Dec 03, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Serious Games and Simulations, B.A.

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The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Serious Games and Simulations is an interdisciplinary program designed for undergraduate students who want to pursue a career in designing and developing instructional games and simulations. The focus of the program will be on serious games where games are purposely designed for instruction and training, moving beyond entertainment games. Building upon game design foundations (i.e. competition, curiosity, collaboration, individual challenge, game media), serious games motivate and engage learners as they gain knowledge and skills. Serious games can be used across a variety of instructional situations such as education, training, assessment, recruitment, knowledge management, innovation and research. The degree integrates art, design, communication, computer programming, business principles and theory by relying on the expertise of UHCL faculty members from the College of Human Sciences and Humanities, the College of Education, the College of Computer Science and Engineering and the College of Business. Students with this degree will be employed by local industries and agencies to develop innovative instructional games and simulations for education, business, healthcare and military professionals who wish to further develop their credentials.

University Core Requirements (43 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 2413

Three (3) hours of Calculus will count toward the University Core and one (1) hour will count toward the Major.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

PHYS 2425

Three (3) hours will count toward the Core Life and Physical Sciences - 30 and one (1) hour will count toward the Core Component Area Option - 90.

Choose ONE additional course from the UHCL core approved list.

Language, Philosophy, and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Creative Arts (3 hours)

ARTS 2379 - Arts and the Child Credit Hours: 3

U.S. History (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Social Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Component Area Option (6 hours)

Choose SIX hours from the UHCL core approved list.

One (1) hour will carry over from PHYS 2425
1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs are required co-requisites for the chosen science course.
COMM 1315 and PSYC 1100 recommended for this requirement.

College Core Requirements (3 hours)

Advanced Writing (3 hours)

Choose ONE of the courses below.

WRIT 3315 - Advanced Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3
OR
WRIT 4311 - Grant and Proposal Writing Credit Hours: 3

Major Requirements

Graphic Arts Requirements (21 hours)

ARTS 1316 - Drawing Foundations Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 2371 - Digital Photography 1 Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 2379 - Arts and the Child Credit Hours: 3 (Counts as Creative Arts Core)
ARTS 3360 - Graphic Design Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3320 - Principles of Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4350 - 3-D Computer Modeling Credit Hours: 3 (Prereq ARTS 3360)
COMM 4351 - 3-D Animation Credit Hours: 3 (Prereq COMM 4350)

Track Concentration Requirements (Choose ONE)

Select either the Game Programming or Game Design Concentration track.

Game Programming Requirements (12 hours)

MATH 2318 - Linear Algebra Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 4335 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 4350 - Computer Graphics and Interface Design Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 4362 - Computer Game Programming: Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3

Game Design Requirements (12 hours)

ARTS 4368 - Graphic Novel Design Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3352 - Media Law Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4354 - Video Production I Credit Hours: 3
GAME 4369 - Motion Graphics Compositing Credit Hours: 3

Serious Games and Simulations, B.A.

University Core Requirements (43 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

Mathematics (3 hours)

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Language, Philosophy, and Culture (3 hours)

Creative Arts (3 hours)

U.S. History (6 hours)

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Social Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Component Area Option (6 hours)

College Core Requirements (3 hours)

Advanced Writing (3 hours)

Major Requirements

Graphic Arts Requirements (21 hours)

Human Factors Requirements (6 hours)

Business Requirements (6 hours)

Math & Science Requirements (8 hours)

Gaming Requirements (26 hours)

Track Concentration Requirements (Choose ONE)

Game Programming Requirements (12 hours)

Game Design Requirements (12 hours)