Fall Quarter 2026

Description:

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

Description:

This course prepares entrepreneurial students to address financial concerns within their startup company. Topics may include finding and assessing sources of funding, making strategic plans on what to do with funds once secured. Lessons will be directly integrated to a students LaunchPad business.

Description:

Creating skeletal structures for humanoid characters. Mastery of a wide range of rigging techniques such as reversed foot lock, wrist control, spline IK, facial controls, and weight painting.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

This class will help students develop advanced figure-drawing skills through various exercises drawing the human body in various shapes and positions. This class is an art study into major anatomical structures of human body.

Description:

This course is an introduction to aesthetics and explores the philosophy of art and beauty. Questions we will explore include: What makes art art? Is beauty solely in the eye of the beholder? Are there specific, objective qualities that make something beautiful and, if so, what are they? Can beauty draw us closer to God? How do art and beauty relate to metaphysics? Are judgments of taste inextricably bound to subjective feeling or are they objective and intellectual? What can we learn from art and beauty? We will look at and critique various ways great thinkers have responded to these questions. Special focus will be given to the role beauty and art can play in coming to knowledge of God.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

This class will help students develop advanced figure-drawing skills through various exercises drawing the human body in various shapes and positions. This class is an art study into major anatomical structures of human body.

Description:

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

Description:

Exploration of the history of electronic game technology, game genres, major hardware gaming platforms, major software game engines, various game developers, game publisher, and the work of leading exponents of game/animation design to broaden students’ vision, understanding, and appreciation of game art & design evolution.

Description:

This course introduces students to understanding how we dress ourselves. Students study the components and language of fashion - how and what we communicate through what we wear. Intended for those who want to study fashion, costume design, or understand how to dress a character.

Description:

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

Description:

Advanced study in character animation that revolves around 3D CGI character performance.

Description:

This class expands on many of the skills learned in the Fundamentals of Production class. Students will learn intermediate camera and lighting techniques and how to use these specific tools to communicate a story visually. Specific emphasis will be on image composition, lens characteristics, codecs and formats, camera settings, specific lighting styles and instruments, and how the camera and lights complement and support the storytelling experience.

Description:

This class examines early Church history, covering the second to seventh centuries, through the lens of significant Catholic theological concepts. Students in this class will learn about and discuss the Tradition�s role in the development of fundamental doctrines, as well as the Church�s response to early heresies.

Description:

This course provides a framework to develop greater emotional resilience and lower stress and anxiety through prayer and meditation. Compassion training develops the strength to be with the suffering, the courage to take compassionate action, and the resilience to prevent compassion fatigue. Actors are strongly encouraged to take this class to prepare for the demands of accessing authentic emotions in their work

Description:

The student will learn the basics of scriptwriting and will combine this knowledge with previously acquired writing and storytelling skills to write an animated short film script. Students will hone their presentation skills to pitch their scripts. They will work in small groups, with instructor guidance, to create visual designs for characters and locations, character bios, storyboards, and an animation pitch bible.

Description:

This class is designed to provide students with the opportunity to further their drawing skills. Students will draw architectural structures, landscape and people on location from direct observation.

Description TBA

Description TBA

Description:

This course engages the essential practice of rewriting scripts for the screen with the goal of elevating the quality of student screenplays. Students will revisit the fundamental principles of screenwriting and consider a variety of rewriting strategies as they apply those screenwriting fundamentals rewriting and polishing their own scripts and the work of others.

Description:

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

Description:

This course will provide an analysis of music and sound as they relate to the construction of feature films, television, and video games.

Description:

Applied Market Research offers students an overview of market research techniques and primary and secondary research strategies informed by a Christian code of conduct. The course is designed to provide them with the principles, vocabulary, tools and practice necessary to identify a market demographic, write a research brief, develop and implement a research study, and analyze the findings.

Description:

This course will teach students how to write and speak effectively in business and other communication.

Description:

This class builds on the topics covered in Hard Surface Modeling I and introduces modeling with NURBS. Students will explore the pros and cons of working with NURBS and model several kinds of vehicles.

Description:

This course builds on the work completed in Fundamentals of Story Development. Students will at a minimum write the first two acts of a screenplay. They will read classic and modern screenplays. Class time will be dedicated to covering intermediate topics including scene transitions, writing with subtext, visual writing, and further developing skills in scene and dialogue writing and script formatting, and finding solutions to writer's block. Students will critique one another's work in small groups, with instructor supervision and guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write.

Description:

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

Description:

In this class students get a “big picture” look at the ingredients of a start-up firm and the process of creating one. The class details those ingredients, discusses the stories (good & bad) of people who have done it, and learn the process by going through it with a self-select team. Students learn: the business planning process, which maps how to move from an idea to an actual enterprise offering an actual product/service/apostolate; How to craft a compelling and clear business story that captures the true essence of your business; and finally acquire inquisitiveness as to how the world of business really works. The class deliverable is a complete Business Plan created by student teams along with a presentation of the plan.

