Introduction
The Bachelor of Science in Software and Game Development (BSGD) program uses a hybrid curriculum which focuses on the core concepts of building both business application software and video games. Students will learn the software development process, design and coding practices, and quality assurance metrics that are applicable to all types of software development. Students will focus on technologies that are used by the top employers in the information technology industry as well as those used to create today's most popular video game titles. Students are exposed to different areas of software and game development including project management and planning, game play design, UI design, best practices, software methodologies, test-driven development and other QA techniques, asset creation and tracking, and overall game and software production. Students then delve into more technical areas such as game engines, physics, mobile and console development, and computer graphics.
The curriculum in the Software and Game Development program focuses on individual and team-based projects. This project focus culminates with Enterprise Projects where students develop software under the direction of industry-leading organizations.
Graduates will be prepared for various entry level software development oriented positions including: software engineer, software designer, quality assurance professional, and software architect. Additionally, graduates will be equipped to succeed as entry level video game developers in the entertainment industry.
Program Overview
Students participate in courses which are taught using active learning methods. Teaching techniques include lectures, class discussions, debates, student presentations, individual and group activities, creative assessments, various labs and assignments, and more. Additionally, students work individually and in teams on supervised projects in which they apply related concepts. The program is 12 quarters in length and requires a minimum of three years to complete.
Program Objectives
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Software and Game Development (BSGD) degree are expected to be able to:
- Model best practices and processes involved in all aspects of the software development life cycle
- Design software and system architectures
- Develop software using modern languages and integrated development environments
- Develop video games and simulations using current technologies and standards
- Employ a variety of algorithms and data structures
- Use advanced game development techniques and tools including pathfinding, artificial intelligence, game mechanics, game engines, and asset creation and integration
- Compare various hardware platforms and analyze deployment strategies for web, desktop, console, and mobile devices
- Demonstrate an understanding of established and emerging software standards
- Create software using a variety of software development methodologies
- Prepare software applications for deployment using a variety of techniques
- Recognize the impact of business decisions and implications in software development
- Demonstrate effective problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Effectively communicate in a professional setting
- Utilize technical and non-technical expertise in team-based, collaborative environments
- Plan, design, implement, and supervise technical and non-technical projects
- Produce professional-quality specifications, models, and other documents
- Effectively apply course objectives to personal and professional settings
Eligibility Requirements
Students who apply to transfer to the BSGD program must:
- Have a Neumont cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher at the time of their application to transfer and at the time the transfer is completed (end of their third quarter or later).
- Earn a grade of B- or higher in all computer science, game technology, and math courses (course codes beginning with CSC, GAT and MAT), to be verified at the time of the application and at the time the transfer is completed.
- Be enrolled in their original degree program for at least two full quarters, plus Sprint 1 of their third quarter at the time of their application. The transfer will become official before the start of the student’s fourth quarter (or, in the case of a transfer in a later quarter, the transfer will become official at the start of the quarter following approval of the transfer).
BSGD Program Requirements
|
General Education Courses
|
47 Credits
|
|
Software and Game Development Core Courses
|
126 Credits
|
| Other Required Courses |
7 Credits |
|
Total Required for BS in Software and Game Development
|
180 Credits
|
General Education (47 credits)
Foundational Required Courses (23 credits)
| ENG110 | Introduction to English Composition | 4 credits |
| ENG210 | Persuasive & Professional Writing | 4 credits |
| FAC105 | Leadership & Problem Solving | 3 credits |
| FAC120 | Spoken Communications | 3 credits |
