Game Programming Certificate (Undergraduate Certificate)

Focus your passion for play and discover how to design and develop games with an academic certificate to enhance your computer science degree. The certificate in game programming is designed to prepare undergraduate students in the department of computer science and engineering to launch careers as programmers in the video game industry. 

Why Earn a Game Programming Certificate?

• The Laboratory for Recreational Computing was established in 1993 at the University of North Texas Department of Computer Science and Engineering, making it one of the first programs of its kind in Texas. We offer classes in game programming leading to a Certificate in Game Programming alongside a B.S. in Computer Science, a B.S. in Computer Engineering, or a M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering.

Our game programming classes are designed to give you the three things that game industry professionals need:

• Technical knowledge
• Experience working in teams using a revision control system and
• The ability to work and learn independently

Game Programming Certificate Highlights

1. In 2010, the Laboratory for Recreational Computing (LARC) was named in the top 50 out of 500 game design programs in North America by the Princeton Review and Game Programmer Magazine.
2. LARC has a strong group of alumni in the game industry and a history of cutting-edge research in game programming and procedural content generation by students in the Game Development Research Group.

Game Programming Certificate Courses You Could Take
Programming Math and Physics for Games (3 hrs)

• Fundamentals of game math and physics for game development, including linear algebra, matrix math for graphics, quaternions, basic physics equations, game math and physics implementation, physics engines.

Game Programming II (3 hrs)

• Game engine programming techniques, including real-time 3D graphics programming, shader techniques, terrain rendering, level of detail, collision detection, particle engines, 3D sound and character animation.

Topics in Game Development (3 hrs)

• Advanced topics in game development, possibly including but not limited to character animation, procedural content generation, shader techniques and graphics special effects. Discussion of articles from the recent academic and technical literature on game development and related material from relevant computer science areas.

Game Programming I (3 hrs)

• Introduction to game programming, including real-time, event-driven and multimedia programming techniques. Graphics, sound and input programming. Students learn how to program a billboard game in 3D with constrained camera motion.