Description:

This class builds off of DIGM316 to further explore the role of a character designer in animated film and T.V. through several intermediate to advanced design exercises.

Description:

This course guides students through the preparatory process for writing a novel. Special attention will be given to writing pitches, building characters, finessing plot, and choosing point-of-view. We will also be reading successful novels and allowing them to guide us as we compose the scaffolding for the next great American novel: yours.

Description:

This class examines Catholic spirituality from the perspective of St. Bonaventure, the Church's Seraphic/Spiritual Doctor and one of the most formidable scholastic thinkers next to St. Thomas Aquinas. Students in this class will read and discuss two of Bonaventure's great spiritual treatises:�The Triple Way and The Mind's Journey into God.

Description:

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

Description:

This course prepares entrepreneurial students to address financial concerns within their startup company. Topics may include finding and assessing sources of funding, making strategic plans on what to do with funds once secured. Lessons will be directly integrated to a students LaunchPad business.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

The purpose of this class is to review current information about companies and business trends, to learn important lessons regarding the products they are selling and the markets they are serving. Students will use real-world and timely experience from a variety of businesses by reading the Wall Street Journal. Students will also become proficient in brief Power Point presentations.

Description:

Students will learn how to effectively communicate visually through a brand to create several compelling and cohesive identities.

Description:

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

Description:

Students learn to analyze and exploration directorial approaches used in film and television, looking particularly at the creative use of cameras, sound, composition, and communication with those in front of and behind the camera. They explore, from a directorial perspective, the expressive potential of the image within. They learn methodologies, which stimulate visual creativity and positioning the image as the fundamental element of cinematic expression. They engage in exercises in the analysis of script and for purpose of directing actors to obtain the best possible performance.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how such discipleship might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, connecting faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and support vocational discernment.

Description:

This class revolves around creation and application of realistic and stylized textures and light schemes to produce depth and meaning in 3D computer generated scenes. Students will explore into various texturing techniques, while generating diffuse, specular, bump, and normal maps.

Description:

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

Description:

This class will study some of the most important films in American cinema to understand the cultural context in which they were created, the role of the director in the filmmaking process, and the lasting legacy that the various films enjoy.

Description:

This course allows students to learn about the publishing industry, branding, self-marketing, and the process by which literary works are brought to the public. Special focus is given to providing students with practical tips and tools for sharing their own original work with a wider audience.

Description:

Explore and familiarize yourself with the principles, equipment, and technology involved in the process of live audio reinforcement. Learn to set up, operate, and troubleshoot typical sound system equipment, and study acoustics and live recording techniques, materials and physics.

Description:

This course introduces students to understanding how we dress ourselves. Students study the components and language of fashion - how and what we communicate through what we wear. Intended for those who want to study fashion, costume design, or understand how to dress a character.

Description:

This class will focus on the basic fundamentals of post-production, which includes picture and sound editing, media management, media capture and the various editing techniques available to editors to communicate ideas. The class will cover the history of cinematic editing and the impact it has had on visual storytelling, as well as the various styles of editing that make up the language of cinema. Students will learn and use editing software to edit various projects and assignments.

Description:

In this course students identify their specialized interest and value within the media industry, and through the creation of a comprehensive career strategy, use specialized knowledge, skills and experience to prepare themselves to be hired by media companies and promote themselves within the media industry. The class will also look at the unique world of freelancing and give students the tools necessary to venture into self-employment.

Description:

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change, and capture in their progress subtle movements of human consciousness, along with pivotal transformations of human hearts.

Description:

This course is designed to help teach students about the process of level design and various styles of types of level design that are used in the games industry. This class will utilize various methods of design and understanding from various sources and will attempt to test and implement the knowledge from previous classes to attempt to solve practical level design problems

Description TBA

Description:

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

Description:

In this class students get a “big picture” look at the ingredients of a start-up firm and the process of creating one. The class details those ingredients, discusses the stories (good & bad) of people who have done it, and learn the process by going through it with a self-select team. Students learn: the business planning process, which maps how to move from an idea to an actual enterprise offering an actual product/service/apostolate; How to craft a compelling and clear business story that captures the true essence of your business; and finally acquire inquisitiveness as to how the world of business really works. The class deliverable is a complete Business Plan created by student teams along with a presentation of the plan.

Description:

This class fosters the skill of creating a character with little or no preparation, as is often the case in television audition situations.

Description:

An analysis of music and social structures surrounding 20th Century American Music, including jazz, rock and roll, and hip-hop.

