Spring 2022 Course Offerings

Topics in Programming: SQL Programming

CSCI-A590 with Professor Whitmer

Eight-week course designed to provide foundations for using modern programming tools for applications and web development.

• Meets Tech Requirement

Introduction to Computer Science

CSCI-A591  with Professor Shan

A first course in computer science for those intending to take advanced computer science courses. Introduction to programming and to algorithm design and analysis. Using the Scheme programming language, the course covers several programming paradigms. Lecture and laboratory.

Data Structures

CSCI-A594  with Professor Staff

Systematic study of data structures encountered in computing problems; structure and use of storage media; methods of representing structured data; and techniques for operating on data structures. Lecture and laboratory.

Introduction to Programming I

CSCI-A597  with Professor Wennstrom

Fundamental programming constructs, including loops, arrays, classes, and files. General problem-solving techniques. Emphasis on modular programming, user-interface design, and developing good programming style. Not intended for computer science majors.

Applied Algorithms

CSCI-B505  with Professor Staff

The course studies the design, implementation, and analysis of algorithms and data structures as applied to real world problems. The topics include divide-and-conquer, optimization, and randomized algorithms applied to problems such as sorting, searching, and graph analysis. The course teaches trees, hash tables, heaps, and graphs.

Advanced Database Concepts

CSCI-B561  with Professor Van Gucht

Database models and systems: especially relational and object-oriented; relational database design theory; structures for efficient data access; query languages and processing; database applications development; views. Transaction management: concurrency and recovery.

Topics in Data Science: Data Science On-Ramp

DSCI-D590 with Professor Aousheh

• Meets Tech Requirement

Topics in Data Science: Introduction to Python Programming

DSCI-D590 with Professor Malbasa

• Meets Tech Requirement

Data Science in Practice

DSCI-D592 with Professor Aousheh

• Meets Tech Requirement

Special Topics in Folklore/Ethnomusicology: Folklore Archives in the Digital Age

FOLK-F804 with Professor Hillers

Environmental Remote Sensing

GEOG-G535 with Professor Khodaee

Principles of remote sensing of the earth and its atmosphere, emphasizing satellite data in visible, infrared, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Emphasis on practical applications and digital image analysis. A satellite data analysis project is required.

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG-G538 with Professor Baeten

Overview of the principles and practices of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The course will deal with issues of spatial data models, database design, introductory and intermediate GIS operations, and case studies of real-world GIS. Laboratory exercises will provide significant hands-on experience. Lecture and laboratory.

Advanced Geographic Information Systems

GEOG-G539 with Professor Kim

Intermediate and advanced topics in geographic information science and spatial analysis techniques using GIS software. This advanced course is for graduates who seek a greater understanding of this rapidly developing field and to learn how to construct, manage and analyze their own GIS data and models.

User Services and Tools

ILS-Z501 with Professor Backs & Nay

This course introduces students to the basic information sources and services among different types of libraries and information centers, including academic, public, special and school media.

• Analytical Track

Database Design

ILS-Z511 with Professor Choi

Concerned with access to bibliographic information from a user-centered point of view. Considers various database models such as flat file, relational, and hypertest in terms of text, sound, numeric, image and geographic data. The student will design and implement databases using a variety of commercial DRMS systems.

Human-Computer Interaction

ILS-Z516 with Professor Soe

Examines the human factors associated with information technology and seeks to provide students with knowledge of the variables likely to influence the perceived usability, and hence the acceptability, of any information technology. In so doing it will enable students to progress further towards specialist's work in the important field of human-computer interaction.

• Analytical Track

Information Analytics

ILS-Z519 with Professor Soe

Theoretical and practical exploration of issues surrounding contemporary information systems. A specific focus will be on evaluating information systems from the user perspective. This approach will cut across disciplinary frameworks: behavioral, cognitive, and social sciences. It will also cover multiple research methods: online surveys, sense-making, critical incident, and network analysis.

• Analytical Track

Info Architecture for the Web

ILS-Z532 with Professor Ghazinejad

Focuses on Web site development. Students study information architecture as an approach for site organization and design, and learn about project management for complex web development tasks. In lab sessions, students work with advanced markup languages and scripting and develop sites, typically for real clients.

Seminar on Literature for Youth

ILS-Z672 with Professor Walsh

In this seminar we will study the many ways in which readers and fans engage with comic books and comic book culture. Modes of reader engagement include correspondence and communications through print fan mail columns and social media; cosplay; fanzine production; participation in fan clubs, comics-related contests, and comics conventions; blogs and podcasts; and more. We will survey a few different research methods for studying reader and fan engagement, including archival research, ethnography, and text data mining. The course is relevant both to those wishing to develop programs and resources to engage readers (for instance, in a public library) and others more generally interested in comics and fandom studies. Because we will be engaging with digital media, data sets, and digital research methods, this course can also serve as a relevant course for the ILS digital humanities specialization. This course is cross listed with Z604.

