• Learn practical and theoretical aspects using a wide range of platforms for computer animation and visual effects from both technical and design perspectives.
• Study a range of disciplines from computer science to digital design and how they interact with a range of visualisation technologies created for platforms from television and film production, to video games design and web-based graphics.
• Gain expertise in computing for the creative industries, through attaining both technical and creative skills through hands-on experience creating digital animation and games with 3D graphics software, compositing and modelling packages.
• Explore CGI as you produce digital content for entertainment, education and promotional purposes using industry standard tools.
• Benefit from a course that gives you the knowledge and skills for a wide range of careers-including 3D modeller, technical animator, compositor and digital visualisation for emerging display technology platforms.
• Challenge yourself by integrating your new-found knowledge into a body of original work, enhancing your transferable skills of communication, problem solving and teamwork.
• Benefit from studying in the latest hi-tech software environment; all our laboratories and specialist teaching spaces are specifically for use by undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Department.

Units

• Content Creation And Design (CIS019-1) Compulsory
• Fundamentals Of Creative Technologies (CIS085-1) Compulsory
• Introduction To Digital Video And Visual Effects (CIS086-1) Compulsory
• Programming For Interactive Media (CIS021-1) Compulsory
• Animation And Graphic Technologies (CIS100-2) Compulsory
• Compositing For Visual Effects (CIS095-2) Compulsory
• Digital Creative Industries Project (CIS096-2) Compulsory
• Digital Design Development (CIS050-2) Compulsory
• Advanced Animation And Visualisation (CIS029-3) Compulsory
• Research Methodologies And Emerging Technologies (CIS013-3) Compulsory
• Social And Professional Project Management (CIS015-3) Compulsory
• Undergraduate Project (CIS017-3) Compulsory

You are assessed in a variety of ways. The majority of units are assessed through coursework, group and individual projects, portfolios, essays, presentations or exams. Presentations are usually given and assessed in the context of a group seminar. You will also produce software artefacts in the area of your specialism. Constant feedback and advice from a supervisory or unit team will be provided to support you in your work.

At level 4 you are assessed on your understanding of the fundamental concepts of computing and digital technologies and their application. You are required to comprehend the basic range of intellectual concepts which form the foundations of the subject and application area, and will be assessed on your ability to articulate such concepts in a coherent manner, in a variety of project-based briefs. For example, you will learn about digital design and content creation for animation as well as introductory programming, and interactive development.

At level 5 you are assessed on your ability to apply the basic concepts of the disciplines introduced in level 4 through further study and development on industry-standard computer animation and visual effects tools. You should also be able to demonstrate the inter-relationships between technical development and design. For example, you might be asked to make a prototype of a new application or service based on a client briefing, and carry this process out according to a user-centered design process.

At level 6 you will be required to demonstrate independent thinking and initiative. This may be in the form of analysing and criticising current practice and theory in the fields of computer animation and visual effects. In all cases, you will be expected to show an awareness of the major theories and practices of the discipline. You will progress from well-defined briefs to more open-ended and challenging assessments, which culminate in your major project the honours project where you will individually develop a project with supervision from an appointed mentor, usually a lecturer from the course team.

Employability is understood widely as encompassing knowledge, skills and a professional attitude which your tutors expect you to display in all your units. All University of Bedfordshire courses aim to help you to be prepared for the world of work. The Careers Service is there to support you throughout the three years of your study. Our curriculum gives you skills that are valuable for a career within Interactive Digital Technologies in particular but is also relevant for a much wider range of applications such as information analysis or decision support systems.

The final year unit `Social Professional Project Management in particular requires you to work in a team so as to apply a current project management methodology that embraces all of these knowledge areas in an integrated way while going through the stages of planning, execution and project control; you will work as part of a team, take responsibility and make autonomous decisions that impact on the project team performance.

Furthermore, the course has a strong vocational and employment related focus; this is exemplified in collaborations with institutions and professionals from the related creative industries. We aim to have assignments each year that are linked to a `live client whos representatives set a brief and give feedback on your `pitches or presentations, just as is common in the industry. We also have talks from guests such as game developers, studio managers and graduates who are now working in various fields. Along with your colleagues on the Computer Game Development course you will be able to participate in events like Game Jams or Hackathons and after some success in this in the games area we will develop this in the mobile and Internet areas also.