BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering CGS1
3.
Mode/s of Attendance
Full Time
YES
Sandwich
YES
Part Time
Other please specify
4.
Partner Institution/s
5.
Date of Approval
2003
6.
Programme Entry Requirements (150 words maximum) This section should indicate any subject specific requirements, a statement regarding advanced entry to the programme and English language entry requirements (in line with the English language policy, IELTS component requirements should be specified in the Supplement and in section 19 of the programme specification). UCAS entry tariffs should not be specified.
As well as GCE and VCE ‘A levels’, the University accepts a wide range of entry qualifications including BTEC National Awards,
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, Irish Leaving Certificate, Access courses and the International Baccalaureate. Entry
requirements are usually expressed as UCAS tariff points and can be found in programme specifications and the on-line prospectus. In addition to achieving the UCAS tariff points for entry to the programme, students must also be able to demonstrate that they have studied an appropriate
minimum number of units at Level 3, which is usually not less than two full GCE or VCE A levels or equivalent (though for
programmes at sub degree level this requirement is usually not less than one full GCE or VCE A level or equivalent). Applicants
may be required to have studied a particular subject or subjects to a certain level. Where the first language is not English, an IELTS
score of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component) will normally be required for entry.
Students may be admitted to the programme with advanced standing based on accredited prior learning or accredited prior experiential learning.
7.
Programme Statement (250 words maximum) This should be written primarily for an external audience (eg employers) clarifying the aims of the programme, pathways, professional body implications (including where an alternative award title indicates that professional requirements have not been met) and opportunities for work experience/placements or study abroad. Please note that further information on professional status is required in section 10 below.
Graduates will have acquired a wide range of skills including programming, systems architecture, multimedia technologies, human computer interaction, graphics, animation, sound and video. Additionally they will have developed a strong appreciation of the software design and management processes and principles.
Graduates will be able to demonstrate creativity in problem-solving and decision-making in complex situations and also creativity and imagination in design situations. Throughout the programme, students will have had the opportunity to strengthen and demonstrate their initiative, personal responsibility, personal enterprise, self-reliance and self-direction - all essential skills for a games programming professional.
8.
Learning Outcomes applicable to students gaining awards in the current academic year. If these are the same as the main programme specification, please indicate ‘see section 13 of the main specification’ below.
The learning outcomes for an Honours degree are as follows:
Knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to demonstrate specialist in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of:
1: Object-oriented Software Engineering
2: The application of Object-Oriented Software Engineering techniques to Computer Games Projects
4: The application of appropriate mathematics techniques for physics modelling, and graphical environment simulation.
5: Artificial Intelligence systems for use in Computer Games Projects
6: The use of multimedia in Computer Games Environments
7: Programming and Program Design in Computer Games Projects
8: Tools, methods and techniques used for the management of Computer Games Projects.
9: The hardware for Computer Games, and the issues surrounding the hardware, and how these issues affect the development of Computer Games Projects
10: A range of core computing subjects which are not covered by the above points, e.g. internet programming and databases.
Intellectual Skills
Students will be able to:
1: Apply knowledge and understanding to systematically identify and analyse complex problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature, and offer appropriate strategic solutions using a range of effective methods and tools.
2: Critically examine, understand, apply, discuss and evaluate the philosophies, techniques, tools and methods relevant to a range of Computer Games Projects.
3: Use evidence and criteria to integrate, evaluate, interpret, and synthesise information from a variety of data sources, discriminating between what is of primary importance, and what is of secondary value.
4: Reflect on the professional, ethical. legal and sociological issues surrounding the development and use of Computer Games.
5: Critically examine and understand the ways of defining, promoting, controlling and validating the attainment of quality in the field of Computer Games Software Engineering.
6: Identify, plan and execute a significant individual project by conducting independent research and applying originality plus a range of specific skills and established techniques in research methodologies and literature reviewing.
Practical Skills
Students will be able to:
1: Apply a range of techniques, tools, and knowledge in the gameplay design, software design, construction and testing of high quality Computer Games Projects.
2: Apply a range of techniques, tools, and knowledge to the management of Computer Games Projects, and the Software Engineering process involved.
3: Apply a range of techniques, tools and knowledge in the development of products in other areas of core computing.
Transferable/Key Skills
Students will be able to:
1: Learn independently, enhancing their existing skills and developing new ones to a high level, enabling them to sustain their own continued professional development.
