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CS Game Development Certificate

Current Computer Science majors can earn the CS Game Development Certificate and build their resume and portfolios in the process!

The digital (video, computer, etc.) game industry is predicted to be the fastest-growing form of media over the next few years, and already generates more revenue than the music industry and film box-office receipts. Texas has the second largest concentration of game studios in the U.S., and as mobile, online, and social platforms improve, more and more opportunities will arise.  With Austin having more game studios than the rest of the state combined, there is a need for a world-class game program centered in Central Texas.

To fill this need, Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Radio-Television-Film, have jointly developed an interdisciplinary program in game development.  The University of Texas at Austin consistently ranks in the top 10 in the Departments of Computer Science and Radio-Television-Film, and has an award winning College of Fine Arts.  The strength of these three academic organizations ensures that the UT's Game Development Program is world-class.  Industry support comes from EA BioWare, Portalarium, Zynga, and many other studios.

Required Coursework:

Before entering into the Game Development Program, CS students must meet the C++ requirement by taking any of the following:

The CS Game Development Certificate entails the completion of the following five requirements:

  • CS 354: Computer Graphics
  • CS 354R: Game Technology
  • CS 378: Programming for Performance 
    The study of the performance-critical features of modern computer architectures and investigation of ways to use them for demanding applications in simulation, animation, graphics and computer games.
  • CS 354S: 2D Game Development Capstone OR CS 354T: 3D Game Development Capstone
    Studio class in designing, developing and evaluating computer games. Class will be interdisciplinary, with student teams composed of students from Radio-Television-Film, Fine Arts, and Computer Science. 
    • Admission to the Capstone Project will be competitive. Students will need to submit a resume and a portfolio of their game-related work. The portfolio may be software, designs, animations, 3D artwork, sound design examples, or game stories, anything that demonstrates exceptional skills in one or more areas of game development.
    • Prerequisites:  C++, Computer Graphics. Game Technology (may be waived depending on experience and other coursework).
    • Programming for Performance may be taken concurrently with the Capstone or in another semester.
  • An approved elective from the following list of upper-division courses:

Course Sequencing for 3D Game Development Capstone:

Semester 1: CS 312
Semester 2: CS 311 and 314
Semester 3: CS 429
Semester 4: CS 439 & either CS 371P, CS 378 (Generic Programming & STL), CS 373, or CS 105 C++
Semester 5: CS 331
Semester 6: CS 354 Computer Graphics (331 is a prereq to 354)
Semester 7: CS 354R Game Technology (354 is a prereq to 354R)
Semester 8: CS 354T 3D Game Development Capstone (354R is a prereq to 354T) Spring Only Course

Course Sequencing for 2D Game Development Capstone:

Semester 1: CS 312
Semester 2: CS 311 and 314
Semester 3: CS 429, CS 105 C++ (if not taking CS 105 C++ in semester 3, can take CS 373 or CS 378 Generic Programming & STL in summer)
Semester 4: CS 439 & CS 331
Semester 5: CS 354 Computer Graphics (331 is a prereq to 354)
Semester 6: CS 354R Game Technology (354 is a prereq to 354R)
Semester 7: CS 354S 2D Game Development Capstone (354R is a prereq to 354S) Fall Only Course
 

Finally, students are encouraged to take courses outside of the approved electives which are useful for game development, in Art and Art History, The Butler School of Music, Theater and Dance Department, and the Department of Radio-Television-Film.

* The CS Certificate in Game Development does not appear on UT's official transcript.  The Certificate may be stated on a resume as evidence of computational knowledge in game development. The Certificate will be accompanied by a letter that explains the program.

Because game development is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, it is highly recommended that students use their own laptops.  If you have any questions regarding the laptop requirements, please contact Dr. Paul Toprac.

Upcoming Game Development Certificate Info Sessions

  • Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 from 2pm to 3pm in GDC 6.302
  • Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 from 2pm to 3pm in GDC 6.302