ITMM Program Overall Goals:

1. To prepare students for IT Multimedia positions in industry or government,
2. To prepare students for graduate study in IT Multimedia, and
3. To provide a solid foundation in IT Multimedia that will allow graduates to adapt effectively in a quickly changing field.
   
   

ITMM Program Educational Objectives:

ITMM graduates are able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills to adapt to future advances in IT and contribute effectively to prosperous and sustainable local and global economies.
2. Work successfully as members of professional teams or leaders in the development of IT and multimedia systems covering a broad range of applications.
3. Pursue advanced studies and research in IT and related disciplines.​
   

Career Opportunities

Graduate from the IT Multimedia program will be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in related fields and seek careers as: Programmer, Application Designer, Application Developer, Systems Analyst, Data Mining Program Developer, Database Designer and Developer, Database Administrator, User Interface Designer, E-commerce Application Developer, Graphic designer, Game Designer and Developer, Product Design Specialist, Advertisement Designer, Web Developer, Audio/Video Production Specialist, Visual Effect Artist, Cinematic Artist, Technical Artist, 3D Tool Programmer, and Computer Animator.

Annual Enrolment and Graduation Statistics

​ BS IT Multimedia Academic Year Enrolment Degrees Awarded 2015/2016 13 10 2016/2017 20 10 2017/2018 12 16 2018/2019 14 13 2019/2020 39 16 2020/2021 34

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Program Overview

The program is designed to satisfy the curricular requirements of the ACM/IEEE-CS curricular task force and other relevant professional accreditation bodies, such as CSAC/CAAB. A student undertaking this program should complete a total of 123 credits distributed as follows:

I. University Requirements / Electives

The list of the 24 credits of university required (18) and elective (6) courses with their descriptions is presented in the university catalogue.

II. Program Requirements

The program requirements of 99 credit hours are divided into three major sets.

A. Mandatory Support Courses (20 credits)

B. Multimedia compulsory core courses (67 credits)

C. Multimedia program elective courses (12 credits)
 

A.      Mandatory Support Courses

Students select 4 credits from the following college requirements
(selecting either Chemistry I + Lab, Biology I + Lab, or Physics I for Sciences + Lab):

B.      Mandatory Core Courses

This set consists of 67 credit hours listed below.

C.      Elective Courses

Multimedia elective courses (12 credits) are to be chosen from a list of courses offered by the Department. The support and core courses are preparatory courses which are designed to meet the breadth and depth requirements in information technology.
 

Study Plan

The IT-Multimedia program encompasses 123 credits hours that are spread over eight semesters and could be completed in four years. The following distribution of courses by semester facilitates student's normal progression through the study plan.

Course Description

Mandatory Core Courses

Description of the core courses are given below:

1501100              Introduction to IT (English)                                                         (2-2:3)
Prerequisite: None

The Course explains what a computer is and what it can (and can't) do; it clearly explains the basics of information technology, from multimedia PCs to the internet and beyond. It illustrates how digital devices and networks affect our lives, our world, and our future. In addition, the course is intended to equip students with the necessary skills to use computer and essential software applications effectively in order to better prepare them for their professional careers.

1501116              Programming I                                                                                 (3-2:4)
Perquisite: None

This course introduces basic program­ming techniques with a high level pro­gramming language. Topics include gen­eral introduction to computers and num­bering systems, program development process, variables, data types, expres­sions, selection and repetition structures, functions/procedures, text files, arrays, and pointers.

1501263              Introduction to Database Management Systems                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Prog. With Data Structures

This course explores how databases are designed, implemented, and used. The course emphasizes the basic concepts/terminology of the relational model and applications. The students will learn database design concepts, data models (the Entity-Relationship and the Relational Model), SQL functional dependencies and normal forms. The students will gain experience working with a commercial database management system.

1501330              Introduction to Artificial Intelligence                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course will provide an introduc­tion to the fundamental concepts and techniques in the field of artificial intel­ligence. Topics covered in the course include: problem solving and search, logic and knowledge representation, planning, reasoning and decision-mak­ing in the presence of uncertainty, and machine learning. Areas of application such as knowledge representation, natu­ral language processing, expert systems, and robotics will be explored. AI pro­gramming languages (LISP/Prolog) will also be introduced.

