Computer Game Design & Development

Programs Offered

The design and development of computer games is a rapidly growing academic area. It is highly interdisciplinary and is having a major impact on all levels of education. The gaming industry requires specialists with a variety of backgrounds. Game companies need artists, mathematicians and computer scientists, but also writers for story building, psychologists for creating a fun factor in games, and business-savvy professionals, who ensure financial soundness of the endeavors. In addition, the use of games by a growing part of the population has serious societal and legal implications that need to be studied. This computer gaming minor is a blend of several disciplines, including a wide range of academic areas, such as Art, Business, Mathematics, Psychology and Computer Science. This minor is meant to meet the need of an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares students with a working knowledge necessary to pursue a career in the gaming industry. As such it is consistent with the interdisciplinary mission of CI.

Careers

This interdisciplinary minor will provide students with the skills needed for a variety of careers in the field of Computer Game Design and Development. Students in this minor will receive a foundation in artistic, mathematical, psychological and computer programming tools and techniques relevant to the design and development of computer games as well as in business methodologies applicable to Computer Gaming. Legal and societal implications of computer games will also be studied.

Faculty

Michael Soltys, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science
Chair, Computer Science and Information Technology Program
Bell Tower West, Room 2265
Phone (805) 437-3713
michael.soltys@csuci.edu

Andrzej A. J. Bieszczad, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science
Bell Tower West, Room 2285
(805) 437-2773
aj.bieszczad@csuci.edu

C. David Claveau, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Bell Tower West, Room 2225
(805) 437-3879
david.claveau@csuci.edu

Jason Isaacs, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Bell Tower West, Room 2285
(805) 437-8991
jason.isaacs@csuci.edu

Peter Smith, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science
Bell Tower West, Room 1102
(805) 437-8882
peter.smith@csuci.edu

Brian Thoms, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Bell Tower West, Room 2275
Phone (805) 437-3714
brian.thoms@csuci.edu

Contact Information
http://compsci.csuci.edu

Programs

Minor(s)

Computer Game Design & Development Minor - 24-25 units