Hi everyone, Im about to register to a university im my country for a BSc degree, and i want to pick a course that would best suit for a career in the video game industry as a game programmer and that would also allow me to have the option to become a video game console developer, though my top priority is programming. After viewing the course options, im quite torn between a regular CS course, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering (which are all under the Computer Science Faculty) and Computer and Software Engineering course (which is under the Electrical Engineering Faculty). i have no idea how do they differ from one another and the explanation i got from university representatives is really vague as well. i tried looking at the courses description to see what subjects are included but its almost like chinese to me. im more bent towards the Computer and Software Engineering course because it sounds like its dealing with both Programming and PC hardware, but from what i understand its dealing more with programming for hardware and less with external programming (for games), so im not sure if game related subjects like AI, Computer Graphics and even programming languages are even included. Can someone please help me decide which course i should take and whats the difference between all the courses i mentioned? Any help would be greatly appreciated! [Edited by - shishio64 on October 28, 2009 9:09:08 AM]

Do the CE if you can handle it.
Programming is hard.
The Engineering courses are usually harder and if you can handle those you can easily handle anything in CS on your own.

Does your university have an online syllabus that we can look at to judge the programs' merits?

There isn't any english syllabus of each course, but there is a long list of subjects for each faculty in english if it helps:

Electrical Engineering Faculty: (this is where 'Computer and Software Engineering' is)
EE

Computer Science Faculty: (this is where 'Computer Science', 'Software Engineering' and 'Computer Engineering' is)
CS

Quote: Original post by shishio64
1. Can someone please help me decide which course i should take
2. and whats the difference between all the courses i mentioned?

#2 you have to figure out by careful research.
#1 I can help you with. Read FAQ 70 on my site, it's all about how to make difficult decisions of any kind.
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/m70.htm
Your decision MUST be a PERSONAL decision. What other people decide is not necessarily the best decision for YOU.

Quote: Original post by Telastyn
Does your university have an online syllabus that we can look at to judge the programs' merits?

Since the university doesn't have an english syllabus for each program, i translated it myself (using the faculty's subject lists):

Computer Science program:

Semester 1
104012 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 1T
104167 - ALGEBRA A
234114 Introduction to Computer Science
234145 Digital Systems
324012 Technical English

Semester 2
104014 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 2T
114071 PHYSICS 1M
234118 Computer Organization and Programming
234122 Introduction to Systems Programming
234141 Combinatorics for CS

Semester 3
094412 Probability M
104134 - MODERN ALGEBRA H
114075 PHYSICS 2MM
234218 Data Structures 1
234262 Logic Design
234293 Logic and set theory for CS

Semester 4
additional math course
234107 Numerical Analysis
234123 Operating Systems
234247 Algorithms 1
234267 Digital Computers Structure (MAMAS)
236353 Automata and Formal Languages

Semester 5
additional science course
236343 Computability Theory
236360 Theory of Compilation

and i need to choose another 18 subjects from the subjects listed here: CS courses for the remainder of the program (there are 8 semesters).

Software Engineering program

Semester 1
104012 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 1T
104167 - ALGEBRA A
234114 Introduction to Computer Science
234145 Digital Systems
324012 Technical English

Semester 2
104014 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 2T
104134 - MODERN ALGEBRA H
114071 PHYSICS 1M
234118 Computer Organization and Programming
234122 Introduction to Systems Programming
234141 Combinatorics for CS

Semester 3
094412 Probability M
114075 PHYSICS 2MM
234218 Data Structures 1
234262 Logic Design
234293 Logic and set theory for CS
234319 Programming Languages

Semester 4
234322 File Systems
234247 Algorithms 1
234123 Operating Systems
234267 Digital Computers Structure (MAMAS)
236353 Automata and Formal Languages
236703 Object Oriented Programming

Semester 5
additional science course
234107 Numerical Analysis
234321 Software Engineering Methods
236342 Introduction to Software Verification
236343 Computability Theory
236360 Theory of Compilation
236370 Concurrent and Distributed Programming

Semester 6
236334 Introduction to Computer Networks
236368 Formal Specifications For Complex Systems

