Course List and Program Requirements
University Core Curriculum
Game Degree Site
Faculty Members

All the great game ideas and designs in the world would be for naught without people with the skills to make these ideas reality. That's where the game programmers come in. Electronic games rely on their code base to realize the design, interaction and visual aspects of the play experience. Courses in game programming will emphasize the essential issues and the skills required to develop games for multiple platforms such as web, console, PC and mobile devices. These skills have broader applications in related industries; for example in entertainment, business, research and training. Game programming students focus on programming principles, skills and techniques shared in all programming disciplines but focus on programming game-specific issues. Game programming emphasizes C++ programming, scripting, data handling, DirectX/Open GL development, game engine architecture, gameplay system, artificial intelligence, networking and more. Students in game programming will also develop a critical approach to the study of gameplay, interaction and design.

Game Programming Objectives (BS)

Analyze problems and design, build and test software systems in a team environment using industry-standard software engineering processes encompassing all phases of the software lifecycle to solve them.
Demonstrate the ability to choose the most appropriate programming languages, standards and technologies to meet the requirements of specific projects and communicate these decisions clearly in written and oral forms.
Using the principles and languages standard in video game programming, create and implement original games utilizing industry standard tools and software for web, console, PC and mobile game platforms.
Integrate and analyze artificial intelligence programming practices into code structures and designs in order to facilitate the completion of game project and implement a given game design.
Establish an industry-style programming production timeline and justify its strengths and weaknesses.
Design and develop the architecture needed to support a complete game project, including but not limited to visualization, data handling, networking and gameplay.