• Analytical Track

Search

ILS-Z534 with Professor Ghazinejad

The success of commercial search engines shows that Information Retrieval is a key in helping users find the information they seek. This course provides an introduction to information retrieval theories and concepts underlying all search applications. We investigate techniques used in modern search engines and demonstrate their significance by experiment.

Digital Curation

ILS-Z586 with Professor Donaldson

Preserving and providing long-term access to digital materials over time is a Grand Challenge. They require constant and onging maintenance. This course provides an overview of research, policy and current practices in curating and preserving digital data, gives students practical experience, working with digital materials, and creating digital curation plans.

• Analytical Track

Workshop in Library and Information Science: Digital Publishing Standards and Systems

ILS-Z603 with Professor Homenda

• Meets Tech Requirement

Topics in Library and Information Science: Folklore Archives, Digital Age

ILS-Z604 with Professor Hillers

• Meets Tech Requirement

Information Visualization

ILS-Z637 with Professor Hara

• Analytical Track

Social Media Mining

ILS-Z639 with Professor Ghazinejad

This course provides a graduate-level introduction to social media mining and methods. The course provides hands-on experience mining social data for social meaning extraction (focus on sentiment analysis) using automated methods and machine learning technologies. We will read, discuss, and critique claims and findings from contemporary research related to SMM.

Seminar in Information Science: Digital Humanities

ILS-Z764 with Professor Riddell

A doctoral seminar in IS introduces students to topic areas within the domain of information science (e.g., social informatics, scientometrics, information retrieval, representation and organization of resources, philosophy of information, human computer interaction, visualization). It is a reading-and-writing intensive experience and emphasizes depth over breadth.

• Analytical Track

Seminar in Information Science: Digital Curation

ILS-Z764 with Professor Donaldson

A doctoral seminar in IS introduces students to topic areas within the domain of information science (e.g., social informatics, scientometrics, information retrieval, representation and organization of resources, philosophy of information, human computer interaction, visualization). It is a reading-and-writing intensive experience and emphasizes depth over breadth.

• Analytical Track

Fundamental Computer Concepts for Informatics

INFO-I500 with Professor Staff

An introduction to fundamental principles of computer concepts for Informatics study, including an overview of computer architecture, computer algorithms, fundamentals of operating systems, data structure, file organization and database concepts.

Management, Access, and Use of Big and Complex Data

INFO-I535 with Professor Kouper

Innovation today is emerging from a preponderance of data from sensors, social media, and the Internet. This course covers knowledge representation, data process, and data management for big and complex data. Specific topics include data integration, semantics, and provenance; workflows and pipelines; and distributed noSQL stores.

Topics in Informatics: 3D Digitization

INFO-I590 with Professor Guidi

• Meets Tech Requirement

Topics in Informatics: Visualizing Data With Tableau

INFO-I590 with Professor McCoy

Computation and Linguistic Analysis

LING-L545 with Professor Zeeshan

Introduction to current semantic theory, its tools, concepts, and principles. Emphasis on constructing detailed fragments of natural language with syntactic and semantic components.

Applying Machine Learning Techniques in Computational Linguistics

LING-L665 with Professor Zeeshan

Introduction to major algorithms in Machine Learning (ML) as well as applications of these techniques to a wide range of CL topics. Course includes an introduction to CL and to W focused on supervised algorithms: decision trees and rule learning. Also considered are applications of ML algorithms to CL problems.

Topics: Video Field & Post Production

MSCH-J560 with Professor Krause

Topics: Program Graphics & Animation

MSCH-J560 with Professor Krause

Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media: Advanced Scoring-long Form

MUS-K555 with Professor Groupe

Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media: Introduction to Scoring-long Form

MUS-K555 with Professor Groupe

MIDI and Computer Music

MUS-N561 with Professor Wang

Basics of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface system, its software, and instruments commonly used with desktop MIDI workstations (synthesizers, digital samplers). In-depth study of MIDI sequencing, digital audio editing, and the architecture of electronic instruments. A final project and a paper on a computer music topic are required

MIDI and Computer Music

MUS-N561 with Professor Warren

Basics of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface system, its software, and instruments commonly used with desktop MIDI workstations (synthesizers, digital samplers). In-depth study of MIDI sequencing, digital audio editing, and the architecture of electronic instruments. A final project and a paper on a computer music topic are required

Political Data Analysis II

POLS-Y576 with Professor Webster

This course is designed to build upon the concepts and skills developed in POLS Y575 (Political Data Analysis I). Successful completion of the Y575 course is a prerequisite for enrolling in this course (unless permission has been obtained from the instructor). The first half of the course will introduce students to bivariate and multivariate regression models. We will begin with the linear model, including a discussion of the goals and assumptions of ordinary least squares (OLS). We will also cover models for handling dichotomous dependent variables (logits and probits). The second half of the course will introduce students to the logic of causal inference. Topics covered include DAGs, experiments, difference-in-difference designs, regression discontinuities, and instrumental variables.

