The Best Bachelor's in Computer Science: Game Design Degrees

The Department of Computer Science at the Viterbi School of Engineering offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Games degree.

This cross-disciplinary program is a computer science degree with a focus on game development. Students learn game development in these domains:

• Game production
• Game hardware architectures
• Serious game development
• Computer animation
• Game engine programming
• Visual design for games and interactives
• Introductory and intermediate game design
• Video game programming

Graduates will be able to engineer games and simulations for entertainment and serious games fields. Students also participate in two game projects.

Computer Science core courses include:

• Fundamentals of Computation
• Principles of Software Development
• Data Structures and Object Oriented Design
• Introduction to Programming
• Discrete Methods in Computer Science

Game Design core courses include:

• Video Game Programming
• Introduction to Interactive Entertainment
• Game Design Workshop
• Intermediate Game Design Workshop
• Intermediate Game Development

University of Wisconsin-Stout offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Game Design and Development degree.

The Game Design and Development concentration can teach students how to create games, but also create simulations, and create software programs which can have applications relevant to other fields such as education, national security, and healthcare. In the scope of game design and development, students learn how to develop software programs that implement physics and digital imagery.

Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. ABET is a STEM field accreditation, providing accreditation to 846 universities & colleges 41 countries, which includes 4,307 programs.

SNHU offers the online and campus Bachelor of Science in Game Programming and Development. Students taking the online program learn the same material and instruction as on-campus students.

Students learn industry skills in game programming, such as game AI, coding, programming languages, and game physics. For students who want to learn design aspects, this program includes instruction in interface design and 2D & 3D graphics.

Classes include:

• Gameplay Systems Development
• Artificial Intelligence
• Foundation in Application Development
• Design of Virtual Game Environments

Students learn how to use professional game engines and tools to create games for PCs, mobile devices, consoles, and on the web.

The University of California, Santa Cruz offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design degree. Students may also pursue a Master's and PhD in the Computer Science: Computer Game Design program.

This CS with Game Design degree teaches students how to create the narrative, technical, and artistic foundations of games. In the last year of the program students can actually create their own games. Topics of study include:

• game engines
• human-computer interaction
• procedural audio
• procedural content generation
• artificial intelligence for games
• computer graphics
• interactive narrative

DigiPen offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design degree. This program teaches students how to be a software developer to create games, which includes learning the mechanics of games, and creating the levels of games. Graduates will be both trained in game designing, programming, and software engineering.

Students will learn these competencies within these domains of computer science and game design:

Computer Science:

• Data structures
• Mathematics
• Newtonian dynamics
• Programming languages: C and C++
• Artificial intelligence
• Algorithm analysis
• Calculus
• Linear algebra
• Physics

Game Collaboration:

• Project management
• Year-long, team-based projects
• Communications

Game Design:

• 2D and 3D level design
• Game design theory
• UI/UX design
• Play-testing
• Game systems and mechanics

Grand Canyon University offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Game and Simulation Development degree.

This Computer Science program focuses on the conceptual framework, algorithms, theory and science behind computer games and the simulation of scientific phenomena. Students learn such valuable skills as storyboarding, level design, and even mobile gaming.

Students are taught proficiencies in these subjects:

• human-computer interaction
• object-oriented programming
• artificial intelligence
• graphic visualization
• 2D and 3D graphics
• virtual reality
• operating systems
• machine learning
• information security

Courses include:

• Game Design and Game Play
• Compiler Design
• Operating Systems
• Digital Logic and Design
• Computer Graphics Lecture
• Information Security

Students will complete two capstones to show proficiency in game design and simulation within Computer Science.

Accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Liberty University is one of the largest online colleges in the U.S. in terms of number of online students. Liberty has online education down to a science.

Liberty offers the unique online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: Gaming Design degree.

Students learn the fundamentals of Business, Information Technology, and Game Design.

Courses include:

• Object Oriented Programming
• Business Data Communication Systems
• Digital Imaging
• Introduction to 3D Graphics
• Intro to Human-Computer Interaction
• Information Literacy Elective

This program takes three and a half years to complete, and is 120 credit hours. Courses are 8 weeks long.

Liberty accepts up to 75% of the entire degree in transfer credits.

Northeastern University offers the Bachelor of Science in Game Development and Computer Science degree as a combined major.

Students complete computer science courses and learn game technology; learning to design, build and develop games.

Students have an opportunity to intern at the following:

• Global training software developer co-op at Bose Corporation
• Engineering intern at Demiurge Studios
• Engineering intern at Disruptor Beam

Fitchburg State University offers the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Game Programming Concentration degree.

Students will take four Computer Science Game Programming courses, and two Game Design courses. The Game Programming Concentration teaches students to developing games using computer science, which includes mobile game programming.

Courses include:

• Data Modeling and Database Design
• Introduction to Game Art
• Systems Programming 
• Algorithms and Data Structures 
• Ethical Issues in Computer Science
• Game Programming 

Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Drury University offers the Computer Science: Game Development degree, which requires 58 credit hours. 23 hours are required in the core courses, which are in Computer Science.

15 hours are required in game development. Additional requirements include 11 hours of mathematics, and 12 hours of media arts.

Courses include:

• Advanced Game Development
• Computer Animation
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Structures
• Application Development
• Application Development II
• Foundations of Game Development
• Introduction to Computer Science
• Introduction to Machine Learning