The Vision, Graphics, Interaction, and Robotics Track


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Vision, Graphics, Interaction, and Robotics (VGIR)

The Vision, Graphics, Interaction, and Robotics Track is intended for students who wish to develop their knowledge of Computer Vision and Computer Graphics. The track also includes courses in related fields, such as Robotics, Machine Learning, and User Interfaces. Many of the courses are taught by faculty in the Columbia Vision and Graphics Center.


SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete a total of 30 points (Courses must be at the 4000 level or above)
  • Maintain at least a 2.7 overall GPA. (No more than 1 D is permitted).
  • Complete the Columbia Engineering Professional Development & Leadership (PDL) requirement
  • Satisfy breadth requirements
  • Take at least 6 points of technical courses at the 6000 level
  • At most, up to 3 points of your degree can be Non-CS/Non-track If they are deemed relevant to your track and sufficiently technical in nature. Submit the Non-CS/NonTrack form and the course syllabus to your CS Faculty Advisor for review

1. Breadth Courses

Visit the breadth requirement page for more information.

2. Required Track Courses

Students are required to complete 2 of the following 7 courses. Students who have taken equivalent courses in the past and received grades of at least a B may apply for waivers and take other CS courses instead.

Course ID

Title

COMS W4160  Computer Graphics
COMS W4167  Computer Animation
COMS W4170  User Interface Design
COMS W4172  3D User Interfaces and Augmented Reality
COMS W4731  Computer Vision
COMS W4732  Computer Vision II
COMS W4733  Computational Aspects of Robotics
COMS W4735  Visual Interfaces to Computers
COMS W4771 or W4721*  Machine Learning or Machine Learning for Data Science
COMS W4737 (E6737)  Biometrics

* Due to significant overlap, students can receive credits for only one of these courses (either COMS W4771 Machine Learning or COMS W4721 Machine Learning for Data Science).

3. Elective Track Courses

Students are required to complete 2 courses from the following list. At least one of these courses must be a 6000-level CS course.

Course ID

Title

COMS W4160 Computer Graphics
COMS W4162 Advanced Computer Graphics
COMS W4165 Computational Techniques in Pixel Processing
COMS W4167 Computer Animation
COMS W4170 User Interface Design
COMS W4172 3D User Interfaces and Augmented Reality
COMS W4731 Computer Vision
COMS W4733 Computational Aspects of Robotics
COMS W4735 Visual Interfaces to Computers
COMS W4737 Biometrics
COMS W4771 or W4721* Machine Learning or Machine Learning for Data Science
COMS W4772 Advanced Machine Learning and Perception
COMS W4995 Visit the topics courses page to see which COMS 4995 courses apply to this track.
COMS E6160 Topics in Computer Graphics
COMS E6161 Rendering
COMS E6174 Interaction Design: A Perceptual Approach
COMS E6176 User Interfaces for Mobile & Wearable Computing
COMS E6178 Human–Computer Interaction
COMS E6731 Humanoid Robots
COMS E6732 Computational Imaging
COMS E6733 3-D Photography
COMS E6734 Computational Photography
COMS E6735 Visual Databases
COMS E6737 Biometrics
 COMS E6901 Projects in Computer Science (Advisor approval required)
COMS E6998 Visit the topics courses page to see which COMS 6998 courses apply to this track.
MECS E6615 Advanced Robotic Manipulation

*Due to significant overlap, MS students not in the Machine Learning track can only take 1 of the following courses – COMS 4771, COMS 4721, ELEN 4903, IEOR 4525, STAT 4240, STAT 4400/4241/5241 – as part of their degree requirements.

5. General Electives

Students must complete the remaining credits with appropriate General Elective graduate courses; 3 credits at the 6000 level and 3 credits at the 4000 level or above. Students may also request to use at most 3 points of Non-CS/Non-Track coursework if approved by the process listed below.

  • Non-CS/Non-Track: CS MS students may request up to 3 points of Non-CS/Non-Track points to count toward their 30-point MS program. CS Track advisor may review and approve if the course is determined to be relevant to the CS MS track and sufficiently technical in nature. Students should send the Non-CS/Non-Track Form and the course syllabus to their Track Advisor for review.
Please note:
  • Due to a significant overlap in course material, MS students not in the Machine Learning track can only take 1 of the following courses – COMS 4771, COMS 4721, ELEN 4903, IEOR 4525, STAT 4240, STAT 4400/4241/5241 – as part of their degree requirements
  • Students who waive track requirements by using previous courses must still complete 30 graduate credits. This can be done by expanding their elective selection to include courses listed as required track courses and elective track courses; or by taking other graduate courses
  • The Degree Progress Checklist should be used to keep track of your requirements. If you have questions for your Track Advisor or CS Advising, you should have an updated Checklist prepared

TRACK PLANNING

Please visit the Directory of Classes to get the updated course listings. Please also note that not all courses are offered every semester or even every year. A few courses are offered only once every two or three years or even less frequently.


Updated 3/26/2024