Southern Polytechnic State University Program

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Southern Polytechnic State University Program Program

Contributed by: Jon Preston (jon.anderson.preston@gmail.com)

The CGDD program at SPSU actively encourages activities such as Global Game Jam and was recently hosted one of the largest GGJ events in the world in 2011 (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3NlPIS7qiM for highlights). As a state university in Georgia, our program is a good financial option for students seeking a four year program in game design and development.

The Bachelors of Science in Computer Game Design and Development at Southern Polytechnic State University (http://games.spsu.edu) equips students and graduates with the skills and knowledge to apply computing and software engineering techniques to the design and production of digital media for entertainment, research, and education. As a specialization within the field of computing, game design and development builds on and applies expertise in computing hardware and software to create engaging and immersive multimedia systems.

The program exposes students to the breadth of the field in the areas of digital media, human-computer interaction, the history and theory of gaming, game design, 2D and 3D graphics, simulation, modeling, software engineering, artificial intelligence, data structures, and algorithms. Current and emerging domains including online games (and massively multiplayer games or MMOG), casual games, mobile games, and serious/educational games are explored. Students are also required to select an upper-level concentration within the program to ensure depth in their program of study. While these concentrations will change as the field evolves, current offerings include media-production, distributed-mobile, education-serious, planning-management, and simulation-informatics.

One of the more innovative aspects of the program is the inclusion of a significant studio experience for students in their senior year. This two-course sequence provides an opportunity for students to be mentored by faculty and their peers in the first semester and in turn mentor fellow students in the second semester. The year-long capstone project developed in these courses is a vital component in graduates’ portfolios and will be showcased on the program’s Web site. Moreover, giving the recruitment and hiring practices in the digital entertainment and computer gaming industry, portfolios are crucial in helping graduates secure employment in the industry.

The program places significant importance on developing students’ communication, team, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, skills that were identified as vital by industrial partners and employers. Courses integrate written and oral presentations as well as team-based design and development projects to ensure students build these skills.


Courses in the Degree

General Core Courses

  • Composition 1
  • Composition 2
  • Calculus 1
  • Calculus 2
  • Probability and Statistics 1
  • Discrete Mathematics
  • Public Speaking
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • One Course from the Literature Group
  • One Course from the Art and Culture Group
  • Two science courses
  • American Context
  • World History
  • Behavioral Science
  • Cultures and Societies

Foundations of Computing Courses

  • Programming and Problem Solving 1
  • Programming and Problem Solving 2
  • Professional Practices and Ethics
  • Computer Organization and Architecture
  • Data Structures
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Graphics and Multimedia
  • Introduction to Software Engineering
  • Software Testing and Quality Assurance
  • User-Centered Design

Game Courses

  • Fundamentals of Game Design
  • Application Extensions and Scripting
  • Digital Media and Interaction
  • Mobile & Casual Game Development
  • Educational & Serious Game Design Studio
  • Capstone
  • Upper-level Concentration (see below for options or as approved)
  • Free Electives


Concentrations

While the required courses in the degree ensure students are exposed to the breadth of the field of computer game design and development, it is also imperative that students are given flexibility to customize their experience and apply the knowledge gained in their required courses. To this end, the degree requires students to select a concentration.

The following are suggested concentrations, but students may select a customized plan of study and set of courses under with their advisor’s approval.

Upper-level Concentrations

Media-Production

  • MATH2255 – Calculus 3
  • CGDD4113 – Modeling and Animation
  • CGDD4603 – Production Pipeline and Rendering

Distributed-Mobile

  • SWE3683 – Embedded Systems Analysis & Design
  • CS4253 – Distributed Computing
  • CS4263 – Computer Networks

Educational-Serious

  • 6 hours of approved TCOM courses
  • CGDD4313 – Designing Online Learning Content and Environments

Planning-Management (pick 3 of 4)

  • MGNT3105 – Management and Organizational Behavior
  • MGNT4185 – Technology Management
  • SWE4663 – Software Project Management
  • SWE3623 – Software Systems Requirements

Simulation-Informatics

  • CS3153 – Database Systems
  • CS4253 – Distributed Computing
  • CGDD4703 – Data Modeling and Simulation
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