Requirements-BS-In-Game-Programming

Bachelor of Science 2019-2020

Game Programming

Students majoring in the BS Game Programming program are forbidden from double-majoring in the BS Computer Science (all concentrations), and the BS Math and Computer Science program; as well as from minoring in Computer Science, and Game Design.

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree must meet the following requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 192 credit hours (generally 48 courses)
  • Earn a grade of C- or higher in WRD 103, WRD 104, and all Major and Minor courses
  • Earn a grade of D or higher in all other Liberal Studies and Open Elective courses
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

Students who earn a cumulative DePaul University GPA

  • Between 3.500 and 3.699 will graduate cum laude
  • Between 3.700 and 3.849 will graduate magna cum laude
  • Of at least 3.850 will graduate summa cum laude

For DePaul's policy on repeat courses and a complete list of academic policies see the DePaul Undergraduate Handbook in the Course Catalog.

Course Requirements
Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies program is the general education portion of the curriculum at DePaul University. Students must earn a grade of D or better in all courses taken to satisfy these requirements. The only exception is the Capstone course which is considered also a major requirement and WRD 103 and WRD 104 in which students need to earn a C- or better.

Students may choose to take some CDM courses that carry Liberal Studies credit but they cannot double count them if they are part of the major requirements. A complete list of courses that carry Liberal Studies credit can be found on the Liberal Studies website along with an overview of the Liberal Studies requirements for this program. Students can search for courses that satisfy a particular Liberal Studies requirement on campusconnect.

Note Students must take FILM 228 or IT 228 Ethics in Computer Games and Cinema as one of the two required Philosophical Inquiry learning domain requirements. Students must take ANI 101 Animation for Non-Majors and SCWR 100 Introduction to Screenwriting as two of the three required Arts and Literature learning domain requirements.

Although students are free to take course requirements in any order they choose, provided they have mastered the course-specific prerequisites, it is strongly recommended that students follow these year-by-year suggestions, especially regarding the first-year major courses.


First Year
CSC 241 Introduction to Computer Science I AND CSC 242 Introduction to Computer Science II
OR CSC 243 Python for Programmers AND 1 Major Elective
GAM 226 Fundamentals of Game Design
GAM 340 Practical Scripting for Games
MAT 140 Discrete Mathematics I
CSC 300 Data Structures I
GAM 245 Game Development II
Liberal Studies Requirements
ANI 101 Animation for Non-Majors
LSP 110 Discover Chicago
OR LSP 111 Explore Chicago
LSP 112 Focal Point Seminar
WRD 103 Composition and Rhetoric I
WRD 104 Composition and Rhetoric II
Second Year
CSC 301 Data Structures II
ANI 230 3D Design and Modeling
CSC 373 Computer Systems I
CSC 361 Optimized C++
GAM 341 Introduction to Level Design
1 Major Elective
1 Open Elective
Liberal Studies Requirements
SCWR 100 Introduction to Screenwriting (Formerly DC 201)
LSP 200 Seminar on Multiculturalism in the United States
1 Religious Dimensions
1 Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry
1 Understanding the Past
Third Year
GAM 325 Applied 3D Geometry
GAM 372 Object-Oriented Game Development
GAM 374 Game Engine Programming I
GAM 377 Game Engine Programming II
GAM 392 Game Modification Workshop
GPH 329 Computer Graphics Development II
or GAM 370 Rendering and Graphics Programming
1 Major Electives
1 Open Elective
Liberal Studies Requirements
1 Experiential Learning
FILM 228 Ethics in Computer Games and Cinema (Formerly DC 228)
OR IT 228 Ethics in Computer Games and Cinema
1 Arts & Literature
1 Religious Dimensions
Fourth Year
GAM 394 Game Development Project I ANDGAM 395 Game Development Project II (Capstone)
ORCSC 386 Real-Time Networking (Formerly GAM 390) ANDCSC 394 Software Projects
2 Major Electives
2 Open Electives
Liberal Studies Requirements
2 Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry
1 Philosophical Inquiry
1 Understanding the Past
1 Scientific Inquiry Lab or Science as a Way of Knowing
Major Electives

Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in all major elective courses.

Major Electives must be chosen from the courses below:

  • Computer Science Electives
    CSC 321 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
    CSC 355 Database Systems
    CSC 357 Expert Systems
    MAT 141 Discrete Mathematics II
  • Computer Systems Electives
    CSC 343 Introduction to Operating Systems
    CSC 348 Introduction to Compiler Design
    CSC 353 Advanced Database Concepts
    CSC 362 Optimized C++ Multithreading
    CSC 374 Computer Games
    CSC 388 Real-Time Multithreaded Architecture
  • Game AI Electives
    CSC 380 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
    CSC 358 Symbolic Programming
    GAM 376 Artificial Intelligence for Computer Games
  • Game Design Electives
    GAM 205 Games Literacy
    GAM 229 Presentation and Communication
    GAM 231 History and Design of Role-Playing Games
    GAM 329 Physical Prototyping for Games
    GAM 342 Advanced Level Design
    GAM 351 Expressive Audio Scripting in Games
    GAM 362 Making Deep Games
    GAM 365 Advanced Game Design
    GAM 397 Topics in Game Design
  • Game Development Studio Electives
    GAM 244 Game Development I
  • Game Programming Electives
    GAM 353 Tool Programming for Game Development
    GAM 368 Augmented Reality Game Design and Development
    GAM 369 Virtual Reality Game Development
    GAM 380 Console Game Development Environments
    GAM 398 Topics in Game Programming
  • Graphics/Animation/Sound Electives
    ANI 231 3D Animation
    ANI 310 Motion Capture
    ANI 332 3D Rigging
    ANI 333 Advanced 3D Rigging
    GAM 250 Game Sound Design I
    GPH 389 Real-Time Graphics Techniques
  • Multiplayer Games Electives
    CSC 376 Distributed Systems
    CSC 386 Real-Time Networking (Formerly GAM 390)
  • Mobile Games Electives
    CSC 371 Survey of Computer Graphics
    CSC 372 Principles of Computer Animation
    CSC 391 Mobile Application Development for iOS II
    CSC 392 Mobile Application Development for Android II
    GAM 386 Game Programming for Mobile Devices
  • Physics Electives
    GAM 350 Physics for Game Developers
    PHY 150 General Physics I
  • Software Engineering Electives
    SE 333 Software Testing
    SE 350 Object-Oriented Software Development
    SE 359 Agile Software Development
    SE 371 Practices of Global Software Development
  • Usability Electives
    GAM 312 Playtesting
Open Electives

Open Electives may be taken from any unit at DePaul. These are the only courses that may be taken under the pass/fail option. Students must earn a grade of D or higher in all open elective courses. Courses that satisfy a CDM minor or other minors are normally credited as open electives.