BSc (Hons) in Software Design (Game Development)

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Design (Game Development)

This four-year honours degree (Level 8) is designed to provide the education and training required to prepare you for a career in software design. This course specifically includes a specialisation in game development, one of the fastest growth sectors in the IT industry. This career could be as a member of a software development department within an organisation or as a designer developing games, etc. Students wishing to complete the full four years of the programme undertake a six-month industrial placement in the third year of the degree.

Game development is one of the fastest growing industries in the entertainment industry. Annual video games sales were €30 billion in 2007 and are expected to rise to €40 billion in the next four years. Games such as Halo 3, The Orange Box, Super Mario Galaxy and Bioshock are critical and commercial successes. The Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the iPod continue their explosive growth, all indicating that this is a golden age for game development.

Globally, the computer games industry is an area with enormous potential for development. The value of the computer games industry worldwide is in excess of €85 billion. Despite the fact that the games industry in Ireland is in an embryonic stage, it has the potential to grow significantly over the next five to ten years.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate

Grade C3 at higher level in two subjects, plus Grade D3 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish). Foundation level Mathematics will not suffice to meet the requirement.

FETAC

FETAC applicants to this programme must hold the following award: Information Technology (CITXX). They are also required to have the module Mathematics for Engineering (C20174) or Mathematics for Computing (C20175) included in their award and to have achieved three distinctions.

Modules

Year 1

Mathematics, Software Development, Game Development, Web Technology, Communications and Multimedia Applications, Digital Media, Requirements.

Year 2 – Semester 1

Software Development (Java), Mathematics, Game Development, Software Testing, Databases, Software Development(C+).

Year 2 – Semester 2

Game Development, Group Project, Software Development (C+), Software Development (Java), Mathematics, Networks.

Year 3 – Semester 1

Operating Systems and Concurrency, Software Development (Java), Software Development (C+), Software Quality and Process Improvement, Multi-core programming, Game Development.

Year 3 – Semester 2

Security; Law, Ethics, Computers and Society; and Project [for students electing to graduate with an ordinary degree],

 or

Placement [for students electing to graduate with an honours degree].

Year 4 – Semester 1

Computer Graphics, Distributed Systems, Management and Organisational Behaviour, Game Technology, Databases, Project.

Year 4 – Semester 2

Networks, Law, Ethics, Computers and Society, Security, Game Technology, Project.

Progression

As a graduate of this course, you are eligible to apply to join the Master of Science in Software Engineering at AIT or other appropriate Level 9 programmes.

Professional Recognition

N/A

Career Opportunities

Students graduating from this course will be in a position to take up careers as game developers, software designers, database programmers and administrators, and technical salespersons. Possible employers include: Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Eircom, IBM, SunSoft, Ericsson, Riverdeep, as well as financial institutions and the public sector.

It appears from the general statistics that growth in the game development sector and associated software design areas will be significant over the next ten years. These developments will have a major impact on employment in the IT sector.

Additional Information

Students may graduate after three years’ study with an ordinary degree, BSc in Software Design (Game Development)