Semester 7
234311 Yearly Project in Software Engineering-Stage A

Semester 8
234312 Yearly Project in Software Engineering-Stage B

in addition i need to choose at least 2 subjects from this list:
095140 project planning and management
236350 Computer Security
236363 Database Management Systems
236501 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
236700 Software design

and another 8 subjects from here: CS courses

Computer Engineering program:

Semester 1
104012 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 1T
104167 - ALGEBRA A or 104016 - ALGEBRA 1/EXTENDED
234114 - Introduction to Computer Science
234145 Digital Systems
324012 Technical English

Semester 2
104014 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 2T
104134 - MODERN ALGEBRA H
114071 PHYSICS 1M
234118 Computer Organization and Programming
234122 Introduction to Systems Programming
234141 Combinatorics for CS

Semester 3
114075 PHYSICS 2MM
094412 Probability M or 104034 - INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY H
104135 - ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS/T
104215 - COMPLEX FUNCTIONS
234218 Data Structures 1
044262 Logical Design

Semester 4
044105 Theory of Electronic Circuits
104214 - FOURIER SERIES AND INTEGRAL TRANSFORMS
104220 - PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS/T
234247 Algorithms 1
114073 PHYSICS 3H
044127 Semiconductor devices
046267 Computer Architecture or 234267 - Digital Computers Structure (MAMAS)

Semester 5
044147 Electronic Switching Circuits
044130 Signals and Systems
234123 Operating Systems or 046209 - Structure of Operating Systems + 046210 Operating Systems Lab

Semester 6
044151 Electrical Engineering Laboratory 1 Ch.
044167 Lab. Project A

Semester 7
044169 Lab. Project B
044265 Project in System Programming

in addition i need to choose 3 subjects from this list:
044142 Linear Electronic Circuits
044198 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing
044202 Random Signals
044334 Introduction to Computer Networks
234293 Logic and set theory for CS
236343 Computability Theory
236353 Automata and Formal Languages

and another 6 subjects from both faculties (CS and EE)
CS courses
EE courses

Computer and Software Engineering program:

Semester 1
234145 Digital Systems
104012 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 1T
104016 - ALGEBRA 1/EXTENDED
114071 PHYSICS 1M
234117 Introduction to computer science H

Semester 2
044268 Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
104014 - DIFFERENTIAL AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS 2T
104135 - ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS/T
104134 - MODERN ALGEBRA H
114075 PHYSICS 2MM
324012 Technical English

Semester 3
044101 Introduction to Software Systems
044105 Theory of Electronic Circuits
044114 Discrete Mathematics EE
104214 - FOURIER SERIES AND INTEGRAL TRANSFORMS
104215 - COMPLEX FUNCTIONS
104220 - PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS/T
114073 PHYSICS 3H

Semester 4
044127 Semiconductor devices
044130 Signals and Systems
044262 Logical Design
046002 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
104034 - INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY H

Semester 5
044147 Electronic Switching Circuits
046209 Structure of Operating Systems
046210 Operating Systems Lab
046267 Computer Architecture
044334 Introduction to Computer Networks

Semester 6
044151 Electrical Engineering Laboratory 1 Ch.
044167 Lab. Project A

Semester 7
044169 Lab. Project B

in addition i need to choose 3 subjects from this list:
046266 Compilation Methods
046237 Integrated Circuits
044202 Random Signals
044198 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing
044142 Linear Electronic Circuits
044191 Control systems 1
044140 Electromagnetic Fields

and at least another 6 subjects from both faculties (CS and EE)
CS courses
EE courses

hope this helps. i had to do it manually so there might be some inaccuracies...

to remind you, this is what im aiming for: a program that would best suit for a career in the video game industry as a game programmer and that would also allow me to have the option to become a video game console developer (though becoming a game programmer is my top priority - i don't want to compromise it), if such a program exists...

Thanks a lot!

[Edited by - shishio64 on October 29, 2009 7:29:33 PM]

the number one thing you should do is make games on your own. Get a degree, but develop a portfolio. Companies wan't people who are motivated and can manage themselves. I have zero experience working as a game programmer, but I am a programmer.