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Students from the Academic Year 2020/2021 cohort onward will enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development degree program, jointly offered by DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore and Singapore Institute of Technology. The core curriculum is equivalent to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design degree and has been developed to meet the industry’s evolving needs.

The field of interactive media and video games has grown from small teams of just a handful of developers to teams of a hundred or more on a single title. This explosion in the scope, investment, and technologies going into digital media and video games has led the roles of engineer, artist, and designer to become more and more specialized. Meanwhile, the interactive media industry has stepped up its demand for hybrid engineers/designers, professionals with strong programming and mathematics skills, combined with formal training in interactive design. This is the role that the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development will prepare you for.

As a student in this program, you will work across platforms such as PC, tablets, smart phones, game consoles, VR, and AR to understand the strengths and limitations of each platform from a technical and design point of view. You’ll be trained to write computer programs in core languages such as C and C++, giving you the technical foundation to become proficient in programming with scripting languages, game logic, user interfaces, artificial intelligence, and design tools. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to design and implement user interface and game levels, game systems, and game behaviors, gaining extensive experience testing, iterating, and polishing through the completion of many individual projects and multiple team projects.

If you want to bridge the scientific and creative sides of interactive digital media and game development and can see a future as both an engineer and designer, the BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development program might be for you.

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Who Should Pursue This Degree?

The BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development is a challenging cross-disciplinary program that can be a good fit for those who want a comprehensive education in both computer programming and interactive design. This dual focus means you’ll be managing a heavy course load of both software engineering and design projects — beginning with high-level programming and extensive non-digital game design. In addition to advancing your understanding of math, physics, and computer science principles, you’ll be learning how to design fun and interesting interactive experiences, systems, and mechanics. However, this hybrid approach also means you may receive a more broad overview of some subject areas compared to other programs at DigiPen (Singapore).

As a student in this program, you will:

  • Apply knowledge of computing, mathematics, and design appropriate to the field of study

  • Analyze a problem and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solutions.

  • Design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, and user interface in applications of interactive media and game software.

  • Understand human capabilities, design principles, prototyping techniques, and evaluation methods for human-computer interfaces and user experiences.

  • Function effectively in teams to accomplish a common goal and communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

  • Understand professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities.

  • Analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society.


Academic Roadmap

As a BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development student, you’ll balance coursework in math, physics, and computer science with design classes that have you rapidly prototyping both non-digital and digital interactive experiences. On top of that, you’ll also be working on multidisciplinary software engineering projects that are much larger in scope. This is a challenging program for students who want to combine the nuts and bolts of computer programming with the artistry of creative interactive design.

View a sample course sequence

Study Trip — Overseas Immersion Programme

The Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) is mandatory for students in the BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development program. Students will study for one trimester at DigiPen Institute of Technology’s U.S. campus in Redmond, Washington, or the Europe-Bilbao campus in Spain. Students will attend lectures, labs, and industry seminars. They will also interact with American or European professors and mentors while experiencing life in a different culture with their overseas peers.

Integrated Work Study Programme

The Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) is an uninterrupted, eight-month duration (two trimesters) work placement program that will provide students with unique learning opportunities to achieve the following objectives: (1) applied learning — integration of theory and practice, acquisition of specialist knowledge, and development of professional skills; (2) exposure to real-world conditions — appreciation of real-world constraints in respective industry contexts to develop skills of adaptability, creativity, and innovation; and (3) smooth transition to jobs — practical experience which shortens the work-induction period.

BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development students will undergo their IWSP during Year Four of their studies.

Admissions Requirements

In order to apply for the BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development program, you should have a strong foundation in math, science, and problem-solving. You’ll need to have completed precalculus (or its equivalent) prior to attending DigiPen (Singapore).

View all requirements

Topics Covered

Students in the BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development concentrate on the following subjects:

  • Game design and development, including game design theory and history, design documentation, 2D and 3D level design, game mechanics, playtesting, and team game project implementation.
  • Computer science, mathematics, and physics including programming in core languages like C and C++, scripting languages, data structures, artificial intelligence, algorithm analysis, linear algebra, calculus, and Newtonian dynamics.
  • The humanities and arts, including the fundamentals of writing, psychology, and communication.

Multidisciplinary team projects make up a core component of the BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development curriculum. As a student in the program, you will work with your classmates on a series of original game projects. In addition to building your own tools and software systems, you’ll have the chance to flex your skills as a designer of gameplay, mechanics, user interfaces, and more—applying both your computer science and design knowledge toward tangible game products. These are just a few examples of what DigiPen (Singapore) students have created.


Career Outlook

BS in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development alumni can pursue a number of career paths in game and software development and experience design.

Potential Careers

Systems Designer

The systems designer helps lay the groundwork and design specifications for other developers to build large sections of a game or other application. A systems designer must rely on careful testing and have a solid understanding of technical limitations and efficiencies. They must be able to communicate well with an interdisciplinary team.

Game Designer

Game design is a broad term that can encompass many unique job types. In general, a game designer works to create and refine the interrelated systems that make up a game playing experience, from the mechanics of combat in a fighting game to the complex menu navigation in an online RPG. They often work closely with engineers and people from other disciplines to implement and fine-tune their design concepts.

Gameplay Programmer

The gameplay programmer is responsible for implementing the mechanical features and systems of a video game, often working with designers to turn ideas into working, moving parts.

Entry-Level Job Titles

  • Software Engineer

  • Software Development Engineering in Test

  • Software Analyst

  • Computer Programmer

  • Gameplay Programmer

  • Artificial Intelligence Programmer

  • User Interface Programmer

  • Tools Programmer Programmer

  • Game Scripter

  • Technical Designer

  • System Designer

  • Level Designer

  • Content Designer

  • Encounter Designer

  • Game Designer

Senior-Level Job Titles

  • Lead Engineer

  • Lead Designer

  • Technical Director

  • Creative Director

  • Director

Other/Related Job Titles

  • Producer

  • Program Manager

  • Technical Program Manager

  • Technical Writer

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