• Creative Track
• Critical Track

Graduate Topics in Digital Art: Interactive Multimedia

SOAD-S510 with Professor Ahrndt

• Creative Track

Graduate Topics in Digital Art: Video Art

SOAD-S510 with Professor Liou

• Creative Track

Graduate Topics in Digital Art: Computer Graphics

SOAD-S510 with Professor Dolinsky

• Creative Track

Graduate Digital Art

SOAD-S511 with Professor Liou

Through advanced studio projects in digital art, the student will create a body of work involving experimentation with technology incorporating installation, multimedia, networks, virtual environments, and/or portable media. Topics of relevance to contemporary digital art will be considered, such as interaction, time-based media, location, and virtuality.

• Creative Track

MFA Digital Art Seminar

SOAD-S519 with Professor Liou

Investigates the relationship between art, aesthetics, and technology. Topics can include virtual environments, screen-media, sound art, time-based media, networked art, and locative media, as well as related history, criticism and theory. Coursework includes readings, discussions and research-based projects, papers or presentations.

• Analytical Track

Special Topics in Digital Software and Architecture

SOAD-Z809 with Professor Kim

This is an advanced variable topics course focusing on topics related to digital software for architecture. 

Vector-Based Geographic Information Systems

SPEA-E518 with Professor Ehman

Discussion of theories and approaches to systems management, including responsibilities and tasks of public systems. Examination of intergovernmental relationships and intralocal governmental relationships, treatment of organizational and systems design, as well as planning, decision making, and control of public systems. Discussion of applications to services such as environment, health, and human services.

• Analytical Track

Application of Geographic Info Sys

SPEA-E529 with Professor Ehman

Conceptual and technical overview of geographic information systems (GIS). Applications in various fields of public affairs and environmental science.

• Analytical Track

Introduction to Statistics

STAT-S520 with Professor Chunfeng

Basic concepts of data analysis and statistical inference, applied to 1-sample and 2-sample location problems, the analysis of variance, and linear regression. Prob­ability models and statistical methods applied to practical situ­ations and actual data sets from various disciplines. Elementary statistical theory, including the plug-in principle, maximum likelihood, and the method of least squares.

• Meets Tech Requirement

Introduction to Statistics

STAT-S520 with Professor Wang

Basic concepts of data analysis and statistical inference, applied to 1-sample and 2-sample location problems, the analysis of variance, and linear regression. Prob­ability models and statistical methods applied to practical situ­ations and actual data sets from various disciplines. Elementary statistical theory, including the plug-in principle, maximum likelihood, and the method of least squares.

• Meets Tech Requirement

Applied Statistical Computing

STAT-S611 with Professor Manrique-Vallier

This course will be an introduction to statistical computing using R and C/C++. It will mainly focus on writing code for solving statistical problems. We will also cover a number of algorithms used in modern statistical computation. Topics may include: computer representation of numbers and finite precision arithmetic, programming in R, advanced R, programing in C/C++, random number generation, Monte Carlo methods, Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, numerical linear algebra, and numerical optimization. The selection of specific topics and their emphasis can be adjusted to accommodate the class and instructor's interests and preferences.

Exploratory Data Analysis

STAT-S670 with Professor Fukuyama

Numerical and graphical techniques for summarizing and displaying data. Ex­ploration versus confirmation. Connections with conventional statistical analysis and data mining. Applications to large data sets.

Advanced Data Analysis I

STAT-S771 with Professor Trosset

This course introduces Ph.D. students in the Department of Statistics to an in-depth cross-disciplinary research experience, emphasizing the role of statistics in solving scientific, technological, or policy problem. Each student identifies a research project, forms an advisory committee, and provides interim written and oral progress reports throughout the remainder of the semester.

Studies in Stage Lighting: Vectorworks and Lightwright

THTR-T538 with Professor Hahn

Variable topics course focusing on lighting genres, techniques, and criticism. Topics include architectural lighting, lighting consulting for the theatre, stage lighting aesthetics, and rendering light.

• Creative Track

Sound Design I

THTR-T547 with Professor Hopson

Study of the practical use, aesthetics, and implementation of sound in theatre productions. Focus is on using computers to assist in the creation, selection, and playback of sound cues. Topics include sound system operation and design for both plays and musicals. Emphasis on researching, selecting, and recording music for production.

Lighting Design Seminar

THTR-T646 with Professor Hahn

Development of a lighting designer's critical experience with color, timing, volumetric space, lateral thinking, and creativity are addressed in successive semesters in this project-based course, heavy on critique. With these supporting skills, the designer's work in production can be conducted with greater confidence and assurance of a successful outcome.

• Creative Track
• Critical Track

Performance in Digital Media

THTR-T724 with Professor Anzaldua

Performance in Digital Media will give an actor tools to build and experience works like voiceover, audiobook, camera technique, motion capture, online creative content for various media platforms.

• Creative Track