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gaming

What can you do with a degree in computer science?

If you want to know what you can do with a computer science degree, just imagine what life would look like without computer science.  

Netflix wouldn’t give you any spot-on recommendations for your binge. Siri couldn’t tell you driving directions for your spring break road trip. Your Roomba would bounce off the walls. And good luck trying to lock down your data from prying eyes. 

By 2029, employers will likely add more than 530,000 jobs in computer and information technology, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — far higher than most fields. And those jobs are at the top of the heap when it comes to pay. According to Glassdoor, grads with computer science degrees often find entry-level positions starting at $70,000, the highest of all the majors it surveyed. 

young woman with glasses seated at a desk in front of a computerAs a graduate from The University of Tulsa’s computer science program, you’ll have the skills to land a job in one of the fastest-growing parts of the economy. 

At TU, computer science majors are equipped with the tools necessary to work with emerging technologies such as cloud computing, gaming and simulation, bioinformatics, computer security, robotics and more. At the same time you put your analytical skills to work through advanced math, programming and computer architecture, you’ll also tap your creative side — because solving thorny technical problems requires flexible thinking.  

In-demand skills

While many grads wind up with jobs in the tech industry, these days, just about every sector of the economy needs the type of programming and problem-solving skills that computer science grads bring to the table. You’ll have opportunities to pursue careers such as: 

  • Data scientist. Our always-on society produces torrents of information. Data scientists see through the static and put it to use. A credit card company, for instance, might use data science to find fraudulent charges. Climate researchers may use it to produce more accurate forecasting models. 
  • Enterprise architect. Ever have a hard time picking the right technology to fit your needs? Now imagine doing it for an entire organization — often spread across different cities, states or even countries. Enterprise architects assess an organization’s goals and develop tech solutions that fit the business. 
  • Software engineer. We’re surrounded by so much technology — and without software, a lot of it is useless. The apps on your smartphone, of course, rely on it. But so does your car, your TV, your kitchen appliances, maybe even your toothbrush. 
  • Web developer. Some web developers make websites easy to use. Others write the behind-the-scenes code that performs increasingly complex tasks. And some do a bit of both.  
  • Systems analyst. A basic rule of technology: The computer system an organization installs today is already out of date tomorrow. Systems analysts help design efficient computer systems that meet organizational needs. 

Major in computer science at The University of Tulsa 

As a student in the Tandy School of Computer Science, you’ll select from two computer science majors: Computer science or computer simulation and gaming. As a simulation and gaming major, you’ll choose either a design or development track. And a host of minors, including bioinformatics, computational science, cybersecurity, data science and high-performance computing let you specialize even more.  

No matter which path you choose, you’ll get a basic introduction to computer science in your first two years, such as programming skills, ethics and data structures. In years three and four, you’ll drill down into your program, learning more about topics such as databases, artificial intelligence, game programming, computer graphics and more. Throughout it all, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct research alongside faculty in our advanced computing facilities that help put your skills into practical applications. 

 

 

Get a gaming degree at TU

Chances are, you do it. 

So do your friends. 

Maybe even your parents.  

“It” is computer gaming, and these days practically everybody is in on the action. More than 2.5 billion people around the world play video games, and almost two-thirds of all American adults — men and women, in almost equal numbers.  

COVID-19 related lockdowns have made the industry stronger than ever. In 2020, people spent $180 billion on gaming, according to market-research firm IDC. That’s more than the global movie business and North American sports, combined. 

Turn gaming into a career with a degree from TU.

two young people at a desk discussing images drawn on paper and a computer monitorA degree in computer simulation and gaming from The University of Tulsa can help curious students plug into a career in this growing industry. This multidisciplinary degree combines computer science, art, music, film and storytelling, putting you in a position to either design or develop games. Video game designers are responsible for the creative decisions that go into a game: its plot, its character development and its overall look and feel. Game developers translate those ideas into a playable game using programming skills.

In TU’s gaming program at the Tandy School of Computer Science, you’ll learn the different gaming industry roles and pick a track that’s right for you. 

As a TU game designer, you will explore the possibilities of programming to invent new worlds for others to enjoy. You will understand the language of gaming and gain the skills needed to translate your vision into (virtual) reality. 

Game designers and developers are in high demand. According to PayScale, video game designers earn $65,886 a year, while developers make $64,562. But gaming is far from your only career path. Other businesses find uses for the same types of virtual worlds built by game designers and developers. As the technology becomes cheaper and more advanced, TU alumni find more and more outlets for their talents and options for their careers. 

  • Aerospace/aviation. Pilots have relied on flight simulators for years. Increasingly sophisticated models that mimic complex meteorological conditions and other variables make this training even more versatile. 
  • Medicine. Researchers use computer simulations to understand how drugs can shut down viruses. In England, for example, researchers are using computational models to show weak points of SarS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19. 
  • Cybersecurity training. The SolarWinds hack showed how vulnerable even our largest corporations can be. Software that simulates cyberattacks can show organizations where they need to improve, without putting any data at risk.   
  • Transportation. The dream of a traffic jam-free highway full of driverless cars may be just that — a dream. In a 2021 study, traffic engineers in Australia used computer models to find that one type of autonomous vehicle actually increased congestion when used alongside human-controlled vehicles. 
  • Surgery. They say practice makes perfect. However, when you’re under the knife, you want a surgeon who’s ready to go. In Canada, a pair of video game veterans have launched a new company that uses VR to put surgeons in a virtual operating room, where they can practice techniques long before trying them on patients.  

