<p>I'm looking to transfer to UCI in roughly over a year and was wondering if it is best to continue on with my current major of CS or opt for their Computer Game Science. Just to let you know, I want to lean towards game programming and be able to create indie games at least. I still want to have a stable foundation of computer science but not sure whether it would be best to jump straight into CGS or continue with CS and accumulate knowledge to take over to a game-related field. I've read that it is wiser to continue with CS as it has broader knowledge of programming and will better suit my needs when I do plan to focus on game programming. It would also leave my options open for other types of programming; however, I would be missing out on the possibilities of internships with Blizzard, which is within close proximity of UCI, and the opportunities of orientating myself with how the industry is. I feel the need to utilize the advantages of being located near the heart of game development. What are your thoughts on this?</p>
<p>You can compare the curricula here:</p>
<p>[Donald</a> Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences < University of California, Irvine ? 2013-14 Catalogue](<a href=“Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences < University of California Irvine”>Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences < University of California Irvine)
[Department</a> of Computer Science < University of California, Irvine ? 2013-14 Catalogue](<a href=“http://catalogue.uci.edu/donaldbrenschoolofinformationandcomputersciences/departmentofcomputerscience/]Department”>Department of Computer Science < University of California Irvine)</p>
<p>Both have some in-major electives that overlap. Note that the game courses can be chosen as in-major electives in the regular CS major.</p>
<p>Having a CS degree should not prevent you from being hired by a game company, but having a CGS degree might be less attractive to a non-game company.</p>
<p>Ah, thank you! I’ll continue with CS as recommended.</p>
<p>I think the computer game science degree is fine. If you go for a general purpose CS degree (like I did,) you’ll take a lot of theoretical classes that you’ll probably never use again. With the games degree, you’ll be learning some practical skills that employers value, but it’s still generic enough so that you won’t be limited to game companies. You should be able to work on all manner of computer graphics applications other than games.</p>
<p>It’s tough to make a living doing game development, though. I know several people with games degrees, or CS degrees with an emphasis on games. None of them actually work for games companies. They all got jobs because they could do UI development.</p>
<p>I see… I still think CS is more fail-safe than CGS. The fact that I’m choosing a UC over a CSU shows that I’m more for theoretical than practical skills. Also, if I did happen to decide to not go into the game industry, I can always have skills applicable elsewhere. Thanks for the reply!</p>