Learn More and ApplyGame Programming (BS)

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​Students in this program engage in the rigorous study of computer science basics, and then apply this knowledge to the demanding specialization of game programming. Programmers bring their technical understanding of game internals to the problem of delivering engaging game experiences to players. Areas of study include level design, game scripting, computer graphics development, game physics, and artificial intelligence programming.

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 76
Major Requirements 100
Open Electives 16
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

​Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate proficiency with C++ programming language.
  • Create and design large software systems using design pattern techniques.
  • Design and implement real-time game engine.
  • Apply graphics and rendering techniques to support game engine operations.
  • Create and manage the development schedule of a large software project.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
LSP 112 FOCAL POINT SEMINAR 4
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
Not Required
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 4
Senior Year
Capstone
Required in major 1
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 2 Courses Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 Lab Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 3 Courses Required 

Note

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.​

Major Requirements

First Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
CSC 241INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I 14
CSC 242INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE II 14
CSC 300DATA STRUCTURES I4
GAM 226FUNDAMENTALS OF GAME DESIGN4
GAM 245GAME DEVELOPMENT II4
GAM 340PRACTICAL SCRIPTING FOR GAMES4
MAT 140DISCRETE MATHEMATICS I4
1

Students with one (1) semester programming experience may take CSC 243 and one (1) additional Major Elective in lieu of CSC 241 and CSC 242.

 Second Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
ANI 2303D DESIGN & MODELING4
CSC 301DATA STRUCTURES II4
CSC 361OPTIMIZED C++4
CSC 373COMPUTER SYSTEMS I4
GAM 341INTRODUCTION TO LEVEL DESIGN4
Four (4) credit hours of Major Electives4

Third Year 

Course Title Quarter Hours
GAM 325APPLIED 3D GEOMETRY4
GAM 372OBJECT-ORIENTED GAME DEVELOPMENT4
GAM 374GAME ENGINE PROGRAMMING I4
GAM 377GAME ENGINE PROGRAMMING II4
GAM 392GAME MODIFICATION WORKSHOP4
GPH 329COMPUTER GRAPHICS DEVELOPMENT II4
or GAM 370 RENDERING AND GRAPHICS PROGRAMMING
Four (4) credit hours of Major Electives4

Fourth Year 

Course Title Quarter Hours
CSC 386
CSC 394
REAL-TIME NETWORKING (FORMERLY GAM 390)
and SOFTWARE PROJECTS
8
or GAM 394
GAM 395
GAME DEVELOPMENT PROJECT I
and GAME DEVELOPMENT PROJECT II
Twelve (12) credit hours of Major Electives12

Major Electives

Major Electives must be chosen from the courses below:

Computer Science Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS
DATABASE SYSTEMS
EXPERT SYSTEMS
DISCRETE MATHEMATICS II

Computer Systems Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION TO COMPILER DESIGN
ADVANCED DATABASE CONCEPTS
OPTIMIZED C++ MULTITHREADING
COMPUTER SYSTEMS II
REAL-TIME MULTITHREADED ARCHITECTURE

Game AI Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
FOUNDATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
SYMBOLIC PROGRAMMING
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR COMPUTER GAMES

Game Design Electives 

Course Title Quarter Hours
GAMES LITERACY
PRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION
HISTORY AND DESIGN OF ROLE-PLAYING GAMES
PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING FOR GAMES
ADVANCED LEVEL DESIGN
EXPRESSIVE AUDIO SCRIPTING IN GAMES
MAKING DEEP GAMES
ADVANCED GAME DESIGN
TOPICS IN GAME DESIGN

Game Development Studio Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
GAME DEVELOPMENT I

Game Programming Electives 

Course Title Quarter Hours
TOOL PROGRAMMING FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT
AUGMENTED REALITY GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
VIRTUAL REALITY GAME DEVELOPMENT
CONSOLE GAME DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS
TOPICS IN GAME PROGRAMMING

Graphics/Animation/Sound Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
3D ANIMATION
MOTION CAPTURE
3D RIGGING
ADVANCED 3D RIGGING
GAME SOUND DESIGN I
REAL-TIME GRAPHICS TECHNIQUES

Multiplayer Games Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS
REAL-TIME NETWORKING (FORMERLY GAM 390)

Mobile Games Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT FOR IOS
MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT FOR ANDROID
MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT FOR IOS II
MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT FOR ANDROID II
GAME PROGRAMMING FOR MOBILE DEVICES

Physics Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
PHYSICS FOR GAME DEVELOPERS
GENERAL PHYSICS I

Software Engineering Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
SOFTWARE TESTING
OBJECT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
PRACTICES OF GLOBAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Usability Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
PLAYTESTING

Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in all major elective courses.

Open Electives

Open Elective credit hours are required to meet the minimum graduation requirements of 192 hours. Open Electives may be taken from any unit at DePaul.

Program Combination Restrictions

Students pursuing the BS in Game Programming are forbidden from pursuing the following secondary/double majors: BS Computer Science (all concentrations); BS Math and Computer Science.  Students pursuing the BS in Game Programming are also forbidden from pursuing the Minor in Computer Science and the Minor in Game Design.