1501341                Web Programming                                                                         (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501116 Programming I

Introduction to HyperText Markup Language (HTML5): Tags, headers, text style, fonts, line breaks, rules, linking, images, lists, tables, forms, and frames. Semantic tags, Canvas, Geolocation, JQuery, Drag and Drop. Dynamic HTML: Cascading Style Sheets: Inline styles, external style sheets, backgrounds, positioning elements, text flow and box model. Filters: Flip, grayscale, sepia, saturate, hue-rotate, invert, opacity, blur, brightness, contrast, drop-shadow. JavaScrip: A simple program, memory concepts, assignment operators, decision making, control structures, if-else, while, repetition, for, switch, do/while, functions, arrays. Object Model and Collections: all, children. Event Model: OnClick, OnLoad, OnError, OnMouseMove, OnMouseOver, OnMouseOut, OnFocus, OnBlur, OnSubmit, OnReset. Multimedia. DHTMLMenu builder. PHP and databases.

1501250              Networking Fundamentals                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

Foundation knowledge for computer networks and communications. Topics include basic network design, layered communications models, IP addressing and subnets, and industry standards for networking media and protocols, with an emphasis on TCP/IP protocol suite and Ethernet environments.

1501443              Human –Comp. Interaction                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501247 Multimedia Programming & Design, 1501341 Web Programming

Introduction to concepts centered on Human-Computer Interaction from hardware and software perspectives. Topics include design principles, usability principles and engineering, solving user-centered problems, device interaction, and graphical user interface design (2D and 3D interfaces).

1501114                Problem Solving                                                                                              (3-0:3)
Perquisite: None

General methods of problem solving and principles of algorithmic design using flowcharts and pseudo-code. Applications will be drawn from different domains.

1501240                Graphic Design                                                                                (2-2:3)
Perquisite: None

This course is concerned with the basic elements and concepts of design and typography. The hands-on nature adopted is the key to successfully attain the stated course objectives. The course combines practical exercises, workshops, presentations along with major theoretical foundations in the domain.

1501242                Interactive Multimedia                       ​                                         (2-2:3)
Prerequisite: 1501110 Introduction to IT

Multimedia Definition, Multimedia in our life (Business, Education, Communication, Entertainment), Editing and generating media elements: text, images, audio and video, authoring tools and systems, multimedia tools and applications, Implementing and Broadcasting Multimedia elements into WWW.

1501244                Design and Authoring                                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501240 Graphic Design, 1501242 Interactive Multimedia

Using multimedia authoring programs, students create interactive presentations for publication on local, mobile or web platform. Topics include advanced tools within the software programs, importing and controlling video and audio, importing graphics and animation. Also, the use of emerging platforms to create web-enabled interactive sites, apps, that accounts for the basics of contemporary concepts in HCI, interactivity and user experience design.

1501247               Multimedia Programming & Design                                       (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501116 Programming 1

This course covers practical and advanced programming concepts in the context of multimedia software. Students will explore fundamental programming issues applied to the use and representation of sound, graphics, animation, and text.  They will be introduced to the key ideas of event-driven programming and object-oriented programming using primarily Java as the programming language.  They will work with sophisticated programming aids such as integrated development environments, along with the use of JFCs and/or large code libraries.

1501214              Programming with Data Structures                                         (2-2:3)
Prerequisite: 150116 Programming I

This course introduces object-oriented programming paradigm, classes and data abstraction; inheritance; templates; recursion; searching and sorting algorithms; linear data structures: lists, stacks, queues. Non-linear data structures: binary trees, and graphs. 

1501393                Multimedia Junior Project                                                          (0-2:2)
Prerequisite: Junior Standing, 1501214

This course introduces many skills and perspectives using Multimedia information technology. Topics will vary. Students work in a team to design and if required create a prototype pf a multimedia system. At the end students present the current status of the project and the final report. The main implementation of the project will continue in the Multimedia Senior Project course.

1501342              2D/3D Computer Animation                                                       (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501247 Multimedia Programming & Design

This course presents a number of concepts in 2D and 3D computer animation. The concepts of animation in both object space and view and lighting space (camera control, and dynamic lighting) will be covered. Fundamental principles of animation, major techniques for 2D and 3D animation: raster and vector animations, key-framing, tweening, morphing, linear and non-linear interpolation will be introduced. The concepts of 3D animation such as physics-based animation, particle system, along with 3D camera and lighting animation, forward and inverse kinematics for motion capture will be covered.

