Syllabus for CMSC 420

Winter Term 2010 11:10-12:20 MWF Mr. Gregg

Course Description and Objectives

CMSC 420 is an introductory course in computer graphics. In this course you will learn the foundations of computer graphics and get some practical experience in graphics programming using the OpenGL graphics library.

How this Course is Structured

We will meet three times a week for lectures. I will assign both written problem sets and programming projects. I anticipate having problem sets due roughly once every week. I will also assign somewhere in the neighborhood of five or six programming problems.

We will have two midterm exams and a final exam. Midterm exams are tentatively scheduled for Friday, January 29 and Friday, February 26. The final will be on Wednesday, March 17 at 1:30 PM.

Grading Policy

Assignments and exams have the following weights:

Homework - 35% Midterm exams - 20% each Final exam - 25%

Late policy for assignments is that assignments may be turned in one class meeting after the initial due date for a 10% penalty. I will waive the 10% penalty if you have a valid excuse such as illness; however, you must contact me before the initial due date to ask for an extension.

Textbook

Our text is Computer Graphics using OpenGL, Third Edition by F. S. Hill, Jr. and Stephen M. Kelley.

Office Hours

My office hours this term are 9-11 MWF and 1-3 WTh. You are welcome to stop in at other times as well, but please call first. My office is Briggs 413. My extension is 6736 and my email address is greggj@lawrence.edu.

Course Web Site

The course web site is at http://www.lawrence.edu/fast/greggj/cmsc420.html. The web site will feature lecture notes and other supplementary materials.

Schedule of Topics and Exams

WeekTopicChapters
1Drawing in two dimensions2,3
1,2Basic geometric algorithms4
2Transformations5
2,3Modeling shapes6
4Viewing in three dimensions7
4First midterm-
5Shading and hidden surface removal8
5Raster display techniques9
6Curves and surfaces10
7,8Ray tracing11
8Second midterm-
9OpenGL extensions-
10Additional geometric algorithms-