2: Demonstrate creativity in problem solving and decision making in complex situations.
3: Demonstrate creativity and imagination in design situations.
4: Effectively and professionally communicate information, ideas, arguments, problems and solutions in both written and oral form to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5: Demonstrate initiative, personal responsibility, personal enterprise, self-reliance and self-direction, acting autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level.
6: Manage their time and resources efficiently.
7: Engage in critical self-appraisal of their own learning experience, personal strengths, limitations and performance.
8: Demonstrate research skills at an appropriate level.
9: Collaborate with other members of a software development team in an effective and professional manner.
An unclassified degree or lower level qualification may also be awarded where students have not met all learning outcomes.
9.
Professional status (100 words maximum) Please provide a statement on the professional status of the programme for students graduating in the current academic year, noting the following extract from guidance from the Higher Education Better Regulation Group (HEBRG)1 for the collection of data for the KIS:
The outcome of a successful programme accreditation by a PSRB may include one or more of the following:
graduates are able to practise as a professional in a specific field, and in some cases receive a license to practise that is required by law;
graduates are granted chartered status;
graduates are granted exemption from all or part of professional exams;
graduates are eligible for entry to membership of a professional association or learned society;
the programme is confirmed as meeting externally designated standards and quality.
This programme has been fully accredited by BCS The Chartered Institute for IT as fully meeting the educational requirement for CITP registration and partially meeting the educational requirement for CEng registration.
LOG OF CHANGES
Any changes made to an approved Programme Specification (other than typographical corrections) should be logged below and the sheet appended to the Programme Specification. Subsequent changes can then be added. Where it is not practicable to change an existing Programme Specification, a new version is required.
Brief summary of change to Programme Specification
(including section number)
Programme code(s) affected by change
Programme title(s)
Date of approval / amendment
Admin change1
Y/N
Change takes effect
Stage/year of programme
eg Year 3
Semester/ academic year
eg S2;05/06
1.
Replace first year module CG0022 with EN0153
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering
June 2007
N
Year 1/ stage 1
2007
2.
Level 5 students currently take:
Semester 1 – CM0557 System design and architecture (Core)
Semester 2 – CM0532 Object oriented modelling and design (Core)
Replaced with CM0568 Games architecture and development.
March 2009
N
Level 5
2009/10
3.
Programme title changed to Games Programming for all new students.
YL – CM0568 Games Architecture and Development (core)
Moved to semester 1.
CGS1
GAP1
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering
BSc (Hons) Games Programming
2011
No
Level 5
11/12
5.
Level 5 students currently take:
Semester 1—CM0509 Games Systems Architecture (Core)
Semester 2—CM0160 Foundations of HCI
Replaced with CM0569 Game Interface and Scripting Project
CGS1
GAP1
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering
BSc (Hons) Games Programming
2011
No
Level 5
11/12
6.
Level 6 students currently take:
Semester 1—CM0606 AI for Computer Games, CM0609 Advanced Architecture for Games Systems, CM0649 Advanced Programming Issues for Games Systems
Semester 2—Options (10 credits)
Replaced with CM0yyy Advanced Games Systems Architecture and CM0zzz Specialist Games Programming
CGS1
GAP1
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering
BSc (Hons) Games Programming
2011
No
Level 6
11/12
7
BCS Mappings Updated July 2011
Level 5
Existing 10-credit modules removed: CM0160 Foundations of HCI and CM0509 Games Systems Architecture.
In order to provide the HCI content it was thought appropriate to have something much more games-specific; in order to achieve this it is proposed to add CM0569 Game Interface & Scripting Project, an existing 20-credit module currently delivered to the Computer Games Design students, to this programme.
In order for CM0569 to be taught to both programmes at the same time it is necessary to change CM0568 Games Architecture and Development from year-long to semester-based (in semester 1).
The content from CM0509 is moved to level 6.
Level 6
Create a new 20-credit semester 1 module Specialist Games Programming which combines and integrates the content from CM0606 AI for Games and CM0649 Advanced Programming Issues for Games.
Create a new 20-credit semester 2 module Advanced Games Systems Architecture which combines and integrates the content from CM0509 Games Systems Architecture and CM0609 Advanced Architecture for Games Systems, the level of the material ex-CM0509 being adjusted accordingly.
The 10 credits of options at this level will be removed.
