Course Descriptions - Undergraduate Calendar 2012-2013

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Note

The following courses are restricted to students in the Digital Arts Communication Specialization.

DAC 200s


DAC 201 LEC 0.50Course ID: 011680
Designing Digital Images and Hypertext
This course draws on multiple theoretical perspectives to introduce students to the fundamental principles of multi-modal communication design in its social context. Students will analyze, design, and produce images and hypertext for use in a variety of digital platforms, including e-learning and business applications.
[Note: For Arts and Business Co-op students: The materials produced in this course will become part of a student's ongoing Digital Portfolio.]
Prereq: Level at least 2A Arts & Business Co-op students.
Antireq: GBDA 101
(Cross-listed with ENGL 203)

DAC 202 LEC 0.50Course ID: 011681
Designing Digital Video
This course introduces students to the principles of designing time-based multi-modal communication in a social context. Students will analyse, design, and produce video for use in a variety of digital platforms, including e-learning and business applications.
[Note: For Arts and Business Co-op students: DAC 201 recommended. The materials produced in this course will become part of a student's ongoing Digital Portfolio.]
Prereq: Level at least 2A Arts & Business Co-op students.
Antireq: GBDA 201, 202.
(Cross-listed with ENGL 204)

DAC 300s


DAC 300 LEC 0.50Course ID: 011682
Special Topics in Digital Design
In this course students will learn advanced digital design theory. They will participate in workshops with professional designers, develop specialized digital materials and contribute signature work to their Digital Portfolio.
Prereq: Arts & Business, Co-op
(Cross-listed with ENGL 303, SPCOM 300)

DAC 301 LEC 0.50Course ID: 013106
Designing with Digital Sound
In this course, students will be introduced to sound analysis and production. Students will learn to record, edit, and implement sound in a variety of linear and non-linear media forms, with emphasis on film and video games.
Prereq: Arts & Business, Co-op
(Cross-listed with ENGL 304)
Also offered Online

DAC 302 LEC 0.50Course ID: 014124
Machinima as Digital Storytelling
This course teaches students the principles and practices of telling stories using Machinima: namely, the use of 3D computer graphic engines to design short movies. Students will learn to develop and present story ideas, create storyboards, write short scripts, and then render their narratives using a variety of digital techniques and tools.
Prereq: Arts and Business Co-op students only.
Antireq: DAC 400/DAC 300/ENGL 403 taken in Spring 2011.

DAC 303 LEC 0.50Course ID: 009898
Designing Learning Activities with Interactive Multimedia
A project-based course in which teams of students design and prototype educational multimedia applications for on-campus courses. Students will develop an understanding of the following as they relate to educational multimedia: its potential and limitations, steps in the development process, components of an effective design, and the learning process relevant to mediated learning.
Prereq: Arts & Business, Co-op
(Cross-listed with ARTS 303)

DAC 304 LEC 0.50Course ID: 012452
Designing Computer Simulations and Games for Learning
This is a project-based course in which interdisciplinary student teams will design and prototype a computer simulation or game for learning using a 3-dimensional game engine. Projects will address real world educational challenges proposed by clients including University of Waterloo faculty or staff members.
Prereq: Level at least 3A Arts and Business Co-op students only.
(Cross-listed with ARTS 304)

DAC 305 LEC 0.50Course ID: 013325
Design for Interactive Games
This course introduces fundamental design skills for 2-dimensional interactive media, with special attention on video games. Students will learn to theorize, design, prototype, and test digital interactive creations as a form of entertainment and communication.
Prereq: Level at least 3A Arts and Business Co-op students only.

DAC 307 LEC 0.50Course ID: 014125
Digital Display Systems
This course focuses on the creative, technical, and artistic challenges inherent to creating visual content (film, photos, graphics) for the increasingly ubiquitous out-of-home digital displays. The size, configuration, placement, and functions of these public digital displays require new artistic and technical techniques to fully exploit their capabilities. In the course, students will explore the design affordances of several types of public digital display as well as produce dynamic, interactive content for them.
Prereq: Arts & Business, Co-op

DAC 308 LEC 0.50Course ID: 014126
Cinematic Art and Practice
This course explores film studies from a production perspective. Through the art of imitation, students will explore some of the major artistic, technical, and communicative advances in film history and turn this knowledge toward (re-)creating and modifying key cinematic techniques in their own productions. Students will learn an explicit and replicable theoretical vocabulary for analysing film technique, as well as engage in practice by creating short films of their own, illustrating, extending, and modifying those same techniques.
Prereq: Arts & Business, Co-op

DAC 329 LEC 0.50Course ID: 012415
Digital Presentations
In this course, students will be introduced to design and production of digital business presentations. They will develop specialized digital materials and contribute work to their Digital Portfolio.
Prereq: Level at least 3A Arts and Business Co-op students only.
(Cross-listed with SPCOM 329)

DAC 400s


DAC 403 LEC 0.50Course ID: 012584
Special Topics in Speech Communication and Technology
In this course students will learn advanced digital design theory as it applies to speech communication. They will develop specialized digital materials and contribute work to their Digital Portfolio.
Prereq: Level at least 3A Arts and Business Co-op students only.