<p>I have a few questions. I plan on speaking to someone in admissions, to ask more questions. But I wanted to get as much information as possible before I do so.</p>
<p>I got into the Computer Science Program. Do I need any background knowledge on programming languages and coding experience?</p>
<p>And I also wanted to do Game Design and Development, but I noticed it's under the "School of Interactive Games and Media" rather than the Computer Science part. So I'm a bit confused on the curriculum for the Computer Science Program... and I'm afraid I might not do so well in Calculus (which may be a problem...)</p>
<p>I would say that most people entering the program have at least a rudimentary background with programming or at least computers in general. However, the classes start from scratch so you can come in with no knowledge and learn what you need to.</p>
<p>Some differences between CS and Game Design:</p>
<p>CS majors have to take calculus while Game design majors do not
Game design majors have to take Physics while CS majors can choose any lab science
CS Majors are scientists, they focus on theory and complex algorithms
Game design majors have to do a lot with computer graphics, human interfaces, AI, etc so you should be interested in that.</p>
<p>If you got accepted to the CS program they would be more than happy to have you in game design. You should talk to admissions soon and your adviser when you meet him/her about being unsure of what major you want to pursue. Let them help you make the choice. Both are within the same college, but the classes do not overlap very much so the sooner you decide the less behind you get. Its probably best to figure it out within your first two quarters.</p>
<p>I know I want to follow a career in game programming and coding, but my school counselor told me that if I majored in computer science, it would be easier for me to find a job if I end up not doing anything with games.</p>
<p>If I do major in Game Design/Development, do you think I’ll still be able to get jobs in companies that need computer programmers (not game related companies)?</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I’m having trouble with my decisions.</p>
<p>It is definitely true that CS is the more general major and there are a wider range of job opportunities, but on the flip side the companies looking for game designers from RIT will of course first look to the Game Design major.</p>
<p>I would talk to both departments about the differences between the majors and the job prospects of each. Game design is definitely a competitive field and its always good to consider what you might do if a job is hard to find. Being a computer engineer, I know much more about computer science than game design so I don’t have all the details.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s what troubles me. I know RIT works with many companies and of course the game companies will want game design majors. But I want to take precaution in case gaming doesn’t fall through…</p>
<p>I’m also worried that in Game Design and Development, I have to work with graphics. I rather focus on the programming and coding aspect. I really want to learn C++, C# and Java, along with PHP and Mysql coding for websites.</p>
<p>And to be completely honesty, I don’t exactly want to take calculus.</p>
<p>Try looking at other GCCIS majors like IT. They don’t have to take Calculus and they do more website and database coding. I am not familiar with them all but I am sure you will find one that fits.</p>
<p>I was looking at majors and minors, and I thought of a few possibilities I could have.</p>
<p>Maybe I’ll take Computer Science major and Game Development minor… or major in Game Development and minor in Web Development/Design.</p>
<p>Unless I’m told that it’s a bad idea to take a major AND minor my first year.</p>
<p>Well there are tons of options out there for you. Usually you don’t start minors in your first year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. Your adviser will give you a plan, but you are under no real obligation to follow it, as long as you are making progress in something. :)</p>
<p>I should also direct you to this page: [Computing</a> and Informatics Exploration | B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at RIT](<a href=“Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences | RIT”>Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences | RIT)</p>
<p>This is an option for you if you are not ready to declare a major. It allows you to explore most of the GCCIS majors and figure out which one is right for you. In the meantime, you take general courses that will apply to any of the majors that you end up selecting.</p>
<p>Note that there are two different exploration tracks, one for Software Engineering/CS and one for the informatics majors. This is because the CS/SE students need to take different (i.e. harder) classes like calculus.</p>
<p>Also note that game design is not in this track, because it is in its own department. However, I think most of the classes in the informatics exploration could apply to game design. </p>
<p>If you let your department know you are unsure of your major ahead of time, before they register you for classes, they may be able to generalize your schedule so you don’t take classes that will be useless to you if you switch.</p>
<p>It’ll all depend, because I don’t want to drown in course work if I take a major and minor… </p>
<p>Thanks for showing me to GCCSI exploration options, but I don’t think I’ll follow either of the courses.</p>
<p>“Computing Exploration Option - The computing exploration option is designed for freshmen who are interested in computing but are unsure whether computer science or software engineering is the correct choice for them.”</p>
<p>“Informatics Exploration Option - applied networking and system administration, information security and forensics, information technology, and medical informatics before selecting a major.”</p>
<p>The computing option shows me computer science and software engineering, and I have low interest in software engineering. And none of the informatics courses interest me.</p>
<p>I’ve narrowed down my options to Computer Science and Game Design/Development. Both deal with programming and coding. I really want to take Game D/D, but the only thing holding me back is I’m worried that it might not work out, and I end up jobless…</p>
<p>Normally minors are only like 5 or 6 classes that you have to take, and you don’t take them until your last 2 or three years. Therefore it’s not something you have to worry about early. Also, usually in your upper years the electives in your program allow you to explore different things.</p>
<p>I think your best bet is to talk to your adviser. Game design is a really focused major, and as such the jobs coming out of it are very limited to one industry. What I would tell you is that CS majors could jump into the game design field a lot easier than game design majors could jump into CS fields. A CS major/game design minor is not a bad idea.</p>
<p>You have time to think about what you want to do. One quarter of uncertainty isn’t going to hurt you. I would start with CS, and try to talk to game design people about what they are doing in their classes. If you hate something about CS, or you can’t handle the coursework (like calculus), then you could talk about switching.</p>
<p>In case you were wondering how much calculus you take, it is 3 classes. From derivatives all the way through multi-variable. You cover all the topics in a standard Calc book.</p>
<p>@Thomas94, ygpm regarding the situation that you’re in :)</p>
<p>Thank you both for giving me advice on choosing between my major and minor regarding CS and GDD. I’m going to speak with my adviser for more help. It’s a big decision for me.</p>
<p>It certainly is and I wish you the best of luck on making the right decision. :)</p>
<p>My daughter is in her third year and is a software engineering major with a minor in game design. She tells me that a lot of the students she knows who graduated with a game design major did not find jobs. Many of her friends who are software engineering majors and are graduating already have job offers.</p>
<p>So the chances of students finding a job in game design is low?</p>
<p>@Thomas94: I’m not an RIT student, but my understanding is that this is correct - not just for RIT but for nearly every school offering a game design degree, aside from some extremely small/unique schools which are almost exclusively game/media design. It’s very difficult work, and very difficult to break into - though of course, not impossible.</p>
<p>I think you should major in computer science to start, and then only become more specific if you really feel a pull towards a subset - game design, software engineering, information technology, ETC. A CS major can do any of those things.</p>