COSC Course Descriptions

An introduction to computer hardware and software and their uses. Introduces students to how computers, networks and the Internet work, how they impact our lives and the ethical implications of information technologies. Hands-on experience with a variety of computer applications, including spreadsheet, presentation, database application and Internet tools. Laboratory fee required. [COSC]

Examines the use of computer technology to produce computer games and create interactive educational and training materials; covers beginning concepts in screen design, animation and scripting. Note: Additional lab time outside of class may be required to complete course projects. Laboratory fee required.

Provides an introduction to the Internet, as well as technologies used to generate and maintain Web pages, such as FTP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and XML. Note: Additional lab time outside of class may be required to complete course projects. Laboratory fee required.

Introduces 2-D computer graphics, including image generation, capture and processing. Particular emphasis on applications to interactive multimedia and computer game design. Provides basis for further study in 3-D graphics. Note: Additional lab time outside of class may be required to complete course projects. Laboratory fee required.

Advances a student's knowledge of game software design by examining advanced functions, variable types, software design tools and programming concepts. Expands upon materials covered in C05C 150: Introduction to Game Design while also introducing students to more complex types of data and programming structures. Introduces students to the software design process and focuses on developing good software design habits as well as advanced knowledge of programming techniques. By the end of the course, students are able to implement more fully their game design ideas in a software prototype. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 150 or equivalent

Introduces students to modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering and simple animation using the industry- standard tool. Provides a foundation for further work with sophisticated 3-D imaging tools. Note: Additional lab time outside of class may be required to complete course projects. Laboratory fee required.

Explores issues, concepts and methods in computer science. Content varies depending upon the interests of faculty and students. Course may be repeated when topic changes. Lab fee required.

Introduces students to the architecture and hardware components of the microcomputer. Topics include installation, configuration and upgrading; diagnosing and troubleshooting; safety and preventive maintenance; system board, processors and memory; printers; portable systems; and basic networking. Laboratory fee required.

An introduction to networks, including network operating system concepts. Topics include network components, the OSI and 802 models, protocols, network architecture, network administration and support, LANs, WANs and troubleshooting. This course requires each student to purchase an unassembled computer that he/she builds in class. These computers are then used to support networking exercises. Laboratory fee required.

A first programming course designed to teach problem-solving, algorithm development and principles of good programming. Topics include procedures, decisions, repetition, arrays, sequential and random-access files and the graphical display of data. Algorithms are implemented in a visual programming language. Laboratory fee required.

A sequel to Computer Programming I. While continuing to emphasize problem-solving and algorithm development, this course introduces object-oriented programming; programming that integrates other applications, especially those in the Microsoft Office suite; and Internet programming. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 309 or equivalent

Prepares students to install, configure, administer and troubleshoot the current version of Microsoft Windows Server network operating system. Topics include setting up user and group accounts; securing network resources; auditing resources and events; monitoring network resources; backing up and restoring data; managing system policies, file systems and fault tolerance; interoperating between network operating systems; implementing network clients and directory replication; managing/implementing disaster recovery; and troubleshooting. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 310

An introduction to object-oriented computer programming framed in the technical aspects of game programming. The course covers variables, control structures, functions, arrays, data types, classes, inheritance and polymorphisms. Students apply these concepts to build a series of small games. Laboratory fee required.

Introduces key concepts of human/computer interaction, including how humans interact with technology to find and process information. It also introduces the concepts of systematic software testing to students of applied information technology and students of interactive simulation and computer gaming. Students learn principles of interface and software construction and apply them to practical problems of software or game evaluation in the process of learning principles that underlie good interaction and play design. Readings cover theory of human/computer interaction, interaction design and usability testing. Laboratory fee required.

Conveys the skills necessary for students to begin a career in instructional video game design. Expands on previous game design courses but focuses on the creation of serious games for adult and child learning. At the end of the course, students design, develop and test a working prototype of a video game for learning. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 320 or equivalent

Basic logic design, coding, number representation and arithmetic, computer architecture, examples using simple minicomputer or microcomputer systems. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 310

Introduces students to core principles and practices in computer and network security. Covers the fundamentals of computer/network security including general security concepts; threats and vulnerabilities; application, data and host security; access control and identity management; basics of cryptography; and compliance and operational/organizational security. Current topics in computer security such as cloud computing security and application programming development security also are discussed. Course materials prepare students for the vendor-neutral CompTIA Security+ industry certification exam. Lab fee required.

