University of
Bedfordshire
Course Information Form (CIF)
SECTION 1 - GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
Qualification
Master of Science
Course Title
MSc Computer Animation and Games Technology - MSXCV
Intermediate
Award
Qualification(s) Master of Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate Certificate
Postgraduate Credit
Awarding
Institution
University of Bedfordshire
Location of
Delivery
University Square Campus, Luton
Duration of
Course
1 Year
Level
6
FHEQ Level
NQF Level 7 (i.e. Masters)
Rank
1
2
3
4
Professional
Not applicable
Statutory Body
Accreditation
UCAS Course
Code
Relevant
External
Benchmarking
Subject benchmarks (University of Bedfordshire, Level M), Council of Professors
and Heads of Computing benchmarks (April 2008).
Published
Course
Summary
The MSc Computer Animation and Games Technology is ideal for Computing,
Media or Art and Design graduates who have some experience of computer-based
design or programming, and an interest in developing a career in the advanced
practice of Computer Animation and Games Technology in industry or academia.
You will engage with a wide range of topics including 3D modelling, animation,
compositing, motion capture, games AI, games development and special effects,
and develop skills that will be informed by professional practices and industry
standard tools.
SECTION 2 - ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, STUDENT SUPPORT AND FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a good honours degree or equivalent in the areas of computing or digital art
Student Support during the Course
Students will have access to both departmental and University wide support during their studies. From
a departmental perspective, each student will have access to a personal tutor (one tutor is assigned
to each of our MSc courses) and they may book informal appointments at any point during the year.
Students will be expected to see their personal tutor at least twice a year.
From a University standpoint, students will have access to the Student Union, Student Services and
the Counselling Service.
For learning related support, students will have access the Disability Advice Service as well as being
able to undertake various courses within the Learning Resources Centre.
Students with Disabilities
There do not appear to by any educational barriers to students with disabilities.
Distinctive Features of the Course
Key features
• Work with cutting-edge technology at the interface between animation and games technology
• Attend regular talks by high-profile guest speakers
Areas of study include:
• Computer graphics
• 2D and 3D animation
• Computer games programming
• Digital studio practice
• 3D Modelling
• Digital media technologies
Career/Further Study Opportunities
Career opportunities:
The broad skills you gain will equip you for a career in either the IT or media industries, in areas such
as film, games production and advertising.
Career routes include:
• Computer animator/modeller – games or entertainment industry
• Programmer – graphics/visualisation/games
• Studio practitioner – creative industries
• Researcher advanced computer graphics
Further study options include an MSc
by Research, MPhil or PhD, visit:
www.beds.ac.uk/research/rgs/apply
SECTION 3 - TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Educational Aims
The educational aims of this course are as follows:
• To develop a conceptual framework and understanding of the fundamental principles of computer
animation and develop the competence to apply such principles to operational or real world situations
• To equip and enhance students with the important transferable skills of communication, problem
solving and team work and to develop a professional ethic
• To enable postgraduates entering or working in industry to make an immediate and effective
contribution to their company in their chosen discipline
• To enhance the students’ employability and provide them with a level of expertise in the area of
computer animation
• To carry out and present in an organised way a substantial body of original work for the MSc thesis
and project
• To demonstrate that they have the appropriate level of intellectual skill – i.e. the abilities to
synthesise, criticise, develop and integrate material that they have met in the taught part of the course
for the thesis dissertation
• Demonstrate the ability to identify problems, analyse situations and develop solutions in their work
for the thesis
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Critically evaluate, apply and develop appropriate tools, techniques and methodologies within the
specialist area of Computer Animation in the production of practical projects and outcomes.
2. Undertake a substantial piece of original research within a specialist area related to Computer
Animation (e.g. Rendering and Lighting) and to critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate your results
and present them using an appropriate form of communication (e.g. professionally written formal
report, presentation etc).
3. Communicate effectively, by both written and oral means, with experts in the field as well as those
with less knowledge of the area.
4. Use an appropriate form of critical problem solving along with creativity and innovation in order to
develop an appropriate solutions for complex problems within the production of computer based
animation, working effectively as both an individual and as part of a team.
5. Demonstrate an appropriate level of intellectual skill, including the ability to synthesise, criticise,
develop, integrate and intellectually challenge material that you have met in the taught component of
your course.
6. Extend and challenge current thinking within the field of Computer Animation to cater for future
developments (i.e. Emerging Technologies) within an advanced context.
7. Apply and critique the standards of professional bodies to computer animation related work and
current developments in the computer animation industry (e.g. ACM Siggraph).
Teaching Strategy
A wide variety of teaching modes will be used throughout this course. The most important aspect will
be that a student centred approach and we will encourage students (through relevant guidance) to
become independent thinkers who can take responsibility for their own learning and who can adapt to
a wide variety of different situations. The course will make use of traditional lectures and practical
sessions as well as encouraging students to engage in various scenarios (e.g. managing their own
projects, team working etc). In addition, some units will use podcasts to provide students with an
overview / summary of different topics. Some units (e.g. Emerging Technologies) with include seminar
based sessions and class discussions.
Roughly 70% of the course will be classroom based with the remaining 30% being independent
learning which will make use of BREO, Learning Resources and various other electronic resources.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy used is a balance of written reports, exams, practical (coursework)
assignments and computer based assessment. The method used will depend on the nature of the
subject being taught in the unit and the most appropriate method has been chosen.
Coursework assignments have incorporated formative feedback (as part of our Risk Strategy
initiative) so that students can gain an insight into whether their work is meeting the necessary
targets.
Students will be required to have successfully gained 105 credits before undertaking the dissertation.
