REPORT TO: The University Computing and Communication Resources Committee, Jack Carroll, Head of the Department of Computer Science, Leonard Ferrari, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tom Head, Director of Media Services FROM: Ron Kriz DATE: February 20, 1996 SUBJECT: Recommendations on Computing Across the Curriculum: Undergraduate Minor in Computer Graphics Almost every professor would agree that computing has penetrated the curriculum across campus in a variety of disciplines. But is there a common denominator computing activity that could be identified and supported much as was done with the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. The purpose of this report is to identify such activities and recommend how the University might support activities common to the curriculum across campus. The Instructional Development Initiative and specifically Faculty Development Institute program have already defined and implemented computing activities common to faculty computing needs where basic skills such as word processing, email, networking, introduction of multimedia tools, Graphics and Imaging tools, etc. are all important skills needed by faculty. To a large degree faculty associated with the Cyber School project have begun to define how to use the web in curriculum development. Obviously the Cyber School project has defined the web as common tool that has benefited the curriculum across the campus. Information about this activitiy is accessible on the web through the Information Systems link off of the VT home page. In my efforts to facilitate activities associated with the Advanced Communications and Information Technology Center (ACITC) I have been asked to focus on Computer Visualization and how this relates to other activities in the ACITC such as Human Computer Interactions, Parallel Computing, Multimedia Learning Resources, High Technology Classrooms, and Computer Networking. Common to these activities I have discovered that an undergraduate minor in Computer Graphics is a program that should be considered. Attached below is a summary of existing classes in computer graphics that could begin to be used to define an undergraduate minor. In discussions with Professors Jack Carroll, Leonard Ferrari, Mike Vorster, Robert Schubert, Don Mullins, and others I also discovered that from their discussions with alumni in industry, their is a need for such a minor. Such a minor would also compliment the new University Initiative to create a Virtual Corporation Program where one of the initial topics, Hospital Information Systems: Medical Imaging would benefit from such a minor. Attached below is an example of similar program implemented at Georgia Institute of Technology as part of their Graphics Visualization and Usability Center. There is even more evidence that computer graphics is a topic in demand by recent articles published in Business Week (Sept , 95 & Dec, 95) and Graduating Engineer (Jan, 96) also attached. With these documents as a target, I welcome any comments, kriz@wave.esm.vt.edu . Undergraduate Courses in Computer Graphics 1. Art2124 Computer Applications for Graphic Design 2. Art3224 Advanced Computer Applications for Graphic Design 3. CS3724 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction 4. CS4204 Computer Graphics 5. CS4604 Multimedia, Hypertext and Information Access 6. Geog233314 Maps and Mapping 7. Psyc4114 Cognitive Psychology 8. EdVT 3475-3476 Graphic Communication 9. ME4634 Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing 10. ESM 4714 Scientific Visual Analysis and Multimedia 11. UH3004 High Performance Scientific Computing Graduate Courses 1. CS5814 Digital Picture Processing 2. EE5534 Pattern Recognition 3. EE5554 Theory and Design of Computer Vision Systems 4. ISE6604 Human Factors in Visual Display Systems 5. ME5604 Computer-Aided Design I 6. ME6604 Computer-Aided Design II 7. Psyc5344 Cognitive Psychology