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Eight Gen Ed 3-credit courses (8 weeks)

APGD 101: Art and Design Concepts and Principles
Course Description: In Art and Design Concepts and Principles, students explore key art and design concepts, including color, light, and composition, and their application in film and digital games. Through collaborative discussions, they analyze historical and contemporary works, examining elements like line, shape, space, and style. Assessments focus on demonstrating understanding of art and design theories, analyzing artworks and film sequences for technical, aesthetic, and historical significance, and evaluating their impact within creative industries

APGD 103: Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes
Course Description: In Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes, students explore production pipelines and processes in animation, VFX, and games, learning key concepts, terms, and frameworks. Through active online learning, they study stages from inception to distribution, comparing workflows across industries. The course culminates with students creating a career information video that investigates technical skills, job opportunities, and valued attributes of a chosen role within the film and games industries.

APGD 105: Communicate! Mode, Purpose, Context
Course Description: In Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context, students develop professional, ethical, and culturally aware communication skills for the creative industries. Emphasizing theoretical frameworks, the course explores oral and written modes, context, and purpose. Through active online learning, students study communication models, paralanguage, active listening, teamwork, and respectful feedback. Assessments focus on applying these frameworks to real-world professional scenarios, enhancing their ability to interact effectively in diverse creative environments.

APGD 107: Identifying and Solving Problems 
Course Description: In Identifying and Solving Problems, students explore creative reasoning, problem-solving frameworks, and critical thinking to address challenges in artistic and technical work. They analyze artistic works, resolve creative, technical, and ethical issues, and practice presenting rational arguments while recognizing unconscious bias. Through collaborative online learning and peer presentations, students reflect on personal growth. The course culminates in a critical review of a film or game, showcasing their analytical and problem-solving skills.

APGD 109: Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography
Course Description: In Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography, students explore the theoretical foundations of lighting and cinematography in visual storytelling. They study camera movement, framing, and lighting techniques, applying these concepts in real-world and digital environments. Through individual and group activities, online discussions, and case studies, students analyze cinematic techniques in films and games while solving complex lighting and cinematography challenges to enhance storytelling.  

APGD 111: Concepts & Principles of Story and Visual Narrative
Course Description: Concepts & Principles of Story & Visual Narrative explores how stories are created and conveyed through images and motion. Students examine story origins, structure, and visual storytelling principles, including arcs, the hero’s journey, Aristotle’s three-act structure, tropes, symbolism, and metaphors. Through discussions and group work, they analyze and compare narratives. The course culminates in a review of a film or game, evaluating its use of storytelling techniques to engage audiences.

APGD 113: Stepping into Industry
Course Description: In Stepping Into Industry, students develop adaptability, self-awareness, and readiness for the dynamic film and games industries. Using Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental (PESTLE) analysis, they explore trends, predict opportunities, and reflect on personal strengths and values to shape career decisions. Through case studies and collaborative online activities, students build job-readiness skills. The course culminates in crafting a professional resume and cover letter for an actual job posting, positioning students for success in their chosen industry.

APGD 115: Marketing Yourself and Your Business
Course Description: In Marketing Yourself & Your Business, students explore marketing concepts and personal branding to stand out in the global film and games industries. They learn to understand target markets, client needs, integrated marketing, and cross-cultural dynamics. Through case studies, discussions, and research in an online studio, students develop strategies for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. Assessments focus on applying marketing concepts to personal and professional contexts, preparing students for industry success.

Six Concept Art 6-credit courses (16 weeks) 

APCA  201: Developing Visual Concepts
Course Description: In Developing Visual Concepts, students will acquire skills and theoretical understanding for visual concept development related to props, characters, and creatures. They will explore line, value, color theory, human anatomy, clothing, perspective, proportions, and material physics. Additionally, students will study various artistic styles to refine their own and create concept pieces for their personal portfolios.

APCA 203: Rendering Techniques and Character Drawing 
Course Description: Light and color are foundational elements in the creation of appealing concept art and illustrations. They enable images to evoke different moods as well as allow the artist to define the properties of different materials and their interactions within diverse  environments. In Rendering Techniques and Character Drawing, students will explore lighting theory and examine different lighting and surfacing parameters. Prerequisites: APCA 201 Developing Visual Concepts

APCA 205: Layout, Level Design and Composition 
Course Description: In Layout, Level Design, and Composition, students will explore theories and practices of artistic composition and filmic framing, focusing on conventions used by film and game developers. They will create intricate environment concepts and compose artwork of exteriors and interiors using perspective principles. Emphasis will be on lighting effects, mood, and asset integration to create vibrant worlds. Students will also prototype game level designs, considering aesthetic appeal and technical factors. Prerequisites: APCA 203 Rendering Techniques and Character Drawing

APCA 207: Characters, Creatures and Enhanced Workflows
Course Description: Highly skilled character artists have both versatility of aesthetic skills and a deep understanding of how to incorporate distinctive personalities and backstory into their designs. In this course, students will study the theories and principles underpinning the creation of archetypal characters used in basic storytelling.  In Characters, Creatures, & Enhanced Workflows, students will explore how the attributes and characteristics of heroes, villains, and creatures are used to inform the creation of compelling visual and conceptual designs. Prerequisites: APCA 205 Layout, Level Design, and Composition

APCA 209: 3D Concept Art Workflows
Course Description: As powerful design software, game engines, and video production technologies become more and more accessible, artists are increasingly required to have knowledge of, and be able to use, innovative toolkits that can streamline their workflows and increase their creative outputs. In 3D Concept Art Workflows, students will explore new and emerging digital tools, investigate leading 3D modeling packages, and learn how to evaluate their usefulness in a 2D Concept Art pipeline. Prerequisites: APCA 207 Characters, Creatures, & Enhanced Workflows 

APCA 211: Concept Art Capstone 
Course Description: Over the course of their studies, students will have accumulated a broad and coherent body of theoretical, technical, creative and cognitive disciplinary knowledge and skills relating to their major. In this capstone, students will need to critically reflect on, and review, this evolving catalogue of knowledge and skills in order to plan for, edit, and curate a body of work into a cohesive portfolio that showcases their professional, artistic, and technical abilities. Prerequisites: APCA 209 3D Concept Art Workflows