| FAC125 | Collaborative & Interpersonal Communications | 3 credits |
| HUM205 | Ethics | 3 credits |
| SSC101 | Educational Learning Theories | 3 credits |
Math and Science (17 credits)
| MAT101 | Mathematics for the Computer Sciences | 3 credits |
| MAT180 | Precalculus | 6 credits |
| MAT210 | Linear Algebra | 3 credits |
| MAT250 | Calculus | 3 credits |
| PSC226 | Introductory Physics | 2 credits |
Elective General Education (7 credits)
Complete an additional 7 credits from the following:
| ENG311 | Principles of Creative Writing | 2 credits |
| FAC101 | Art Appreciation | 2 credits |
| FAC130 | Character Design | 2 credits |
| FAC135 | 3D Printing | 2 credits |
| FAC201 | Music Appreciation | 2 credits |
| FAC210 | Music Composition | 2 credits |
| HUM160 | Ancient Mythology | 2 credits |
| HUM200 | The Imagination of Horror in Media | 2 credits |
| LIT110 | Science Fiction Through Literature | 2 credits |
| LIT120 | Comics as Literature | 2 credits |
| LIT130 | Literary Masters | 2 credits |
| LNG110 | Survey of Foreign Language | 2 credits |
| MAT125 | Geometry | 3 credits |
| MAT200 | Math-Based Codes, Ciphers & Secrets | 3 credits |
| MAT260 | Statistics | 3 credits |
| MTM140 | Basics of Film | 2 credits |
| PSC115 | Introduction to Biology | 2 credits |
| PSC201 | Astronomy | 2 credits |
| PSC230 | Introduction to Chemistry | 2 credits |
| SSC150 | Introductory Psychology | 2 credits |
| SSC272 | United States Government | 2 credits |
| SSC322 | Conflict & Negotiation | 2 credits |
| SSC351 | Introduction to Intellectual Property | 2 credits |
Software and Game Development Courses (126 credits)
Introductory Core Courses (29 credits)
| BIT105 | Professional Productivity Toolkit | 2 credits |
| BIT125 | Introduction to Technology Management | 4 credits |
| CSC105 | Using Modern Operating Systems | 2 credits |
| CSC110 | Introduction to Computer Science | 4 credits |
| CSC150 | Object Oriented Programming & Design | 6 credits |
| CSC125 | Logical and Computational Thinking | 3 credits |
| CSC210 | Introduction to Web Presentation & Development | 2 credits |
| DBT130 | Databases I | 4 credits |
| ITH215 | Networking I | 2 credits |
Advanced Core Courses (61 credits)
| CSC130 | Principles of Software Engineering | 4 credits |
| CSC195 | C++ Programming I | 3 credits |
| CSC196 | C++ Programming II | 3 credits |
| CSC250 | Algorithms & Data Structures I | 4 credits |
| CSC252 | Algorithms & Data Structures II | 4 credits |
| GAT120 | Topics in Game Development | 2 credits |
| GAT150 | Introduction to Game Programming | 4 credits |
| GAT185 | Introduction to Game Engines | 3 credits |
| GAT315 | Game Physics | 3 credits |
| GAT350 | Computer Graphics | 3 credits |
| GAT360 | Game Programming & Production | 4 credits |
| GAT420 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 credits |
| MTM230 | Digital Art I | 3 credits |
Complete one set of courses from the following:
| CSC160 | Application Development | 4 credits |
| CSC260 | Dynamic Web Programming | 4 credits |
| CSC180 | Open Source Platforms Development | 4 credits |
| CSC280 | Developing Scalable Web Applications | 4 credits |
And complete ten additional credits from the following:
| CSC140 | Dynamic & Scripting Languages | 3 credits |
| CSC160 | Application Development | 4 credits |
| CSC171 | Mobile Application Development | 3 credits |
| CSC180 | Open Source Platforms Development | 4 credits |
| CSC181 | Scripting and Automation | 3 credits |
| CSC230 | Computational Theory | 3 credits |
| CSC260 | Dynamic Web Programming | 4 credits |
| CSC280 | Developing Scalable Web Applications | 4 credits |
| CSC270 | Solution Stack Software Development | 3 credits |
| CSC330 | Programming Languages | 3 credits |
| CSC340 | Computer Architecture | 3 credits |
| CSC360 | Software Design Principles | 3 credits |
| CSC380 | Distributed Systems | 3 credits |
| MTM161 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 credits |
| MTM210 | Introduction to User Experience Design | 4 credits |
| MTM282 | Interactive Web Development | 4 credits |
| MTM320 | Advanced Web Scripting | 4 credits |
| MTM370 | Front-End Implementation | 4 credits |
Project Core Courses (36 credits)
| PRO100 | Introductory Software Projects | 2 credits |
| PRO150 | Web-Based Software Projects | 2 credits |
| PRO200 | Software Projects in Emerging Platforms | 2 credits |
| PRO230 | Digital Art Projects | 2 credits |
| PRO250 | Software Projects in Existing Code | 2 credits |
| PRO310 | Digital Portfolio Projects | 2 credits |
| PRO385 | Game Engine Projects | 2 credits |
| PRO390 | Capstone Project | 4 credits |
| PRO490 | Enterprise Projects I | 6 credits |
| PRO491 | Enterprise Projects II | 6 credits |
| PRO492 | Enterprise Projects III | 6 credits |
Other Required Courses (7 credits)
| BUS101 | Personal Finance | 3 credits |
| BUS110 | Principles of Finance | 1 credits |
| NEU100 | College Success Strategies | 1 credits |
| NEU200 | Career Readiness | 2 credits |