Curriculum Structure, Assessment Methods and Learning Outcomes
Unit Code
Level Unit Name
Credit Core (C)
Option(O)
Assessment Methods *
1
2
3
RE RE
CIS000-6
7
MSC PROJECT
60
C
RE
RE
CIS004-6
7
EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
15
C
PO
RE
CIS005-6
7
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
15
C
AR
EX
CIS012-6
7
DIGITAL MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES
15
C
PR
AR
CIS021-6
7
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
15
C
RE
GR
CIS028-6
7
3D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
AR
EX
CIS029-6
7
2D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
CIS030-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE A
15
C
PO
AR
CIS000-6
7
MSC PROJECT
60
C
RE
RE
CIS004-6
7
EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
15
C
PO
RE
CIS005-6
7
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
15
C
AR
EX
CIS028-6
7
3D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
AR
EX
CIS029-6
7
2D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
CIS030-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE A
15
C
PO
AR
CIS033-6
7
INDEPENDENT STUDY
MODULE B
15
C
CIS034-6
7
INDEPENDENT STUDY
30
C
4
RE RE
MODULE C
CIS000-6
7
MSC PROJECT
60
C
RE
RE
CIS005-6
7
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
15
C
AR
EX
CIS028-6
7
3D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
AR
EX
CIS029-6
7
2D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
CIS030-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE A
15
C
PO
AR
CIS037-6
7
3D MODELLING
15
C
RE
RE
MED503-6
7
MEDIA THEORY
15
C
CWESS
CWCS
MED504-6
7
REPRESENTATION AND
REALITY
15
C
PR
RE
CIS000-6
7
MSC PROJECT
60
C
RE
RE
CIS005-6
7
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
15
C
AR
EX
CIS012-6
7
DIGITAL MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES
15
C
PR
AR
CIS021-6
7
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
15
C
RE
GR
CIS028-6
7
3D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
AR
EX
CIS030-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE A
15
C
PO
AR
CIS037-6
7
3D MODELLING
15
C
RE
RE
CIS055-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE B
15
C
PO
AR
CIS056-6
7
COMPUTER GAMES
PRACTICE
15
C
AR
EX
CIS000-6
7
MSC PROJECT
60
C
RE
RE
CIS005-6
7
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
15
C
AR
EX
CIS012-6
7
DIGITAL MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES
15
C
PR
AR
CIS021-6
7
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
15
C
RE
GR
CIS028-6
7
3D COMPUTER
ANIMATION
15
C
AR
EX
CIS030-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE A
15
C
PO
AR
CIS037-6
7
3D MODELLING
15
C
RE
RE
CIS055-6
7
DIGITAL STUDIO
PRACTICE B
15
C
PO
AR
CIS056-6
7
COMPUTER GAMES
15
C
AR
EX
RE RE
RE RE
RE RE
PRACTICE
* The following codes for assessments methods apply:
AR
artefact
PC
practical
CB
computer-based
PF
performance
CS
case study
PL
placement
DI
dissertation or project
PO
portfolio
EX
exam
PR
presentation
GR
group report
RE
individual report
IT
in-unit test
OR
oral
LR
literature review
OT
other
SECTION 4 – LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY
Skills Development Strategies
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Be given access to a variety of tasks that will develop your oral and written communication skills.
Throughout the course you will be asked to perform a variety of written (essay, formal report) and oral
(presentations) tasks. Formative feedback as well as summative feedback will be used throughout.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Learn to enhance your understanding and skills with respect to standard desktop applications (MS
Excel and Word) as well as developing new skills with respect to specialised software related to the
course.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will:
Develop your ability to work independently as well as enhancing your reflective skills. You will be set
tasks that require you to undertake background research and at times to evaluate what you have
undertaken.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will:
Undertake a significant piece of work (usually the MSc dissertation) which requires you to use your
(analytical) problem solving and creative skills in order to develop a solution and to be able to critically
evaluate the work that you have performed.
Team Working
Various units incorporate group/team work into their assessment strategy. You will be required to
work effectively as part of a group (especially as part of the Professional Project Management unit).
Such skills are an important part of any graduate / postgraduate and as such we will aim to provide
you with opportunities to develop your teamwork skills.
Improving Learning and Performance
You will, at various points be provided with feedback. This feedback is an important part of the
learning process and will allow you to find out strengths, as well as areas for development. Such
feedback will allow you to see where you need to focus and will allow you to improve your
performance.
Career Management Skills
Throughout the course we develop students ability to reflect on their performance and to develop
teamwork, written and oral communication.
Progress Files
Students will be required to keep an e-portfolio that shows their development (both academic and
personal) that can be used to show employers how their studies have allowed them to develop their
personal and professional skills, as well as the knowledge that they have gained.
Professional Standards
Students will be expected to develop not only their academic skills, but also their soft-skills
(teamwork, oral and written communication, inter-personal skills etc). As such we expect student to
adhere to the British Computer Society's Code of Conduct and Code of Practice which detail what is
expected (from a professional perspective) of an IT professional.
Strategy for Developing and Embedding the Professional Standards
Throughout the course we will embed aspects of professionalism (ethics, professional conduct etc)
into the different units. The two most poignant examples are the Professional Project Management
unit (XAC08-6) and the MSc dissertation. These two units provide an excellent opportunity for
students to develop their professional skills by engaging in professional tasks (e.g. managing their
own projects and working as part of a team).
SECTION 5 - ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Faculty
Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science
Field
Computer Science and Technology PG Field - CATS
Department/School/Division Department of Computer Science and Technology
Course Leader
Version Number
2014/15
Form completed by:
Name:
Date: 24/May/2013
Authorisation on behalf of the Faculty Teaching Quality and Standards Committee (FTQSC):
Name:
Date: 24/May/2013