Bachelor's Degree in Computer Game Development
The B.S. in Computer Game Development degree at Lamar University is the only dedicated four-year degree program at a Texas public university that prepares you for a career in game programming.
Lamar University recognizes that the best game programmers are highly knowledgeable in both theory and practical aspects of computer science and adopts this approach to prepare you for a game programming career.
The B.S. in Computer Game Development degree is similar to Lamar’s B.S. in Computer Science Degree (BSCS). Both degrees train students in software development techniques. The primary difference between the two is the game degree requires eight courses not required by the BSCS degree. 
The courses are:
- COSC 1324 The Art of Computer Game Development
- COSC 2324 Mobile Game Development
- CPSC 4380 3D Modeling for Computer Graphics
- CPSC 4381 3D Animation for Computer Graphics
- COSC 4324 Computer Game Development I
- COSC 4325 Computer Game Development II
- COSC 4319 Computer Graphics
- CPSC 4370 Artificial Intelligence
For more information contact the Lamar University Department of Computer Science at cs@lamar.edu.
Recommended program of study in Game Development
FIRST YEAR
| FALL | SPRING |
|---|---|
| COSC 1336 Fundamentals I | COSC 1337 Fundamentals II |
| COSC 1173 CS I Lab | COSC 1174 CS II Lab |
| COSC 1172 Thinking, Speaking, Writing | ENGL 1302 | 1374 |
| COSC 1324 Art of Computer Game Dev | Language, Phil and Culture |
| ENGL Composition 1301 | Creative Arts Elective |
| History (3 hours) | History (3 hours) |
SECOND YEAR
| FALL | SPRING |
|---|---|
| COSC 2336 Fundamentals III (Data Structure) | COSC 2372 Assembly & Org |
| COSC 2324 Mobile Game Dev | MATH 2413 Calculus 1 |
| COSC 2375 Discrete Structures | POLS 2302 |
| POLS 2301 | Lab Science |
| Lab Science |
THIRD YEAR
| FALL | SPRING |
|---|---|
| CPSC 4380 3D Modeling | CPSC 4381 3D Animation |
| COSC 3306 C++ Programming | CPSC 3325 Law & Ethics |
| COSC 3308 Programming Languages | CPSC 4317 Networks |
| COSC 3304 Algorithms | COSC 3302 Theory |
| MATH 3370 | MATH 1342 Prob & Stat | MATH 2318 Linear Algebra |
FOURTH YEAR
| FALL | SPRING |
|---|---|
| COSC 4324 Game Dev 1 | COSC 4325 Game Dev 2 |
| COSC 4302 Operating Systems | COSC 4310 Computer Architecture |
| COSC 4319 Computer Graphics | CPSC 4360 Software Engineering |
| Communication (3 hours) | CPSC 4370 Artificial Intelligence |
| Soc/Behav Science | COSC 4272 Senior Assessment I |
| Academic Elective (1 hour min.) |
Notes (120 total hours):
(1) A grade of B or better is required in COSC 1336 before taking COSC 1337. A grade of B or better is required in both COSC 1336 and COSC 1337 before COSC 2336.
(2) Communication : 1315 | 1321 or DSDE 1371 or FREN 1311 or SPAN 1311
(3) Two semesters of US or Texas history from among : HIST 1301 | 1302| 2301
(4) Soc/Behav Sciences are : ECON 1301 | 2301 | 2302, PSYC 2301 , SOCI 1301 , BULW 1370 , COMM 1375
(5) Creative Arts Electives are : ARTS 1301 | 1303, DANC 2304 , PHIL 1330 , MUSI 1306 and COMM 1375
(6) Lab Science : choose from the following : BIOL 1406 | 1407 , PHYS 2425 | 2426 | CHEM 1311 & 1111 | CHEM 1312 & 1112 (6 hours are used as core requirements and 6 hours are used as major requirements)
(7) Language, Phil and Culture Electives are: ENGL 2300 | 2310 | 2322 | 2326 | 2331 | 2371 | 2376 or PHIL 1370 | 2306
(8) Academic Elective must be at least 1 credit hour.
Texas Job Prospects
In Texas, several universities have sought to attract students with bachelor’s level games-related degrees in art and technology. The common feature of these degrees is they focus heavily on art and design and do not contain the core components typically found in a traditional computer science degree. Students graduating from these programs do not necessarily have the preparation necessary to land jobs as game programmers.
Job prospects for game programmers are very good. Jobs website Monster.com typically lists over 1,000 jobs for “game programmer.” Another job source is the Texas Film Commission’s Job Hotline.
Game Developer Salaries
$50 - 100K
$44 - 120K
$35 - 90K
(source: 2019 Game Industry Career Guide)
Texas is a leading state in the nation for computer game development and is home to over 180 publishing and development companies including Bethesda Game Studios, BioWare, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Epic Software, Gearbox Software, iD Software and Zynga. For students seeking both education and a chance for in-state internship opportunities, Texas is the place to be. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. games industry is one of the nation’s fastest growing economic sectors with sales exceeding $30 billion annually.