Game Design & Development Concentration

Overview

Quick Facts

  • Delivery: On campus
  • Credits: 120

CS Concentrations

Have you ever thought about turning a passion for games into a rewarding career? As a computer science major with a concentration in game design and development, you will be part of an interdisciplinary program that helps you build all the skills you need to design and implement original video games. You will follow player-centered design processes for creating original interactive media while taking cross-disciplinary courses in 3D animation and digital audio manipulation. You will collaborate on multidisciplinary teams in a three-semester sequence of courses to create an original game in a modern studio environment, using contemporary best practices and industrial-strength tools, and publicly release the game on major distribution platforms.

Credits

Total to Graduate: 120

  • Core Major Courses: 33-36 credits
  • Concentration Courses: 27 credits
  • University Core Courses and Electives: 57-60 credits

Courses

The core courses for all computer science majors include topics in programming fundamentals, data structures, object-oriented programming, agile development, algorithms, discrete structures, probability, software engineering, and more.

A few of the concentration courses include:

  • ART 210 Animation
  • MMP 305 Intro to Digital Signal Processing
  • CS 215 Intro to Game Design
  • CS 315 Game Programming
  • CS 390 Game Studio Pre-Production
  • CS 414 Game Studio 1
  • CS 415 Game Studio 2

 VIEW COURSE CATALOG

 Computer Requirements

Students majoring in computer science will need a laptop computer. Please view information about the department’s recommendations for laptop specifications. Freshman classes take place in departmental computer labs, but most students prefer to work on homework and projects on their own computers.

The games industry values "T-shaped skills," where a team shares common skills with each person focusing on one area of specialization. Our program positions our students for success by combining a foundation in programming skills with the knowledge of the fundamentals of game design, 3D animation, and digital audio. Game developers earn an average salary in the range of $75,000-$100,000, although actual salary depends on specialization, location, and studio size; additionally, many game developers enjoy freelance work. Students in this concentration can also pursue other fulfilling careers such as a mobile app developer, UX Designer, front-end engineer, software developer, and product manager.

Both inside and outside of the classroom, you will have the opportunity to apply your developing skills to benefit real people. Our program includes numerous Immersive Learning opportunities, such as Computer Science for Muncie (and surrounding schools), working with local technology company Accutech, developing software for Minnetrista, or working with real community partners within the senior capstone sequence.

“Over the nine years of my teaching the capstone series, we have worked with 67 community partners on 117 projects. Our community partners range from local and regional businesses, startups, to non-profit organizations and different university offices and departments across colleges.”

– Dr. Lan Lin, Associate Professor of Computer Science

Computer science pairs well with other STEM majors, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. In addition, it is appealing to add a major in business, entrepreneurship, accounting, or finance. And, yes, you can pair a computer science concentration in game design & development with a second concentration in computer science, such as web & mobile app development.

  • Principles of game design
  • Programming techniques on modern game engines
  • Game production methods
  • Advanced game development
  • Principles of animation
  • Digital signal processing for music
My favorite part of the CS program is its focus on programming projects. I love working with my peers to develop software solutions for real-world problems while applying concepts from class.

– Ben Eger, ’22

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Do you want to learn more about our program or have questions about the application process or financial aid? We’re here to help! One of the best ways to understand why Ball State is right for you is to schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions to see it for yourself. Or if you’d like to speak directly to someone in our department, please feel free to call or email us.

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