Introduces the syntax of an object-oriented language and teaches object-oriented programming concepts and design. To teach these concepts, the course presents an object-oriented programming language such as C++, C# or Java. Also studied are more advanced programming topics not covered in COSC 151 and COSC 251 (e.g., recursion and data structures). Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 251 or equivalent

Introductory course to database design and implementation. Topics include modeling using Entity-Relationship (E-R) diagrams, query formulation with Structured Query Language (SQL), database planning and design, nonnalization, creating and maintaining a database and basic database administration. Basic concepts ofthe relational data model and SQL are discussed in detail. Students plan, design and test a relational database and associated application components. They also obtain hands-on experience using a current version of Microsoft SQL Server Database Management System or another system. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 251

Builds on an existing understanding of game design concepts, scripting and 3-D asset creation and provides students with the opportunity to apply this to advanced level design utilizing professional tool sets. Projects are team based and emulate industry best practices using a current 3-D game engine. Lab fee required, prerequisites: COSC 250, COSC 260 and COSC 320 or their equivalents

Focuses on building the reporting and writing skills needed to write game reviews and other video game-related news articles. Students regularly practice writing game-related pieces and develop their critical analysis skills through peer review; they are expected to learn through practice, peer review and review of existing published works. Topics covered include: What is journalism and how does game journalism differ? How do the elements of video games translate to written works, and how does one translate game concepts to a general reading audience? Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 320 or equivalent

Introduces students to the TCP/IP suite of communication protocols. Topics include fundamentals, basic and advanced IP addressing, TCP/IP routing, TCP/IP name resolution, TCP/IP tools, dynamic P/IP configuration tools, WINS, NetBIOS, Internet/intranet services, printing and RAS, network management, and monitoring and troubleshooting. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 312

Covers advanced principles of creating interactive narrative experiences, from creative writing to storyboarding and interaction design. Focuses on examples of successful and experimental interactive narrative from across media, including video games, electronic literature, interactive fiction and gamebooks. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 320

Examines the past, present and future of the video game industry, with an emphasis on business organizations and practices that have evolved along with the medium. Particular attention is given to opportunities and requirements for new ventures in games and other areas of interactive design. Laboratory fee required.

Examines games and simulations as systems designed for common use and collaboration and the ways non-game social media can promote markets for digital entertainment. Theoretical approaches are compared to current implementations and tested in one or more limited practical experiments. Laboratory fee required.

Surveys the history of video games, from the first experiments in the decades following World War II to the current era of consoles and network games. Despite being a relatively recent medium, video games have already undergone significant evolution from their earliest roots. Examines these transformations in terms of art, narrative, graphics, audio and game mechanics. Throughout the course, students position these trends within the cultural roles games have played and speculate on the future of the form. Lab fee required.

Improves an existing understanding of 3-D modeling, texturing and animation for interactive simulation applications, including scenic and character design for computer games. Practical assignments allow students to advance skills in industry-standard programs (e.g., 3D Studio and Maya). Readings, critical examples and visits from industry experts provide broader contexts for skills. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 260

Students develop skills required to administer the Unix/Linux operating systems. Topics include installing and configuring a popular distribution, common tools and utilities, file system administration, user and group management, network/Internet service configuration, user and system security, shell scripting, kernel configurations, interoperability with Windows, back-up and storage, and troubleshooting. Lab fee required. prerequisites: COSC 212, COSC 251 and MATH 201

Concentrates on the design of sound elements for use in computer games and other forms of interactive simulation. Practical design exercises based on standard production software and popular game engines are combined with theoretical readings, critical studies and visits from industry experts. Laboratory fee required.

Introduces the fundamentals of creating and maintaining a Web site. Begins with a general treatment of Web servers, connecting to the Internet, Web security and Web administration. Topics include file servers, Web server computer hardware, communication media, TCP/IP, HTTP, domain name conventions, getting an IP address, backing up, fault tolerance, firewalls and proxy servers. The general treatment is followed with a study of Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS). Topics include installing IIS, Microsoft's Index Server and supporting Active Server. Students create an intranet using Microsoft's Internet Information Server and Web pages using Microsoft's FrontPage. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite or co-requisite: COSC 401

Focuses on building interactive Web pages using Java, JavaScript, Perl and VBScript. Also introduces students to Microsoft Visual InterDev and techniques for creating multimedia Web pages. Emphasis is placed on database connectivity. Also introduces techniques for creating multimedia Web pages. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 155 or its equivalent and COSC 403

Examines the design principles and challenges underlying games and interactive simulations designed to be used collaboratively or in situations of simultaneous use, from multiplayer console games to massively multiplayer Internet games and their associated virtual communities. Assignments include development of modules or levels for popular multiplayer games and systematic study of Internet game communities. Laboratory fee required.

Builds on 3-D design concepts learned in COSC 260: Introduction to 3-D Graphics and COSC 410: 3-D Modeling to explore cutting-edge, industry-standard techniques for the creation of 3-D game graphics and animation. Projects focus on emerging technologies and practices and on optimization of models for real-time simulations. Students are required to apply creatively an advanced understanding of 3-D modeling to portfolio-quality work. Additional lab time outside of class may be required to complete course projects. prerequisites: COSC 260 and COSC 410 or their equivalents

Provides an introduction to the various technical and administrative aspects of information security and assurance. Discusses the foundation for understanding the key issues associated with protecting information assets, determining the levels of protection and response to security incidents, and designing a consistent, reasonable information security system with appropriate intrusion detection and reporting features. Ethical, legal and professional issues in information security are also discussed. Students develop familiarity with research and information resources to forecast emerging problems and strategies in this area. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 305