1501361                Object Oriented Software Design and Implementation (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

The course teaches the essential skills in object-oriented analysis and design in Universal Modeling Language (UML).    The course introduces the students to the software life cycle, requirements, analysis, system design, and implementation.

1501396              CO-OP Summer Training                                                                               (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Junior Standing

This course aims to provide students with practical training, concentrating on their fields of study, and to enhance their abilities to communicate with industry, and real-life projects. Summer Training Program provides students with knowl­edge, skills, abilities and opportunities required for success in their studies and workplace.

1501343              Interactive 3D Design                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501247 Multimedia Programming & Design

This course covers a complete introduction to modeling, animating, and rendering while learning to build a 3D scene from plans and bring it to life.  The course covers modeling, material creation, animation and global illumination lighting, and creating a more realistic virtual environment. Learn complex modeling techniques, customizing the user interface, scene composition, background photo compositing and material mapping.

1501444              Game Design and Dev.                                                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501343 Interactive 3D Design

How games function to create experiences, including rule design, play mechanics, game balancing, social game interaction and the integration of visual, audio, tactile and textual elements into the total game experience. Students will design and implement a game for desktop or mobile devices.

1501445                IT Application in E-Commerce                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501341 Web Programming

This course prepares students to understand e-commerce architecture, e-commerce models, their legal, ethical and social issues. They will also be able to design and develop web sites with dynamic web content, and to integrate web solutions into the organization's information system. The course focuses on many techniques for e-commerce applications such as displaying product catalogue, applying shopping carts, handling online transactions.

1501459              Information Security                                                                      (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

Definition of Computer Security, CIA and DAD Triads. Access Control Methodologies, Subjects and Objects, Access Control Models. Security Policies, Security Administration Tools. Handling Security Incidents, Common Types of Attacks. Firewall Security, Perimeter Security Devices, Types of Firewalls. Network and Server Attacks and Penetration, Phases of Control, Methods of Taking Control. Cryptology, Secret-Key Cryptography, Bit Generators, History of ciphers, Data Encryption Standard, Advanced Encryption Standard. Number Theory, Primality, Integer Factorization, Congruence, Hash Functions. Public-Key Cryptography, trapdoor one-way functions, Secure Key-Exchange Protocol, different Cryptosystems, Digital Signatures, Database Security, Secret Sharing Scheme.

1501465              Development of Web Applications                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501263 Intro. to Database Management Systems, 1501341 Web Programming

The course primarily emphasizes the underlying concepts rather than the current hot tools to web-based database applications. It discusses the three-tier architecture commonly used in web-based database applications. Also, the course briefly introduces the tools to build web-based database applications, such as PHP, MySQL, Apache, HTML, HTTP, TCP/IP and Javascripts.

1501496              Multimedia Senior Project                                                          (0-4:4)
Prerequisite: 1501393 Multimedia Junior Project

This course is a continuation of the 1501393 Multimedia Junior Project. Student will finalize the project started in the previous semester. All projects are group projects. Generally, a group has two to three students. Under special conditions (e.g., limited number of students) a single student might be allowed to work on the project.​

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Core Elective Courses

Descriptions of the core electives are given below:

1501319                Programming Languages and Paradigms                                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Prog. With Data Structures                           

This course covers the fundamental concepts of programming languages (PL) and paradigms. It focuses on the design issues of the various languages constructs and the criteria used for evaluating PL and PL constructs. It covers the role of programming languages and primary formal methods for describing the syntactic and semantics structure of PLs. It also covers the design issues for imperative languages and examines data abstractions which support Object Oriented Programming, Functional Programming, and Logical Programming.

1501352                Operating Systems                                                                        (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures

This course covers the history of operating systems. Processes: IPC, process scheduling, process synchronization, and deadlock. I/O: principles of I/O hardware and software, disks and clocks. Memory management: Swapping, paging, virtual memory and page replacement algorithms. File systems: Examples of some popular operating systems such as Unix, Linux, and Windows. 

1501366                Software Engineering                                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Prog. With Data Structures

Follows the formal software life cycle from the requirement, specification, and design phases through construction of actual software. Topics include models for the software life cycle, object-ori­ented analysis and design, management of software projects, CASE tools, veri­fication and testing techniques, software quality assurance, and issues related to maintenance and delivery.

