaging and processing as related to contemporary practices in digital media. Areas of study might include methods for manipulating images, and the use of digital formats. Image design, color usage, and computer-based production for both traditional and digital publication.

DIGM 2900 Editing for Digital Media

Prerequisites: DIGM 1400, DIGM 1500, DIGM 1800, and DIGM 1900. Presents digital video basics including basic compositing and an overview of the motion production process. Course topics might include pre-production, storyboarding, audio/video capture, editing of raw content into multi-layered final products, post-production processing of audio/video files for various delivery scenarios, and a review of historical motion picture and motion graphics production compared with recent technology innovations in the production process.

DIGM 4410 Digital Media for Film and Effects

Prerequisites: DIGM 2900, DIGM 2990. Studies the computer as a tool for acquiring, editing and compositing a wide range of source media into high resolution video programs.
Notes: May be repeated for credit up to 12 hours.

Motion Graphics Pathway:

DIGM 3420 2D Motion Graphics

Prerequisites: DIGM 2990. Presents techniques and theory of effects compositing for video. Instruction is designed to bridge the gaps between 3D production rendering and final output, live action, and computer generated imagery. Work is project based and short, demo-reel quality pieces are produced. Though not required, skills in raster-based imaging and advanced 3D are helpful.
May be repeated for credit up to 12 hours.

DIGM 3430 3D Motion Graphics

Prerequisites: DIGM 2990 Explores a variety of techniques geared toward the profession of graphics animator using industry standard software and skills in 3D animated graphic design.
Notes: Repeatable up to 12 credits.

DIGM 3220 Digital Publishing

Prerequisites: DIGM 2720, DIGM 2990, and either DIGM 2710 or DIGM 2900, or permission of instructor. Studies digital design principles as they apply to the creation and preparation of layout design for the media quartet (mobile, tablet, online and print). Topics might also include history, basic processes, materials and methods of the communications industries as well as the generation of digital design elements.
Notes: Repeatable up to 12 credits.

Effects Pathway:

DIGM 3120 3D Lighting & Rendering

Prerequisites: DIGM 2990. Presents a practical and theoretical understanding of lighting, rendering, and cameras in a 3D environment. The course includes how to utilize a number of texturing and mapping techniques and render applications to specific outputs. Areas of emphasis include shader networks, multi-pass rendering, and techniques for creating stylized and realistic images.
Notes: May be repeated for credit one time.

DIGM 3410 Visual Effects Compositing

Prerequisites: DIGM 2900, DIGM 2990. Focuses on techniques and theory of motion graphics and compositing for video. Instruction is designed to bridge the gaps between 3D production rendering and final output, live action, and computer generated imagery. Work is project based and short, demo-reel quality pieces are produced. Though not required, skills in vector-based imaging and advanced 3D are helpful.
Notes: Repeatable up to 12 credits.

DIGM 3450 Procedural Modeling & Effects Simulation

Prerequisites: DIGM 2990 or permission of instructor. Explores procedural systems for modeling three-dimensional digital content, effects animation, and physics-based simulation of natural phenomena. Lecture and lab.
Notes: Repeatable up to 12 credits.

Visual Effects Guided Electives (20 hours)

Excluding: CSCI 1100

Jensen
Rendering & Lighting, various visual effects studios in the Los Angeles area

“I graduated from ETSU in 2015 with a B.S. in Digital Media and interned with Ingenuity Engine in LA doing lighting and rendering in the summer before my senior year. After graduating I went back to work with Ingenuity. Now I’m full time freelancing in LA. I’d say my favorite job was working on the Xbox One S reveal for E3.”