Description:

Building upon previous philosophy courses, this class examines the causes of human knowledge. Specifically, students will be introduced to philosophical solutions to questions relating to the nature of knowledge, the object of knowledge, the role of the internal and external senses, and the concepts of truth and certainty. After thoroughly examining the sophisticated understandings of the nature of truth and certainty found in Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, we will closely examine the skepticism of the modern period through the writings of Hume, and the systematization of the structure of the mind in Kantian idealism, concluding in the 20th Century attempt to fuse idealism and realism in Martin Heidegger.

Description:

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

Description:

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

Description:

In this course students learn the human-centered design process, which moves from concrete observations about people to abstract thinking then back to the concrete with tangible solutions that are desirable, feasible, and viable in today's global business environment. 

Description TBA

Description:

From first reading through to performance, students rehearse and perform a play from a classic or contemporary writer. Students must audition to register for this class. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.

Description:

As this course engages apparently timeless literary works from the classical tradition, it situates them within specific historical contexts. This approach enables students to come to both a greater appreciation of the enduring power of story, and a recognition of the relationship of works of art with their surrounding culture. Masterworks of pagan antiquity (Homer and/or Virgil) give way to key texts of early Christendom (Augustine, Beowulf, et al) in order to further illuminate the impact of Christian theology and anthropology on artists and thinkers in myriad disciplines.

Description:

What exactly is the �New Evangelization�? To answer that question, this course will examine the progression of evangelization throughout Church history, from the ministry of Christ and his Apostles through the Second Vatican Council. Particular emphasis will be given to Pope Paul VI's apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975). Finally, the course will conclude with the concept, methodology, and challenges of the New Evangelization as discussed in the writings of Karol Wojty_a, Joseph Ratzinger, and other Catholic writers.

Description:

Introduction and overview of the real estate industry. Topics may include ownership, transfer, encumbrances, agency, contracts, finance, escrow and title insurance. When completed with BUSI237 Real Estate Principles II, fulfils part of the requirement for students to take the California Department of Real Estate Salespersons license exam.

Description:

Using the simplicity of basic 2D animation, students will become familiar with some of the basic “Disney: 12 Principles of Animation.” Through lectures and projects, students will create several short animation projects that include: Key Pose Animation, Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Arcs, and Action Timing. Whether 2D, CG, or stop motion animation, these principles are the backbone for all character animation projects.

Description:

This course introduces students to pattern making and garment construction, learning core concepts on how to transform creative ideas into wearable designs. Students will apply construction principles from commercial patterns to make apparel, with an emphasis on basic construction techniques and fundamental fitting.

Description:

This class examines Catholic history, from the seventh century to the Early Modern Period, through the lens of significant Catholic theological concepts. Students in this class will learn about and discuss the crowning of Charlemagne, the first five crusades, the Reformation, the discovery of the New World, and the last great battle involving the Military Orders.

Description:

This course consists of rehearsal of scenes from classic and contemporary American playwrights including Miller, Williams, Shepard, Foote and others. 

Description:

This course will emphasize the use of correct grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics. Students will be required to apply these skills to writing assignments.

Description:

Introduction to the elements and principles of design, composition design, color theory, color psychology, and basic typography. Practical guidance in color mixing and the visual impact of specific color combinations to support traditional and digital design work.

Description:

Building on game design concepts learned in Fundamentals of Game Design, this course focuses on creating digital prototypes in order to test and evaluate gameplay mechanics, aesthetics, and control schemes. Prototyping for specific audiences such as investors, publishers, and churches will also be explored.

Description:

The senior project is a series of courses (up to three) in which students will work either individually or as part of a team and create or contribute to a significant media project that spotlights their area of emphasis. Class I is the pre-production phase. Instructor approval is required to take this class.

Description:

A symposium for performance practice and refinement of musical performance skills. Piano, voice, and instrumental performances will be critiqued and improved through technical feedback and master classes, culminating in a concert performance for the entire student body.

Description TBA

Description:

After providing an overview of the basic principles of the Philosophy of Nature, this course examines the nature of the human being, beginning from the Epic of Gilgamesh, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the Renaissance via Blaise Pascal, and concluding in the modern period in Nietzsche, Freud and T. S. Eliot. 

Description:

A thorough breakdown of the process of creating from initial concepts to final design taught by professionals in the design industry.

Description:

This course provides students with a fundamental approach to playing Shakespeare. Particular emphasis will be placed on a rhetorical approach to text and punctuation utilizing Shakespeare's First Folio as the key to unlocking the text in a presentational actor/audience experience.

Description TBA

Description:

After providing an overview of the basic principles of the Philosophy of Nature, this course examines the nature of the human being, beginning from the Epic of Gilgamesh, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the Renaissance via Blaise Pascal, and concluding in the modern period in Nietzsche, Freud and T. S. Eliot. 

Description TBA