Learn more about computer gaming at The University of Tulsa 

TU’s computer simulation and gaming major features two tracks: A design or development option. 

  • The design option mixes classes in computer science and programming with art, game design, film studies and other courses to sharpen your creativity. 
  • The development option combines courses in computer science and programming with advanced mathematics, physical science and game design. 

No matter which you pick, you’ll learn the skills necessary to work as part of a game-development team or build a game independently. And because we’re a member of the Unity Academic Alliance, you’ll have access to technology used to build more than half of all games titles released today.  

 

 

 

 

Gaming students take interdisciplinary approach to summer TURC projects

Students Courtney Spivey and Cheyanne Wheat, enrolled in one of the College of Engineering and Natural Science’s fastest growing majors, are spending their summer diving into computer simulation and gaming development – with a humanities twist.

A career of creativity

Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) student Courtney Spivey wants to create video games. As an artist, drawing and being creative is all she’s ever wanted to do.

“I’ve always loved to imagine. My interests have expanded and changed form vastly over the years, but at the end of the day I want to be involved in a career where I can be creative and share my creativity with as many people as possible,” she said.

computer simulationSpivey is laying the groundwork for her future by triple majoring in applied mathematics, computer simulation and gaming and art (emphasis on graphic design) in the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. The University of Tulsa’s computer simulation and gaming degree begins with core computer science classes in the fundamentals of programming and understanding computer systems, and then gives students the freedom to choose a specialization. As an example, the areas of design and development focus more on the artistic aspects of creating, screenwriting and drawing and also offer electives such as video editing and 3D modeling.

Courtney says she likes learning about code and the development side of the computer simulation and gaming program. In January, she began her TURC research exploring deep learning, artificial neuro networks (ANNs) and the capabilities and current limitations of artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to machine learning and AI, Spivey’s work has grown to include the study of human behavior in psychology in an attempt to find connections between the similarities of the creators and their methods for approaching deep learning.

“The human side is more flexible. When you look at why humans prefer one thing over another, you have to consider the validity of the research,” she said.

Gaming goals and future endeavors

In June, Spivey attended the International Computational Creativity Conference (ICCC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, to learn about mixing AI and machine learning with creative channels such as music and drawing. Her TURC adviser, TU School of Art, Design and Art History Director Teresa Valero, encouraged her to pursue the opportunity. Spivey will complete the community engagement portion of her TURC project later this summer when she visits Tulsa Public School sites to teach students about ANNs.

“The cool thing about TURC is that because I’m interested in media and art and how we perceive AI from a normal point of view, I can combine that with computer science analytics,” she said. “I find this research fascinating.”

computer simulationSpivey, who is from Jenks, Oklahoma, begins her senior year at TU this fall. After graduation, she hopes to work in game development as a creative manager for new projects.

In the meantime, Spivey is open to detours along her career path that pique her interest and challenge her skillset. Ironically, she is “not that much of a gamer” but credits video games like Detroit: Become Human and Legend of Zelda for leading her to this summer’s TURC project.

Gilcrease connections assist with museum technology

computer simulationFellow computer simulation and gaming major Cheyanne Wheat sits at a computer across TU’s campus in Rayzor Hall working on a similar project that also involves collaboration with TU arts and sciences programming. A junior originally from the Tulsa area, she has teamed up with TU anthropology Professor Bob Pickering to create a simulated time progression of an Indian burial mound’s construction. The interactive video game will benefit curators and preservationists at cultural institutions, such as Gilcrease Museum, where anthropologists are eager to incorporate more technology into interactive learning.

“I want to know how we can use games or game-like activities based on a museum collection to engage a younger audience,” Pickering explained. “Gilcrease has 10,000 years of human history objects from the Americas, but if you’re a 9-year-old, you don’t know these objects, you don’t have any connection to them and you don’t know why they’re important.”

According to Pickering, the museum video game concept is an experiment on every level, but collaboration with computer simulation and gaming students on a “museum forward” idea is important for the next generation of museum professionals. “This partnership is a way to start the process — to figure out what kind of technology we need and how much time it will require,” he said.

computer simulationPickering and JC Diaz, a professor in the TU Tandy School of Computer Science, have worked together on a few other museum technology projects in the past that have resulted in published papers presented at scholarly events such as the Electronic Visualization in the Arts Conference in London. The unexpected collaboration between TU’s anthropology and computer simulation and gaming programs is, Pickering noted, one of the first of its kind and sparks many interdisciplinary possibilities for curious students.

The TURC partnership weaves Pickering’s experience as an archaeologist, Gilcrease artifacts recovered from burial mounds of the Hopewell Tribe in Illinois and Wheat’s expertise as a computer simulation and gaming student. “He’s giving me the historical, accurate information, and as a developer, I’m building all of it into a museum context,” she said.

computer simulation
Cheyanne Wheat’s community service component of TURC involves volunteering for Animal Aid in Tulsa.

Wheat uses an Intel RealSense 3D camera to photograph models of Hopewell Tribe artifacts placed on a turntable. The hundreds of images are then plugged into a computer program called Unreal to develop a game that is fun and informative. Players will explore a landscape full of nature, animals and artifacts from the Hopewell Tribe 250 BCE to 250 CE while learning about history and civilization. The objective is to tell the story behind historical objects and discuss how museum-goers of all ages can learn from a video game feature.

“I’m hoping to complete development by the end of the summer and start testing it with real individuals to see how it captures people’s interest — if they like it and think it belongs in a museum,” Wheat said. “I’m focused on integrating more technology into museum culture. There’s so much technology the anthropology field hasn’t tackled yet.”