Computer Science (BS): Game Development Concentration
Program Overview
The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at NC State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.
Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Computer Science as degree-seeking students via the CODA process.
The Computer Science curriculum teaches students the skills needed to understand, design, implement, test, and deploy computer systems and software systems. Core courses provide a foundation for all students in programming languages, data structures, software engineering, computer architectures, the theory of computation, the basics of building secure software and systems, teaming and communication, and the social and ethical dimensions of the practice of computer science.
All Computer Science majors must complete a team project in Senior Design. Projects under the auspices of the department’s Senior Design Center have industrial sponsors, so student teams gain experience working jointly with industry representatives to achieve project goals. Senior Design teams are expected to solve a technical computing problem while effectively communicating their work and process to various audiences.
Game Development Concentration
Computer games are some of the most complex software development projects and employ some of the most advanced technologies of any application area of computer science. The entertainment software sector is a multi-billion dollar industry with increasing demand for new employees trained in these technologies and methods. In addition to the more familiar entertainment sector, these technologies also have applications to such areas as training, education, visualization, and social interaction forums — so-called “serious games.” North Carolina is now among the top tier of US states with centers of game industry employment. As the game industry continues to grow, demand by North Carolina companies for new graduates with a strong background in computer science with a focus on game development will also expand.
Many aspects of computer game development are unique to the game industry and the Game Development Concentration provides specialized coursework in these areas. The Game Development Concentration focuses on game development technologies while preserving the breadth and depth of the general computer science BS degree. The concentration requires that students take 21 hours of games-focused courses. Of the nine credit hours required for other electives, students in the concentration must select three courses from a list that spans topics such as fiction writing, film, and music. These courses provide grounding in the creation of conventional media and provide the background in these disciplines needed to participate in the multidisciplinary aspects of the design of games. Finally, students must complete a games-focused semester-long project either through Senior Design or an independent study/research project.
Departmental Information
The Department of Computer Science is located in Engineering Building II on NC State’s Centennial Campus.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Field of Study Requirements | |||
| Math | |||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1,2 | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1,2 | 4 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| MA 305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| Sciences | |||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1,2 | 4 | |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1,2 | 4 | |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 | |
| Basic Science Elective | 3 | ||
| CSC Major | |||
| CSC 116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 2 | 3 | |
| CSC 216 & CSC 217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 2 | 4 | |
| CSC 226 | Discrete Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| CSC 230 | C and Software Tools | 3 | |
| CSC 246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 | |
| CSC 316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 | |
| CSC 326 | Software Engineering | 4 | |
| CSC 333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 | |
| CSC 379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 | |
| CSC 492 | Senior Design Project | 3 | |
| Other Major | |||
| CSC Restricted Electives | 3 | ||
| Other Restricted Electives - Group B | 3 | ||
| ENG 331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| Concentration Courses/Groups/Electives | |||
| CSC 481 | Game Engine Foundations 2 | 3 | |
| CSC Games Core 2 | 3 | ||
| CSC Games Restricted Electives 2 | 6 | ||
| Games Restricted Electives | 9 | ||
| Games Project (verify requirement) 4 | |||
| College Requirements | |||
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,3 | 1 | |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 2 | 2 | |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | 1 | |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 | |
| or EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| or ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| General Education Program Requirements | |||
| ENG 101 1,3 | 4 | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 121 | ||
- 1
College of Engineering CODA classes.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 4
Students must complete a departmentally approved Games-focused project as part of CSC 492, CSC 498, or CSC 499.
