Spring 2027

Computer Graphics

A survey of computer graphics covering image representation, geometric modeling in 2D/3D, curves/surfaces, rendering, animation, and visualization.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 No instructors listed

Summary

1 / 7

Past student reviews · Perry Kivolowitz

The workload is demanding, with students reporting that 30 hours a week is not unusual to do well. Individual projects can require a minimum of 30 to 50 hours to complete, making the material and assignments time-intensive.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Develop interactive graphical applications in 2D and 3D using different types of APIs

  • Analyze and apply coordinate systems and transformations in 2D and 3D to model objects hierarchically and prepare them for viewing

  • Explain and apply shape modeling techniques, including parametric curves and meshes, in 2D and 3D

  • Select and apply appearance modeling techniques including texturing and lighting

  • Explain the structure and operation of the graphics pipeline and hardware, and use this understanding to implement and optimize efficient graphical applications

  • Identify the issues in discrete representations and select approaches to mitigate them

  • Discuss how imagery is perceived and the impact of perception on computer generated imagery

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

MATH 222 and (COMP SCI 367 or 400) or graduate/professional standing or declared in the Capstone Certificate in Computer Sciences for Professionals

  • MATH 222 and (COMP SCI 367 or 400) or graduate/professional standing or declared in the Capstone Certificate in Computer Sciences for Professionals
COMPSCI 559 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree
  • MATH 222 and (COMP SCI 367 or 400) or graduate/professional standing or declared in the Capstone Certificate in Computer Sciences for Professionals

Professors

Spring 2027

No instructors recorded for this selection.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

EFTYCHIOS SIFAKIS is recorded teaching in Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MICHAEL GLEICHER is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

PERRY KIVOLOWITZ is recorded teaching in Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Past student reviews · Perry Kivolowitz, Michael Gleicher, Eftychios Sifakis

This computer graphics course is challenging but rewarding, with projects often described as fun and inspiring. Instructors have been noted for deep technical knowledge and organized lectures, though teaching styles vary.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.59 GPA, 79.7% A/AB (n=123 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.67 GPA, 83.6% A/AB (n=110 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.23 GPA, 69.9% A/AB (n=83 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Past student reviews · Perry Kivolowitz

The workload is demanding, with students reporting that 30 hours a week is not unusual to do well. Individual projects can require a minimum of 30 to 50 hours to complete, making the material and assignments time-intensive.

Past student reviews · Perry Kivolowitz, Eftychios Sifakis

Student experiences varied significantly regarding grading and lectures; some found the grading policy confusing or competitive, while others praised engaging lectures and supportive instruction that helped them learn effectively.

Topics

  • Image representation and manipulation
  • Geometric modeling and transformation in 2D and 3D
  • Representation of curves and surfaces
  • Rendering, animation, multimedia, and visualization

Skills

  • Developing interactive graphical applications in 2D and 3D
  • Applying coordinate systems and transformations for hierarchical object modeling
  • Applying shape modeling techniques like parametric curves and meshes
  • Optimizing graphical applications using graphics pipeline knowledge

Grades

Historical instructor

Spring 2027 · Projected

Before grades are released

– average GPA

Approximate 80% prediction interval

About this estimate

The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.

The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.

8 earlier forecasts · 0.15 GPA average error.

Grades over time

Through Spring 2027

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1280 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
COMPSCI 559 · Spring 2027

Computer Graphics

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
[
  {
    "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
    "semester": "1274",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1274:266:021402",
    "course_id": "COMPSCI 559",
    "course_uid": "course_93d2f66aee95b30379263c4f",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "source_course_id": "021402",
    "source_subject_id": "266",
    "title": "Computer Graphics",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Download part 1
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

View the dataset on Hugging Face
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1Download part 2
Model & dataset provenance 
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "d527059c26dfdd01912edfbfde2fc549136fc20cccf9089212b4572ffabf992c",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}