Deals with the conceptual and technological aspects of network security. The course begins with a review of various forms of network attacks, including scanning, exploits and denial-of-service attacks. It discusses the role of major networking devices, including routers, firewall technology and servers, in establishing a secure network. It provides a comprehensive overview of building and maintaining firewalls in a business environment. It discusses how to make an intelligent choice of firewall technology and firewall planning/design and presents basic firewall troubleshooting. It also covers security policy development, authentication, encryption, VPNs and IDSs. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 312

Introduces the security challenges and threats in database/Web-based systems. Students learn how to describe and apply security principles and technologies and how to implement them across various database/Web systems. In addition, advanced topics related to database/Web-based systems such as e-commerce security, security problems in data warehousing and data mining are introduced. Lab fee required. prerequisites: COSC 332, COSC 356 and MATH 201

Focuses on one or more emerging technologies or practices likely to shape the video game industry in the next three to five years. Students both investigate the history and rationale of the innovation and develop practical experiments or proofs of concept indicating possible applications. Laboratory fee required.

Provides students with hands-on work experience in applied simulation and game development. Students may arrange placement with an external organization, subject to written approval by the instructor and an official of the organization. Alternatively, students may participate in an in-house project managed by the instructor. In the latter case, students attend regular class meetings as part of their project work. Laboratory fee required.

Internship course intended to give students professional experience in software reliability and play testing in computer games and other areas of applied interactive simulation. Students are assigned projects in area industries or in an on-campus development facility to be developed with local companies. Laboratory fee required.

Presents a detailed study of the methods and technologies for building highly interactive websites and other Web-based applications. Principles for building websites that exhibit usability, security and maintainability are presented. Students learn scripting, coding and utilizing website development tools to enhance the performance and functionality of a website. Technologies such as HTML5, XML and Ajax are introduced. Requires students to build multiple Web pages and implement a major website/Web application in phases. Lab fee required. prerequisites: COSC 155 or its equivalent and COSC 351

Examines the nature of games and how they are framed by and impact individuals and groups. Topics include scholarly work on online economies and community building, fan cultures and their creative reworking of game content, the role of play in human culture and the relationships between online and offline identity, as well as psychological facets of games. Laboratory fee required.

Constitutes the first part of the capstone experience in the Simulation and Digital Entertainment major. Students work through design assignments to practice project management and team coordination. They also research and propose individual project concepts, some of which are selected for group development as the final course project and for further work in Game Development Project II. Laboratory fee required. prerequisites: Simulation and Digital Entertainment major with senior status

Provides the capstone experience for students in the Simulation and Digital Entertainment major. Working with faculty and visiting industry experts, students propose a concept for a computer game or applied interactive simulation, developing that concept over the course of the semester through several stages of specification and prototyping. Theoretical readings and critical studies of existing games provide insight and context. Final prototypes are entered in a competition at the end of the course whose jury includes representatives from game and simulation development companies. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: COSC 469 and Simulation and Digital Entertainment major with senior status

Students collaborate with the community to build a game focused on solving a problem or addressing a community need. Possible projects can incorporate a range of digital and communication skill sets and might include physical games (card, board), alternate or augmented reality, browser-based games, simulations or other forms as appropriate to the project. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 320

Provides students with hands-on work experience in applied information technology. Students may arrange placement with an external organization, subject to written approval by the instructor and an official of the organization. Alternatively, students may participate in an in-house project managed by the instructor. In the latter case, students attend regular class meetings as part of their project work. Laboratory fee required. prerequisites: COSC 430 and COSC 453

An advanced interdisciplinary seminar that focuses on important books and issues and encourages independent thinking, clear presentation and an understanding of the concerns and methods of various disciplines. The course may be team taught; topic and instructor(s) may change from semester to semester. Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes. Laboratory fee may be required. prerequisites: 3.3 GPA and permission of the Denit Honors Program director

Directed individual instruction in an advanced project of the student’s choice; the project must be academically related to this discipline. Each student works closely with a faculty director who guides his/her progress. The project must be of honors quality and must be finally approved by both the faculty director and a second faculty member. Course is eligible for a continuing studies grade. Laboratory fee may be required. prerequisites: 3.3 GPA and permission of both the Denit Honors Program director and the faculty director

Intensive exploration of topics in computer science of mutual interest to faculty and students. Content varies according to the current interests of faculty and students. The topic for study appears under that name in the class schedule. Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes. Laboratory fee required.

The pursuit of independent study under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. The number of credits to be earned is determined by the supervising faculty member before the study begins. Students may earn up to 3 credits for this independent study. Laboratory fee required. prerequisite: varies; see class schedule or instructor

Introductory course to database design and implementation. Topics include modeling using Entity-Relationship (E-R) diagrams, query fonnulation with Structured Query Language (SQL), database planning and design, nonnalization, creating and maintaining a database and basic database administration. Basic concepts ofthe relational data model and SQL are disQussed in detail. Students plan, design and test a relational database and associated application components. They also obtain hands-on efperience using a current version ofMicrosoft SQL Server Database Management System or another system. Lab fee required. prerequisite: COSC 251