Basic Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO *** | |||
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 | |
| MEA *** | |||
| PB *** | |||
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 | |
| PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 | |
| PY 328 | Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics | 3 | |
| PY 341 | Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology | 3 | |
| PY 401 | Quantum Physics I | 3 | |
| PY 402 | Quantum Physics II | 3 | |
| PY 407 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 | |
| PY 411 | Mechanics I | 3 | |
| PY 412 | Mechanics II | 3 | |
| PY 413 | Thermal Physics | 3 | |
| PY 414 | Electromagnetism I | 3 | |
| PY 415 | Electromagnetism II | 3 | |
| ZOO *** | |||
CSC Games Core
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 461 | Computer Graphics | 3 | |
| CSC 486 | Computational Visual Narrative | 3 |
CSC Games Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 411 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 | |
| CSC 454 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 | |
| CSC 461 | Computer Graphics | 3 | |
| CSC 462 | Advanced Computer Graphics Projects | 3 | |
| CSC 48* | 3 | ||
| CSC 582 | Computer Models of Interactive Narrative | 3 | |
| CSC 584 | Building Game AI | 3 | |
Games Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 281 | Foundations of Interactive Game Design | 3 | |
| COM 327 | Critical Analysis of Communication Media | 3 | |
| COM 427 | Game Studies | 3 | |
| ENG 282 | Introduction to Film | 3 | |
| ENG 288 | Fiction Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 376 | Science Fiction | 3 | |
| ENG 377 | Fantasy | 3 | |
| ENG 492 | Special Topics in Film and Media Studies | 3 | |
| MUS 306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 |
Other Restricted Electives - Group B
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC Restricted Elective Courses | 1-6 | ||
| ACC 310 | Intermediate Financial Accounting I | 3 | |
| ACC 311 | Intermediate Financial Accounting II | 3 | |
| ACC 330 | An Introduction To Income Taxation | 3 | |
| ACC 340 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 | |
| ARS 306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 | |
| BUS 320 | Financial Management | 3 | |
| BUS 340 | Information Systems Management | 3 | |
| BUS 360 | Marketing Methods | 3 | |
| BUS 4** | |||
| CHE 435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| CHE 465 | Colloidal and Nanoscale Engineering | 3 | |
| CSC 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 | |
| CSC 428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 | |
| EC 3** | |||
| EC 4** | |||
| EC 5** | |||
| ECE 3** (except for ECE 309) | |||
| ECE 4** | |||
| ECE 5** | |||
| EMS 480 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology | 3 | |
| GC 320 | 3D Spatial Relations | 3 | |
| GC 350 | Applied CAD/D and Geometric Controls | 3 | |
| GC 420 | Visual Thinking | 3 | |
| GN 5** | |||
| ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 | |
| ISE 361 | Deterministic Models in Industrial Engineering | 3 | |
| ISE 4** | |||
| ISE 5** | |||
| LOG 335 | Symbolic Logic | 3 | |
| LOG 435 | Advanced Logic & Metamathematics | 3 | |
| LOG 535 | Advanced Logic and Metamathematics | 3 | |
| MA 302 | Numerical Applications to Differential Equations | 1 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| MA 351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3 | |
| MA 401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 | |
| MA 402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 | |
| MA 403 | Introduction to Modern Algebra | 3 | |
| MA 405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 | |
| MA 407 | Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors | 3 | |
| MA 408 | Foundations of Euclidean Geometry | 3 | |
| MA 410 | Theory of Numbers | 3 | |
| MA 412 | Long-Term Actuarial Models | 3 | |
| MA 413 | Short-Term Actuarial Models | 3 | |
| MA 425 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 | |
| MA 426 | Mathematical Analysis II | 3 | |
| MA 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 | |
| MA 428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 | |
| MA 430 | Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| MA 432 | Mathematical Models in Life Sciences | 3 | |
| MA 437 | Applications of Algebra | 3 | |
| MA 5** | |||
| MAE 3** | |||
| MAE 4** | |||
| MAE 5** | |||
| MIE 3** | |||
| MIE 4** | |||
| MSE 3** | |||
| MSE 4** | |||
| MSE 5** | |||
| MUS 306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 | |
| NE 3** | |||
| NE 4** | |||
| NE 5** | |||
| OR 5** | |||
| PHI 425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 | |
| PSY 307 | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 340 | Human Factors Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 400 | Perception | 3 | |
| PSY 420 | Cognitive Processes | 3 | |
| PSY 425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 | |
| PY 4** | |||
| PY 5** | |||
| ST 372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 | |
| ST 4** | |||
| ST 5** | |||
CSC Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 236 | Computer Organization and Assembly Language for Computer Scientists | 3 | |
| CSC 302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 | |
| CSC 342 | Applied Web-based Client-Server Computing | 3 | |
| CSC 401 | Data and Computer Communications Networks | 3 | |
| CSC 402 | Networking Projects | 3 | |
| CSC 405 | Computer Security | 3 | |
| CSC 406 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | 3 | |
| CSC 411 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 | |
| CSC 412 | Compiler Construction | 3 | |
| CSC 414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 | |
| CSC 415 | Software Security | 3 | |
| CSC 416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 | |
| CSC 417 | Theory of Programming Languages | 3 | |
| CSC 419 | DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices | 3 | |
| CSC 422 | Automated Learning and Data Analysis | 3 | |
| CSC 431 | File Organization and Processing | 3 | |
| CSC 433 | Privacy in the Digital Age | 3 | |
| CSC 440 | Database Management Systems | 3 | |
