Undergraduate Concentration in Game Development

The Department of Computer Science offers a concentration in game development to undergraduate students majoring in Computer Science at NC State. The game development concentration allows the student to develop an understanding of the scientific and technological principles associated with the design and development of computer and console games for both entertainment and serious applications.

Objectives of the Concentration in Game Development
The objectives of concentration are to:

graduate skilled computer scientists with deep knowledge in the algorithms, processes and technologies used to make games
balance training in the technologies of games with the same breadth in Computer Science instruction as all Computer Science students
provide students with a a multi-disciplinary view of game creation by requiring specific courses from other disciplines that contribute to the process of game creation

Program of Study

Students take all courses required for the CSC major. Concentration course selection for Restricted and Other Electives is constrained to focus on specific courses directly related to game design and development. Specifically, all students pursuing the concentration must take both CSC 461, Computer Graphics, and CSC 481, Game Design and Development. Further, students must take either CSC 462, Advanced Graphics Projects or CSC 482, Advanced Game Development Projects. Students must select two additional CSC courses from the following list:

CSC 411 Artificial Intelligence
CSC 454 Human-Computer Interaction
CSC 462 Introduction to Graphics
CSC 482 Game Design and Development
CSC 582 Computer Models of Interactive Narrative

Students pursuing the Game Development Concentration must select their Other Electives from the following list (note that, with the exception of MUS 306, these classes are approved as Other Electives ONLY for the Game Development Concentration)

ENG 282, Introduction to Film
ENG 288, Fiction Writing
ENG 376, Science Fiction
ENG 377, Fantasy
ENG 492, Special Topics in Film
MUS 306. Music Composition with Computers

The Computer Science Game Development Concentration semester-by-semester curriculum is shown in the table below.

Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year

Freshman Year- Fall Semester

Courses		Credits
CH 101 & 102 General Chemistry 1 & Lab ¹^{, 2}		4
E 101 Intro. to Engineering ¹^{, 2}		1
E 115 Intro. to Computer Environments¹		1
ENG 101 Intro to Academic Writing ¹^{, 2}		4
MA 141 Calculus 1 ¹^{, 2}		4
Semester Total Credits:		14

Freshman Year- Spring Semester

Course(s)		Credits
CSC 116 Intro to Comp. Java²		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective ³		3
MA 241 Calculus II^{1, 2}		4
PY 205 Physics I ¹^{, 2}		4
PE 101-109 Health & Physical Fitness		1
Semester Total Credits:		15

Sophomore Year- Fall Semester

Courses		Credits
CSC 216 Programming Concepts²		3
CSC 226 Applied Discrete Mathematics²		3
MA 242 Calculus III		4
PY 208 Physics II		4
PE *** Physical Education Elective		1
Semester Total Credits:		15

Sophomore Year- Spring Semester

Courses		Credits
CSC 230 C and Software Tools		3
CSC 316 Data Structures		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective³		3
MA 305 Elementary Linear Algebra		3
* * Basic Science Elective 4		3
Semester Total Credits:		15

Junior Year- Fall Semester

Courses		Credits
CSC 236 Comp. Org. & Assem. Lang.		3
CSC 246 Operating Systems		3
CSC 302/333 Numerical Methods or Automata Theory		3
ST 370 Probability & Statistics for Engineers		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective³		3
Semester Total Credits:		15

Junior Year- Spring Semester

Courses		Credits
CSC 326 Software Engineering		3
CSC 379 Ethics in Computing		1
CSC *** CSC Games Restricted Elect.⁵		3
EC 205 Econ. or EC 201 or ARE 201		3
ENG 331 Comm. for Engineering & Tech.		3
* * Games Restricted Elective⁸		3
Semester Total Credits:		16

Senior Year- Fall Semester

CSC 461 Computer Graphics		3
CSC 481 Game Development		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective³		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective³		3
* * Games Restricted Elective⁸		3
Semester Total Credits:		15

Senior Year- Spring Semester

CSC 4** Advanced Games Elective⁹		3
CSC *** CSC Games Restricted Elect.⁵		3
* * Humanities/Social Science Elective³		3
* * Games Restricted Elective⁸		3
CSC 492 Senior Design Project		3
Semester Total Credits:		15

Minimum hours required for graduation = 120^6,7. *** *** Indicates choices, see notes below.

Courses required for Matriculation: CH 101 & 102, E 101, E 115, ENG 101, MA 141, MA 241, and PY 205.
D grades are not accepted in CH 101 & 102, E 101, ENG 101, MA 141, MA 241, PY 205, CSC 116, CSC 216, and CSC 226.
See College of Engineering list of Humanities/Social Sciences/Science-Technology-Society Requirements: http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/undergrad/curricula/documents/HSS2006.pdf. At least one of the seven humanities/social sciences/STS courses must focus on a non-English speaking culture, or an additional course must be selected.
To be selected from CH 201, PY 123, 124, or any PY with a prerequisite of PY 208, any PB, BIO, MEA, or ZO.
To be selected from CSC411, CSC454, CSC462, CSC482 or CSC582.
The GPA earned in all courses attempted at NCSU must be 2.0 or higher to satisfy University graduation requirements.
In addition, the College of Engineering requires either a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all courses bearing the CSC designation
or a grade of C- or higher in each CSC course used to satisfy the requirements in the major.
All students who graduate from NCSU must demonstrate competency in a foreign language at the 102 level.
To be selected from ENG 282, ENG 288. ENG 376, ENG 377, ENG 492 (Special Topics in Film) or MUS 306.
To be selected from CSC 462, CSC 482.

For more details

For more information, interested students should contact the CSC Director of Undergraduate Advising:

Dr. Barbara Adams
Department of Computer Science
NC State University
890 Oval Drive, Box 8206
1204C - Engineering Building II
Raleigh, NC 27695-8206
919-515-7027

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