<p>I am going to be transferring to Sac State in about a year. There are several degree programs I have considered before I attempt to enter into the game industry. The reason I am asking this is because all of these degree programs cover the very core of CS, I am just wondering which degree would be the most optimal for game design.</p>
<ol>
<li>Traditional CS</li>
</ol>
<p>This will be the obvious choice as it will cover a good deal of math (vector calc, diff eq, linear alg, discrete math combina, etc) as well as all of that fun algorithm stuff and so on. This also has a co-op.</p>
<ol>
<li>Comp Eng</li>
</ol>
<p>This goes into the hardware portion as well as the fundamentals of CS. It also has a co-op at Sac State, adding an additional year to the program.</p>
<ol>
<li>Applied math/CS program</li>
</ol>
<p>This program is what has caught my eye. I can focus on the maths that are relavant to my field and it includes all of the CS courses that would still seem to give me a great grounding in CS. In fact because I do not have to take a bunch of general science clases in this degree (bio, chem, physics) I can add even more CS and math classes to my course load. It basically alows me to tailor my degree more so than the other 2 options. It also has a blended program that will allow to get my masters in 5 years. No co-ops though.</p>
<p>I would really like to do the applied math/cs blended program, both for personal enjoyment and the flexibilty in making my program, but I am coming here to see what you think the industry wants to see and what would best help me obtain my first job in the biz. Please note, I am not going to be doing anything else with my life. I am either working for a game company actively making the games or I am flipping burgers while making games in my spare time. Either way, its gaming or bust! </p>
<p>Also please note I am posting this in the science forum in case anyone thinks I am spamming =)</p>
<p>I’m not a CS expert, but if you think it would be more enjoyable to do applied math/CS then I think you should go for that, as long as you can take all the courses needed for the career you want. It’s more about taking relevant courses then it is about having a certain degree title. I would think with the CS focused applied math track though you would have plenty of opportunity to take the courses you need/want.</p>
<p>Applied mathematicians who know CS and can program are in high demand everywhere. It’s not as clear as engineering, but there are jobs. I can name a few things off the top of my head, like software engineer at an aerospace firm working on fluid flow, working in the oil industry on fluid flow as a software engineer, working in IT with high performance computing (basically everyone needs people that know stuff about this, finance firms, banks, anyone with a supercomputing cluster).</p>
<p>If you get a Ph.D in it, you’ll be eligible for the way cooler version of these jobs and probably find them easier to get. You could also work on Wall St. and make 200 grand easily if you have a Ph.D in applied mathematics, CS, or physics and can do numerical analysis with some C++. Ph.D’s are fully funded, so this is a win-win. I only mention this because you seem to be pretty interested in applied mathematics, so why not spend a little more of your life getting paid to do something you love? :)</p>
<p>If you include the CS courses in algorithms and complexity, operating systems, networks, and software engineering in any of these majors, you should be well prepared for many types of industry software development jobs and careers. Database and security courses should also be very helpful.</p>
<p>For computer games, you’ll also want graphics (and the math to go with it) and user interfaces as well. Perhaps also artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to actually know physics and linear algebra to be a game developer, like everyone else seems to think. I believe most of those libraries have already been written. </p>
<p>Its like saying you need to know how to build a hammer, just to be a carpenter.</p>
<p>(of course it would not hurt to pick up on that knowledge. I just don’t view it as essentially critical)</p>
<p>Linear algebra is definitely very important for game development, but I think that it’s a requirement for CS majors as well as engineering majors anyways so you’ll probably end up taking it regardless of which option you choose.</p>
<p>I think its going to be math/cs degree then. While the physics is not mandatory, I can add it if I want to or need to, which is the kind of flexibility that I am after in tailoring my education. And since it seems like math/cs can also open soo many other doors ‘just in case’ gaming does not happen I guess I am set. This is actually very good news because I excel at math and CS. I wont bore you with the details of how I came to realize this, even though its a very interesting story =)</p>
<p>This response has been repeated on this board and for good reason. Actually, the quoted response SHOULD be a “sticky” on this board for all CS and Math/CS majors.</p>
<p>GLOBALTRAVELER, I will PM you to see how the “sticky” question should be worded so I can add it to the FAQ thread. (I’m clueless when it comes to CS!)</p>
<p>I agree, a sticky of that information would go a long way for someone like me. It will even make good reference material when I go to tailor my degree and this thread is buried deep beneath the sea.</p>
<p>There are a lot of fields in applied math where it’s very closely tied to computational/theoretical physics, so it’s not always clear where the line is. That being said, physics and applied math is a different sort of mix than cs and applied math. Perhaps in the former you’ll be working with solving partial differential equations, whereas in the latter you’ll be researching how to optimize networks using graph theory or combinatorics. These are two completely different types of mathematics, so you’ll do yourself a favor by realizing this and checking out both and see how you like them. Of course, this all depends on whether you’re going into research or your normal industrial route, and it also depends on a lot of other things, but in your case that’s good because this goes hand-in-hand with the versatility of an applied math degree.</p>
<p>I looked up your school’s degree program and one semester of physics is mandatory for your degree (PHYS 11A General Physics: Mechanics; listed under lower division course requirements). You should consider adding on another semester of it, if it turns out that it would help.</p>
<p>It appears that it is the first part of a three semester sequence in introductory physics. You should talk to an advisor about the importance of taking PHYS 11B and/or PHYS 11C as it pertains to a career in gaming.</p>
<p>For typical games that attempt to have “realistic” moving, shooting, etc. the mechanics part of physics (typically the first introductory course) is likely to be the most relevant.</p>
<p>I apologize, I got some of my information from a student assistant on the phone who I guess was not fully versed…I looked online and reviewed what I assume is the same course outline. Either way, I think I am still happy with the degree choice, but as a previous poster mentioned, I need to look into what exactly what I want to do in gaming, which may mean some fair amount of changes in courses or different degree choice all together.</p>
<p>A single class of physics has been completed already, so I am set there. I think a second semester might do me some good since I will be coding the realistic physics and would at the very least need to understand it.</p>
<p>By the way, you people might want to print out this post, because one day it will be worth money when Cowgill becomes a house hold name!</p>