Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - CMPT 767 G100

Visualization (3)

Class Number: 6957

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Advanced topics in data visualization. Topics covered may include principles of data representation, data presentation, data interaction, data physicalization, data and visualization literacy, data visualization and diversity, open data, and public personal data visualization. Students with credit for CMPT 878 or 775 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Presents advanced topics in the field of scientific and information visualization. Topics include an introduction to visualization (importance, basic approaches, and existing tools), abstract visualization concepts, human perception, visualization methodology, data representation, 2D and 3D display, interactive visualization, and their use in medical, scientific, and business applications.

Course Details:

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the research field of Interactive Information Visualization. The course presents both seminal and recent work in InfoVis by looking at a variety of topics from the research field. It will cover a subset of the topics listed below. Each of these topics contains a fundamental approach to creating information visualizations. Each has its own guiding principles, its own significant publications, and its own research methods. While we will discuss each separately, keep in mind that, in reality, some chosen subset of these is usually used in conjunction.

Prerequisites may be waived by submitting a CMPT Prerequisite waiver form here: https://www.sfu.ca/fas/computing/current-students/undergraduates/forms.html
Students should have reasonable programming abilities (Example: CMPT 225, CMPT 276 with a minumum grade of C-.)

Topics covered (tentative)

  1. Representation of data, data to visual mappings
  2. Design thinking
  3. Presentation of data – layout and spatial organization
  4. Principles of perception as applied to data visualization
  5. Externalization and the use of sketch-based methods
  6. Data driven design
  7. Personal visualization
  8. Task-based visualization design
  9. Constructive visualization
  10. Physicalization
  11. Interaction and visualization
  12. Communication, data-driven storytelling and visualization literacy
  13. Evaluation methodologies
  14. Applications of visualization

Grading

  • Class activities, quizzes, and assignments 50%
  • Final Project 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Tamara Munzner: Visualization Analysis and Design
A.K. Peters
2014


ISBN: 9781466508910

RECOMMENDED READING:

Jacques Bertin: Semiology of Graphics: Diagram, Networks and Maps
Esri Press
2010
ISBN: 9781589482616

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Graduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.