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BS in Computer Game Design and Development

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Game Design and Development equips students and graduates with the skills and knowledge to apply computing and software engineering techniques to the design and production of digital media for entertainment, research, and education.  As a specialization within the field of computing, game design and development builds on and applies expertise in computing hardware and software to create engaging and immersive multimedia systems.

The program exposes students to the breadth of the field in the areas of digital media, human-computer interaction, the history and theory of gaming, game design, 2D and 3D graphics, simulation, modeling, software engineering, artificial intelligence, data structures, and algorithms.  Current and emerging domains including online games (and massively multiplayer games or MMOG), casual games, mobile games, and serious/educational games are explored.  Students are also required to select an upper-level concentration within the program to ensure depth in their program of study.  While these concentrations will change as the field evolves, current offerings include media-production, distributed-mobile, education-serious, planning-management, and simulation-informatics.

One of the more innovative aspects of the program is the inclusion of a significant studio experience for students in their senior year.  This two-course sequence provides an opportunity for students to be mentored by faculty and their peers in the first semester and in turn mentor fellow students in the second semester.  The year-long capstone project developed in these courses is a vital component in graduates’ portfolios and will be showcased on the program’s Web site.  Moreover, giving the recruitment and hiring practices in the digital entertainment and computer gaming industry, portfolios are crucial in helping graduates secure employment in the industry.

A few years after graduation, graduates from the program will

  1. Be successful professionals in the field with solid fundamental knowledge of gaming and computing, making valuable technical contributions to the design, development, and production of computer game systems and related applications.
  2. Utilize and exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as professional and ethical principles when functioning as members and leaders of multi-disciplinary teams.
  3. Be sufficiently prepared for their first and subsequent positions, as they are independent learners, including learning new, rapidly-changing technologies and applying them in their game systems development.

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

  • Decompose and solve complex problems through artifacts of computing such as hardware, software specifications, code and other written documents
  • Demonstrate an understanding of computing principles in the areas of programming, data structures, architecture, systems, graphics, and artificial intelligence and how they relate to computer game design and development
  • Utilize mathematics and science in game design and development
  • Apply principles of game design and development to generate a portfolio showcasing their successful industrial experience, research, and/or creative works
  • Demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in historic and emerging domains and genres of computer gaming and interaction
  • Demonstrate an understanding of social, professional, global, and ethical issues related to computing
  • Work effectively in teams on system development projects
  • Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

If you interested in this program, please contact

Dr Jon Preston
Program Coordinator BS CGDD
Email: jpreston@spsu.edu
Telephone: 678-915-4982