Computer Game Design and Development

Programs Offered

• Minor in Computer Game Design and Development

The design and development of computer games is a rapidly growing academic area. It is highly interdisciplinary and is having a major impact on all levels of education. The gaming industry requires specialists with a variety of backgrounds. Game companies need artists, mathematicians and computer scientists, but also writers for story building, psychologists for creating a fun factor in games, and business-savvy professionals, who ensure financial soundness of the endeavors. In addition, the use of games by a growing part of the population has serious societal and legal implications that need to be studied. This computer gaming minor is a blend of several disciplines, including a wide range of academic areas, such as Art, Business, Mathematics, Psychology and Computer Science. This minor is meant to meet the need of an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares students with a working knowledge necessary to pursue a career in the gaming industry. As such it is consistent with the interdisciplinary mission of CSUCI.

Careers [top]

This interdisciplinary minor will provide students with the skills needed for a variety of careers in the field of Computer Game Design and Development. Students in this minor will receive a foundation in artistic, mathematical, psychological and computer programming tools and techniques relevant to the design and development of computer games as well as in business methodologies applicable to Computer Gaming. Legal and societal implications of computer games will also be studied.

Faculty [top]

William J. Wolfe, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science
Chair, Computer Science Program
Bell Tower West, Room 2225
(805) 437-8985
william.wolfe@csuci.edu 

Peter Smith, Ph.D. Professor of Computer Science
Academic Advisor
Bell Tower West, Room 2265
(805) 437-8882
peter.smith@csuci.edu 

Andrzej A. J. Bieszczad, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Director of the Masters Program
Sage Hall, Room 218
(805) 437-2773
aj.bieszczad@csuci.edu 

Ivona Grzegorczyk, Ph.D.
Professor of Mathematics
Chair, Mathematics Program
Academic Advisor for Mathematics and
Single Subject Credential in Mathematics
Bell Tower West, Room 2275
(805) 437-8868
ivona.grze@csuci.edu 

Liz King, MFA
Assistant Professor of Art
Bell Tower West, Room 1215
Phone: (805) 437-8556
liz.king@csuci.edu 

Contact Information [top]

http://compsci.csuci.edu

Requirements for the Minor in Computer Game Design and Development (24-39 Units) [top]

Lower-Division Requirements (12 units)
(including pre-/co-requisites)

COMP 105 Introduction to Programming (3)
MATH 137 Strategies and Game Design (3)
ART 205 Multimedia (3)
ART 206 Animation (3)

Upper-Division Requirements (3 units)
(including pre-/co-requisites)

COMP 437 Foundations of Computer Game Development (3) 

Lower and Upper-Division Electives (9 units)
(not including pre-requisite courses)

Select three courses from the following list.
Note: Prerequisites are indicated in parentheses.

 Note: If students choose among the following four courses the computer gaming minor may be completed with 24 units.

ART 315 Animation Media and Techniques (3) (ART 206)
ART 327 Communication Design Technology: Multimedia Theory and Process (3) (ART 205)
COMP 337 Survey of Computer Gaming (3)
MGT 307 Management of Organizations (3) 

Courses on this list have prerequisites that may increase the number of units needed for the minor.
ART 326 Digital Media Art: 3D Computer Animation (3) (ART 206, ART 312)
ART 492 Internship (1-3) (Senior Standing, Art Program Portfolio, and consent of the instructor)
ART 494 Directed Independent Study (1-3) (Senior Standing, Art Program Portfolio, and consent of the instructor)
COMP 350 Introduction to Software Engineering (3) (COMP 150, COMP 151, COMP 162, COMP 232, COMP 262)
COMP 425 Computer Game Programming (3) (COMP 150, COMP 151)
COMP 464 Computer Graphics I (3) (COMP 150 COMP 151, COMP 162, COMP 232, COMP 262, COMP 350, MATH 240)
COMP 469 Artificial Intelligence (3) (COMP 232, COMP 262, COMP 350, COMP 362)
COMP 492 Internship in the Arts (1-3) (Upper division standing and program approval of written proposal)
COMP 494 Independent Research (1-3) (Upper division standing and Program approval of written proposal)
MATH 437 Mathematics for Game Development (3) (MATH 137 or MATH 300)
MATH 354 Analysis of Algorithms (3) (MATH 300 and some computer programming experience)
MATH 492 Internship (1-3) (Upper division standing and program approval of written proposal)
MATH 494 Independent Study (1-3) (Upper division standing and program approval of written proposal)
MGT 471 Project Management (3) (MGT 307)
PSY/COMP 449 Human-Computer Interactions (3)  (Programming experience or consent of instructor)

 

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