CS 537 - Interactive Computer Graphics

Spring 2026

Description: This is a projects-oriented class that introduces the concepts of interactive computer graphics.
Students will learn the details of the WebGL graphics system by implementing weekly programming assignments.
Students will also be expected to read and summarize a research paper.

Topics covered by the programming assignments include


Location - 3675 Market Street, Room 1053
Time - Wednesday, 6:00 PM → 8:50 PM


Instructor


Textbooks

WebGL On-line Documentation
A WebGL Tutorial


Grading

I intend to use the standard grading scale of 100 → 90 (A), 89 → 80 (B), 79 → 70 (C), 69 → 60 (D), else (F).

Late Policy


Assignments

Assignments due Fridays at 11:59 PM    (7:00 AM with vampire rule)

All programming assignments must use the shader-based functionality of WebGL 2.0 and GL ES 3.0.

You may not use third-party libraries to complete your assignments.
Using the Angel helper functions in the Common folder is REQUIRED.

Points will also be subtracted if you do not follow the submission instructions EXACTLY.

Each web page that includes user interaction must contain text that explains what it does and how to use its interface.
2 points will be subtracted from the assignment's grade if this is not included.

All assignments must be turned in by June 8th.

You may NOT make extensive use of the Angel example code (or any other programs or generative tools available on the Internet) to complete your assignments.
Using the Angel helper functions in the Common folder is not only acceptable, but is REQUIRED.

For all assignments submit a zip file that contains a folder with your Drexel login ID and assignment number, for example ak876_a1.
All your files (source, common and data files and a README) should be inside this folder.
The main file to be viewed/executed should be named index.html.
I should be able to unzip your file, go to your folder, and follow the execution instructions to run your WebGL program.

The programming assignments must be submitted on the class Bb Learn site.

In order to facilitate grading, all homework programs should run, and will be tested, in Firefox.
You must ensure that your code runs properly in Firefox!

Assignment Schedule


Students must work on the assignments individually. Note: If the TA or instructor finds strong evidence of cheating on assignments, the student(s) involved will receive an "F" in the course,
and an Academic Integrity report describing the cheating will be filed with the university.
Note: Your source code for all programming assignments will be run through a plagiarism detection system checking against assignments turned in this and previous terms.
This program uses compiler techniques, which are invariant of syntax and style. If you are sharing/borrowing code with/from other classmates (from this or previous years), you will get caught.

If two current students are found to have turned in the same code, they both will receive zeros on the assignment.

Following department policy, each infraction will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.

See CCI's Academic Integrity Policy for more information.

It is your responsibility to avoid violating the university's policy. If you are unclear as to what the policy means in a particular situation, ask the instructor for clarification before you hand anything in.

See the examples below for clarification of this policy.

Examples

The following are acceptable: These are NOT acceptable:


Research Paper Summary

Every student will read one research paper and summarize the paper in a Powerpoint presentation file.
The file should contain at least 10 slides, including a title and conclusions slides.
Be sure to include images that present the paper's results, as well as the citation information of the paper.

The paper should be from the SIGGRAPH Proceedings, or the Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics and Games, and should be at least 7 pages in length.

You may read papers from other sources, but the choice must be approved by Prof. Breen one week before the deadline.

You will need to access these web sites through the Drexel Library home page in order download papers for free.
Search for "ACM Digital Library".

Here is an outstanding example of a research paper presentation.

Deadline: June 11th


Recorded lectures can be viewed via the class Bb Learn page by following the "Echo360 Class Recordings" link.


Syllabus

Week 1 - 4/1/26

Week 2 - 4/8/26

Week 3 - 4/15/26

Week 4 - 4/22/26

Week 5 - 4/29/26

Week 6 - 5/6/26

Week 7 - 5/13/26

Week 8 - 5/20/24

Week 9 - 5/27/26

Week 10 - 6/3/26




Last modified April 22, 2026.