| CSC 442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 | |
| CSC 447 | Introduction to Cloud Computing | 3 | |
| CSC 450 | Web Services | 3 | |
| CSC 453 | Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) Systems | 3 | |
| CSC 454 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 | |
| CSC 455 | Social Computing and Decentralized Artificial Intelligence | 3 | |
| CSC 456 | Computer Architecture and Multiprocessors | 3 | |
| CSC 461 | Computer Graphics | 3 | |
| CSC 462 | Advanced Computer Graphics Projects | 3 | |
| CSC 467 | Multimedia Technology | 3 | |
| CSC 471 | Modern Topics in Cybersecurity | 3 | |
| CSC 472 | Cybersecurity Projects | 3 | |
| CSC 474 | Network Security | 3 | |
| CSC 481 | Game Engine Foundations | 3 | |
| CSC 482 | Advanced Computer Game Projects | 3 | |
| CSC 484 | Building Game AI | 3 | |
| CSC 486 | Computational Visual Narrative | 3 | |
| CSC 495 | Special Topics in Computer Science | 1-6 | |
| CSC 498 | Independent Study in Computer Science | 3 | |
| CSC 499 | Independent Research in Computer Science | 1-6 | |
| CSC 5** | |||
| ECE 482 | Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development I | 3 | |
| ECE 483 | Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development II | 3 | |
| MA 414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 | |
| MA 416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 | |
| ST 442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Semester Sequence4, 5
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1, 2 | 4 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1, 3 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1, 3 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1, 2 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC 116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 2 | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1, 2 | 4 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1, 2 | 4 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 1, 2 | 2 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC 216 & CSC 217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 2 | 4 |
| CSC 226 | Discrete Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC 230 | C and Software Tools | 3 |
| CSC 316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC 333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 |
| MA 305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC 246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| CSC 481 | Game Engine Foundations 2 | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Games Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC 326 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| CSC 379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 |
| CSC Games Core 2 | 3 | |
| ENG 331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Other Restricted Elective - Group B | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSC 492 | Senior Design Project 7 | 3 |
| CSC Games Restricted Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Games Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Basic Science Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| CSC Games Restricted Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Games Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
College of Engineering CODA classes.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 4
One of the following two conditions regarding the major GPA is required: (l) the major GPA, which consists of all CSC courses attempted at NCSU, must be 2.0 or higher or (2) a student whose major grade point average is below 2.0 may graduate if no CSC course used to satisfy the major requirements has a grade below a C-.
- 5
Students must complete a departmentally approved Games-focused project as part of CSC 492, CSC 498, or CSC 499.
Career Opportunities
Designing computer systems, and the software that runs on them is the job of computer scientists. Computer scientists find demand for their innovation, design, analysis, testing, and engineering skills across all domains. As a direct consequence of the increasingly critical role of computers in society, the discipline of computer science has enjoyed rapid growth for many years, with the trend likely to continue. Employment projections indicate a critical nationwide shortfall in the supply of people skilled in computing and information technology, and a resulting steady rise in demand and salaries, for decades to come. Computer Science graduates from NC State are in high demand, including by employers that are extremely selective in their national recruiting.
Anchoring one corner of the world-famous Research Triangle Park, and located in modern state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities on NC State’s Centennial Campus, the department and its students and faculty benefit from strong and active industry partnerships. NC State Computer Science is one of the top suppliers in the nation of new graduate hires to a number of high-tech companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, some with a substantial presence in the Research Triangle. Starting salaries for our undergraduates now average over $75,000 and show a steady increase. Opportunities are also plentiful for graduate study for those who wish to pursue the field in more depth.
Career Titles
- Architectural Drafters
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Clinical Data Managers
- Computer and Information Scientists
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Computer Network Architects
- Computer Programmer
- Computer Science Professor
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Systems Engineer
- Computer User Support Specialist
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Administrator
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Project Managers
- IT Administrator (Information Technology)
- Mathematician
- Project Management Specialists
- Robotics Engineers
- Scientific Linguist
- Software Developers - Applications
- Technical & Scientific Publications Editor
- Technical Publications Writer
- Video Game Designer
- Web Art Director
- Webmaster
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