Computer graphics curricula: a survey of PhD granting departments

Abstract

Computer graphics is not a required course of study in the ACM computer science curriculum. Advances in computer graphics technology along with recommendations from SIGGRAPH encourage computer graphics to be required in the computer science curriculum to keep education in step. Ohlson outlines core and advanced elective computer graphics courses and suggests both be offered.A February 1987 survey of computer science PhD granting institutions shows: 1) 97 percent of the institutions already teach one or more computer graphics courses: 59 percent teach two or more courses, 2) courses cover basic and advanced material, 3) a few common textbooks determine course contents and 4) average enrollment is 29. The survey illustrates the prevalence of computer graphics courses and suggests that academic interest warrants its inclusion in future curriculum recommendations. Data from the university survey provides suggested outlines for typical computer graphics courses. Eleven of thirteen publishers answering a February 1987 survey publish or are interested in publishing computer graphics related texts.