| Course: | Computer Graphics CS 354 || BME 345 Unique Numbers: 51070 || 14900 |
| Instructor: |
Sarah Abraham GDC 7.716 theshark@cs.utexas.edu Office Hours: TTh 3:00pm-5:00pm |
| TA: | Chen Song song@cs.utexas.edu Office Hours: W 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| Lectures: | MWF 3:00-4:00pm, GDC 5.302 |
| Class Webpage: | www.cs.utexas.edu/users/theshark/courses/cs354 |
| Recommended Textbook: | Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach with WebGL, 7/E, by Edward Angel and Dave Shreiner, ISBN-10: 0133574849 ISBN-13: 9780133574845. OpenGL Programming Guide, 8th Edition (PDF). |
| Prerequisites: | The following courses with a grade of at least C-: Computer Science 429 or 429H; Mathematics 408D, 408M, or 427L; and Mathematics 340L, 341, or Statistics and Data Sciences 329C (or Statistics and Scientific Computation 329C). |
Course Objectives
This is an introductory course on the major topics in the areas of image synthesis, interactive techniques, geometric modeling, and computer-based animation. The material covered includes
Upon course completion, you should have mastered both the mathematical principles of these techniques and their implementation. Implementation of these techniques will be demonstrated through a series of programming assignments in C++ and Typescript, in many cases using OpenGL. Your mastery of the mathematical fundamentals will be exercised through written homework and exams.
Grading and Assessment
Your performance in this class will be evaluated through homework assignments, in-class quizzes, programming assignments, and a final project. The weights of each of these components is as follows:Homework assignments will be due at the beginning of lecture on the due date. Programming assignments will be submitted electronically by 11:59 on the due date. Turn in time will be the time recorded by Canvas, or in the case of projects, the last commit timestamp on your branch, code-freeze. You may not email your assignments to the teaching staff.
Project submissions will each include a code listing and a written project description, which will include a description of the software architecture of the system and a user's guide. Programs will be graded on correctness, readability, style, and documentation.
You have a "late account" of 3 days for the term which you can spend any way you choose for your programming assigments. For example, you can turn in three programs one day late each, or one program 3 days late, without penalty. Once you have exhausted your late account, no late assignments will be accepted.
Grading Policy
Attendance Policy
Late Work Policy
This class allows for three slip days per student for submitting late material. For example, you can turn in three projects one day late each, or one project 3 days late, without penalty. A project is late if it is not turned in by the specified due date and time, with any fraction of a late day counted as a full late day.
Once you have exhausted your late account, you, and your team if it’s a group assignment, will lose 33% of the maximum assignment grade for each additional late day. Thus, assignments will be worth 0 points after 3 additional late days.
Group Work Policy
You are free to discuss the course material and all aspects of the group assignments with your teammates/partner, but teams are expected to make clear their division of labor for each aspect of the project. Students are expected to do individual work on their portion of the project.
During class itself, you may work with other students to understand concepts and work through coding examples, but you may not share code from the projects themselves. Share only specific snippets or high-level concepts when discussing.
Independent Inquiry Flag
This course carries the Independent Inquiry flag. Independent Inquiry courses are designed to engage you in the process of inquiry over the course of a semester, providing you with the opportunity for independent investigation of a question, problem, or project related to your major. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from the independent investigation and presentation of your own work.
Lectures Online
This class is using the Lectures Online recording system. This system records the audio and video material presented in class for you to review after class. Links for the recordings will appear in the Lectures Online tab on the Canvas page for this class. You will find this tab along the left side navigation in Canvas. To review a recording, simply click on the Lectures Online navigation tab and follow the instructions presented to you on the page. You can learn more about how to use the Lectures Online system at http://sites.la.utexas.edu/lecturesonline/. Please note that your professor decides when and for how long recordings will be available for you to review. You can find additional information about the lecture capture system at: http://sites.la.utexas.edu/lecturesonline/.
Critical Dates (see UT Calendar for details)
http://registrar.utexas.edu/calendars
UT Policies
The University of Texas Honor Code
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.
Academic Misconduct Policy
You are free to discuss the course material with your classmates and
are encouraged to form study groups for the exams. However,
collaboration on homework or programming assignments is not
permitted unless explicitly stated by the instructor. Helping a
friend understand the intent of a homework or programming assignment
specification is permitted. Students who work together too closely
(e.g. design their solution together) should be aware that this is a
form of cheating called COLLUSION and is subject to academic
penalties. Penalties for academic misconduct include but are not
limited to a failing grade in this course.
The homework and programs must be the work of students turning them in. You are responsible for familiarity with the University policy (see Dean of Students' policies on academic integrity) on academic integrity, which we will follow strictly.
Acts that exceed the bounds defined by the approved collaboration practices will be considered cheating. Such acts include:
Studying for tests together is permitted and encouraged. Please come talk to us if you are unsure about how to work together with your friend in a legal, helpful manner. Remember, it is always ok to "work together" with your professor or TA!
Your Responsibilities in This Class
Programming Infrastructure
All CS students who meet the prerequisites for CS354 are eligible for a CS departmental lab account. We will be doing projects using WebGL and Typescript to make projects portable across platforms.
Software needed for your projects is installed on the public Linux machines in the GDC labs. If you have trouble running the software, please report it to either the instructor or the TA. You can feel free to download and install the support software we are using on your own machines and work there, but you will need to turn in programs that work on the public Linux machines. Instructions for using software for each programming project on the lab machines will be given out with the assignments.
You will turn in assignments using Canvas according to the guidelines provided by the TA.
COVID Caveats:
To help keep everyone at UT and in our community safe, it is critical that students (and faculty and staff) report COVID-19 symptoms and testing, regardless of test results, to the HealthPoint Occupational Health Program (OHP) as soon as possible. Please see this link to understand what needs to be reported. In addition, to help understand what to do if a fellow student in the class (or the instructor or TA) tests positive for COVID, see this University Health Services link.
Undergraduate Writing Center
The Undergraduate Writing Center, located in the FAC 211, phone 471-6222, http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/uwc/ offers individualized assistance to students who want to improve their writing skills. There is no charge, and students may come in on a drop-in or appointment basis.
Services for Students with Disabilities
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471- 4641 TTY.
Religious Holidays
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.
University Electronic Mail Notification Policy
All students should become familiar with the University’s official e-mail student notification policy. The complete text of this policy for updating your e-mail address are available at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html. In this course e-mail will be used as a means of communication with students. You will be responsible for checking your e-mail regularly for class work and announcements.
Campus Safety
Regarding emergency evacuation: 512-471-5767, http://www.utexas.edu/safety. Evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside. Further information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: http://www.utexas.edu/emergency. For Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): 512-232-5050.