CS-446           	Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR: John Nordlie
     phone: 777-2891
     email: john.nordlie@und.edu
       url: https://nordlie.cs.und.edu/cs446
    office: 366A Upson II
     Hours: MF 4:00 - 5:15 pm 

TEXT:     Computer Graphics with OpenGL (Hearn & Baker) (Optional)

SOFTWARE: gcc/g++ and Mesa on the Linux Mint (Leonard 110 and 112). You
          may develop programs using other computers, but all labs and 
          homeworks must compile and run properly in Leonard 110 and 112!

HARDWARE: Linux Mint

PURPOSE:  This course surveys computer graphics and includes topics in 
          raster scan graphics (line drawing, polygons, and curve theory),
          geometrical transformations, color theory, 3D graphics (rendering, 
          texture mapping, and ray tracing), and animation. 

          Course assignments revolve around the development of a 4 minute 
          computer animation. Students will work in teams of at least 4, 
          starting with the development of a concept, a storyboard, a series of 
          assignments where each team member uses OPENGL to develop their 
          component of the animation, followed by an integration assignment 
          where the component pieces are merged, culminating in a rendering 
          assignment where the RayGL library is used to produce PovRAY SDL files 
          rendered on a computer.

READING OUTLINE:
Week  	Material       			Chapter 
1	Introduction				1
2     	OpenGL introduction			2
3	Animation				NA
4	Rendering				3, 9
5	Affine Transformations			5                                
6	3D Views 				7
7	Curves & Surfaces			10, 6
8	Hidden surfaces				8.4
9       Surface Rendering
10	Shading	and Color			4.1-4.4, 8, 11
12	Image Processing			NA
13	Image Processing			NA
14	Compression				NA

GENERAL:

1) Exams will only be given at the scheduled times unless prior arrangements 
   have been made.

2) Regular attendance is expected and students are responsible for any/all 
   material covered in class.

3) All assignments are due on the assigned dates (by midnight). No 
   late assignments are accepted without PRIOR written approval. 

4) Grading: Homework,     10+ points each. 
             Project      100 points.

            A=100-90%, B=89-80%, C=79-70%, D=69-60%, F=59-0%. 

5) Plagiarism: You are expected to write your own assignments. In any/all cases 
   of plagiarism the grade for that assignment will be zero for all persons 
   involved. However, I do encourage students to discuss and work together on 
   labs and assignments. But, do not copy solutions, programs, or code fragments 
   from other students. All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of 
   students.

6) If you plan to request disability accommodations in this course, you are 
   required to register with Accessibility for Students Staff, McCannel Hall, Rm 190, 
   777-3425 v/tty, UND.accessibilityforstudents@und.edu. You are also required to 
   provide me with applicable documentation before October 1.

7) If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special 
   arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment
   with me as soon as possible. My office hours are indicated as above.

8) As required by the Graduate School, graduate students are required to do extra 
   work (research report and in-class presentation) and that extra work will account 
   for 10% of your grade.                        
          
9) I reserve the right to remove disruptive students from the course.

*) Disclaimer: This syllabus is intended to suggest the outline of the course; 
   it is not absolute. Changes to the syllabus will be announced in class. 

Copyright © John Nordlie, 2026