Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems is launching a new Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program in Game Development starting in Fall 2024.
The video game industry is booming. Statista, a global company that collects data, insights, and statistics in over 170 industries, reports that revenue from the worldwide gaming market was estimated at almost $347 billion in 2022. Now, Pace students will have the opportunity to either create the next mobile sensation or pursue roles at esteemed companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony, among others. The technical skills and storytelling abilities acquired through the B.S. in Game Development will prove invaluable as students embark on their professional journey.
“We are pleased to expand the Seidenberg undergraduate offerings to game development, a rapidly growing industry that impacts not only entertainment, but education and healthcare as well,” said Jonathan Hill, dean of Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. “Gaming fits well into the Seidenberg student profile—where technology meets creativity meets entrepreneurship.”
The program will provide undergraduate students with the fundamental knowledge and abilities in computer science, art, design, and narrative. Graduates will emerge as well-rounded game developers possessing a highly sought-after skill set. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, students will engage in extensive project coursework to develop games across various genres and styles. They will apply their learning to build real, playable games to add to a diverse portfolio to showcase in future job interviews.
The B.S. in Game Development program supports various career paths, including roles such as Gameplay Programmer, Virtual Reality Software Developer, Mobile Developer, AI Programmer, Level Designer, and Game Designer. One of the objectives of the Game Development program is for students to successfully publish a game in an app store. They will gain insights into monetization strategies and acquire the skills to collaborate effectively within a development team.
“As of 2020, the game industry is larger than the film and sports industry combined,” said Carmine Guida, professor of Computer Science and director of the game development program at Pace. “Our new Game Development major is highly project-based, enabling our students to graduate with a diverse portfolio of styles and genres of games. All are welcome to apply. Students who love technology and want to use it for creative pursuits thrive in this new major.”
Making New York City a leading hub for digital game development was a vital piece of New York City Mayor Eric Adams's "Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery," which was announced last year. In this plan, the administration affirmed its commitment to New York City's digital games industry, a sector that plays a major role in our city's economy, supporting 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output.
The new B.S. in Game Development was built for the increasing number of students passionate about creating games. This includes Michael Falco ‘24, a soon-to-be double alum who took the B.S. in Computer Science followed by the Seidenberg M.S. in Cybersecurity program. When he enrolled in a new course, Game Development for Everyone, it opened up a world of possibilities that led to Falco not just programming but actually building an arcade game, which is playable in person on the Pleasantville campus.
“Luckily enough, my junior year I took Game Development for Everyone . . . It turned out to be the best decision I've made at this university, hands down,” said Falco. “Game Development for Everyone taught me more about scripting than some of my core Computer Science classes for my major. The class allowed for a lot of creative freedom when it came to the projects, and it helped me get a grasp on the fundamentals of independent unity game development.”
With a growing number of universities and high schools recognizing the value of esports as a competitive and educational activity, New York is emerging as a state ready to lead the charge in scholastic gaming. In December 2021, Pace Athletics announced esports as its 15th varsity sport. Since its inception, Pace’s esports program has taken the college gaming world by storm. The program was recently voted No. 1 in the nation after winning a March Madness-styled bracket for college esports programs. The victory highlights the growing scholastic esports scene in New York, which played an important role in helping Pace secure the championship.
Currently, there are more than 500 members across both campuses that are a part of the Pace University gaming community, including players on Pace’s Varsity, Academy, Club, and intramural teams. In fact, Pace is defying a national trend in the growth of participation by female or non-binary athletes. In the past year, the share of women on the school’s esports team has grown to 28% from 19%, and notably, half of the members in the esports club are female.
Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University is a leading institute of technology education. Students experience a dynamic and expansive technology education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. One of the first comprehensive schools of computing in the nation, the Seidenberg School is strategically located in the heart of NYC’s tech scene, right on the doorstep of New York’s most promising companies. With access to established tech giants and exciting new start-ups from both the New York City and the Westchester campus, Seidenberg offers the opportunity to connect, intern with, and enjoy lucrative tech jobs following graduation. Through partnerships with leading tech firms, banks, federal agencies, and global institutions, the school’s curricula and programs are designed to ground students in the fundamentals while offering numerous hands-on experiential learning opportunity. The faculty includes numerous experts in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, game development, software engineering, and much more, who operate labs and centers providing students with practical experience and connections that lead to impressive internships and jobs.
Lisa Fastenberg, Ph.D., associate professor and chairperson of the Mathematics Department in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University in Pleasantville, has been appointed to Pace’s Board of Trustees.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Keith Engel, a seasoned expert in tax policy, will join the faculty as a Visiting Professor for the Spring 2024 semester. During his time at Haub Law, Professor Engel will teach Corporations & Partnerships and Tax Policy. Engel is currently Chief Executive Officer for the South African Institute of Taxation and an adjunct tax professor at the University of Witswatersrand.
Pace University is pleased to announce the establishment of the Gale Epstein Center for Technology, Policy, and the Environment, made possible by a significant gift from Gale Epstein, a New York City-based philanthropist and business leader. The new center is housed in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.