1501370                Numerical Methods                                                                      (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501116 Programming I   

The objectives are to introduce basic principles and techniques of computational methods and their algorithms for solving real mathematical problems that arise in science and engineering. At the end of the course, the students should be able to understand the behavior of numbers when calculated by computers. In addition, students should know the theory and application of different numerical techniques to solve mathematical problems.

1501433              Introduction to Computer Vision and Image Processing (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

Introduction to the basic concepts in computer vision and image processing: An introduction to low-level image analysis methods, including image formation, edge detection, feature detection, line fitting, and image segmentation. Camera models, Image transformations (e.g., warping, morphing, and mosaics) for image synthesis. Background subtraction and tracking, Motion and video analysis. Applications such as optical character recognition, action recognition or face recognition may also be introduced.

1501440                Introduction to Computer Graphics                                        (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course presents an introduction on Hardware and software components of graphics systems, also it covers the following topics: Output and filled data primitives, OpenGL, geometric transformations, viewing pipeline, clipping, and windowing, viewing transformations, data structures and vector tools for graphics (lines, planes, dot product, cross product, visible surface detection and illumination models), 2D animations, and curves.

1501441                Multimedia Technology                                                                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

The course emphasizes underlying con­cepts rather than how to use the current multimedia tools. Topics covered by the course include introduction to multime­dia, multimedia authoring, image and video representation, color basics, funda­mental concepts of video, basics of digi­tal audio, lossless and lossy compression algorithms, image and video compres­sion standard, and content-based image and video retrieval.

1501451              Computer Networks                                                                       (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501352 Operating Systems

Network uses. Network components. Network classification and services. Network architectures. Network proto­cols and their performance. Study of spe­cific protocols, methods, and algorithms for framing, flow control, error detection and correction, medium access, routing, congestion control, internetworking, addressing, connection establishment and release, multiplexing, and fragmenta­tion. Overview of Internet application protocols, resources, and services.

1501458              Mobile Applications & Design                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course focuses on the fundamentals of mobile applications development. It covers mobile and wireless network technologies from a software developer's perspective. The students will be exposed to several different markup as well as the techniques that can be used to generate this technology for the wide range of wireless devices. Furthermore, students will gain hands on experience in developing mobile applications for iOS devices.

1501365                Advanced Database Systems                                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501263 Introduction to Database Management Systems

This course will build on the concepts introduced in 1501263. The students will be exposed to more advanced topics and implementation related aspects of database management systems such as object databases, XML data querying, file structures, indexing, query optimization, transaction processing, concurrency control, and database recovery.

1501490                Topics in Computer Science I                                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course involves special topics in Computer Science. The course usually introduces advanced/specialized areas that are not currently offered as regular courses in the computer Science curri­cula. The topic depends on the interest of the instructor and those of the senior students.

1501491                Topics in Computer Science II                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course involves special topics in Computer Science. The course usually introduces advanced/specialized areas that are not currently offered as regular courses in the computer Science curri­cula. The topic depends on the interest of the instructor and those of the senior students.

1501492              Special Topics in IT                                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501215 Data Structures, or 1501214 Programming with Data Structures

This course involves special topics in IT Multimedia. The course usually introduces advanced/specialized areas that are not currently offered as regular courses in the computer Science curri­cula. The topic depends on the interest of the instructor and those of the senior students.

1501344              2D Character Design                                                      (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Junior Standing

This course teaches the students the basic elements and concepts of 2D character design to be used in different multimedia projects. The hands-on nature of this course shall be the key to successfully attain the course objectives; theoretical concepts are therefore complemented with practical exercises, workshops and mini projects culminated by a final project.

1501442              3D Character Animation and Visual FX                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501342 2D/3D Computer Animation

This course introduces the concepts of 3D character animation and visual effects production. Students will learn fundamentals of 3D character animation, learn multiple technologies, e.g., Character Animation Toolkit and Biped-based animation that are used in the area of 3D character animation. The course will also introduce advanced Visual FX techniques that are employed in fusion of 3D character animation with real world video data. ​

1501454              Cloud Computing                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1501214 Prog. With Data Structures

This course introduces students to widely used parallel and distributed techniques and applications of cloud computing – including the related state-of-the-art technologies, algorithms, and tools. It allows students to develop understanding of the advanced cloud-based software development skills and to combine their existing and new skills in a real-life large-scale distributed business context.​

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