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Students from the Academic Year 2020/2021 cohort onward will enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation degree program, jointly offered by DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore and Singapore Institute of Technology. The core curriculum is equivalent to the previous version of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation degree program.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation degree program prepares you to build and optimize technology that caters to local industries’ ever-growing needs for engineers with deep software development skills. You will learn to create complex software systems that push the limits of what computers can achieve — from graphical algorithms to level editors to physics engines.

Through an in-depth study of mathematics, physics, and computer science — combined with real-world projects where you design and program your own full software engineering projects from start to finish — this program transforms you into an efficient software developer, able to understand, communicate, and solve problems at every stage of the development process.

Developers from all over the world have made their marks on the software engineering, enterprise technology, and video game industries after earning a BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation degree from DigiPen. Will you join them?

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Who Should Pursue This Degree?

If you want to develop software technology that makes complex real-time simulations and interactive worlds possible, the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program can help get you there. This rigorous degree program aims to produce graduates who are exceptionally competent in the fields of software development, real-time simulations, digital media, and game development. Students have landed positions working on commercial software, enterprise technology, and AAA video games right out of DigiPen (Singapore) as skilled programmers, producers, and more. While the program is specifically focused on the computer science skills and graphics technologies used to create cutting-edge 3D simulations and games, as a graduate of the program, you will have the skills and experience necessary to develop all manner of software applications.

As a student in this program, you will:

  • Apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the program’s outcomes and to the discipline.

  • Analyze a problem and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solutions.

  • Apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of trade-offs involved in design choices.

  • Design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs and apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity.

  • Recognize the need for, and have an ability to engage in, continuous professional development and personal growth.

  • Function effectively in teams to accomplish a common goal and communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

  • Understand professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities.

  • Analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society.


Academic Roadmap

As a student in this program, you will split your time between courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science and team-based project classes that will allow you to collaborate with students from other disciplines. Each course will build on your foundational knowledge, while the project coursework will give you the opportunity to apply your education in a setting that emulates the professional studio environment.

View a sample course sequence

Study Trip — Overseas Immersion Programme

The Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) is mandatory for students in the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program. Students will study for one trimester at DigiPen Institute of Technology’s U.S. campus in Redmond, Washington, or the Europe-Bilbao campus in Spain. Students will attend lectures, labs, and industry seminars. They will also interact with American or European professors and mentors while experiencing life in a different culture with their overseas peers.

Integrated Work Study Programme

The Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) is an uninterrupted, eight-month duration (two trimesters) work placement program that will provide students with unique learning opportunities to achieve the following objectives: (1) applied learning — integration of theory and practice, acquisition of specialist knowledge, and development of professional skills; (2) exposure to real-world conditions — appreciation of real-world constraints in respective industry contexts to develop skills of adaptability, creativity, and innovation; and (3) smooth transition to jobs — practical experience which shortens the work-induction period.

BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation students will undergo their IWSP during Year Four of their studies.

Admissions Requirements

In order to apply for the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program, you should have a strong foundation in math, science, and problem-solving. You’ll need to have completed precalculus (or its equivalent) prior to attending DigiPen (Singapore). Additional coursework in computer science and physics is recommended but not required.

View all requirements

Topics Covered

Students in the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program will learn how to:

  • Program a variety of simulations and games, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional games.
  • Draft game design and technical design documents to aid in the scheduling and organizational aspects of game production.
  • Implement efficient graphical user interfaces (GUIs), including the management of windows, menus, and dialog boxes.
  • Create robust artificial intelligence algorithms to serve as the cognitive processes for computer-controlled game objects.
  • Apply concepts such as computer networks, TCP/IP, and internet programming to a multiplayer video game environment.

Student Projects

Multidisciplinary team projects make up a core component of the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation curriculum. As a student in the program, you will work with your classmates on a series of original game projects. In addition to building your own 2D and 3D graphics technology from scratch, you’ll have the chance to take on team roles in gameplay programming, artificial intelligence, game design, and other areas — applying classroom concepts toward tangible software products. These are just a few examples of what students in the program have created.


Career Outlook

BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation graduates can pursue a variety of entry- and intermediate-level positions in software engineering, enterprise technology, and video game development.

Potential Careers

Data Scientist

The role of a data scientist is to collect, analyze, and make sense of large amounts of data — finding trends, discovering patterns, and identifying potential new strategies and solutions as a result. Data scientists often rely on a combination of computer science and machine learning knowledge to devise new methods of data analysis.

Software Engineer

The software engineer role is as varied as the companies who seek such professionals. In general, a person in this role will help in creating software capable of solving complicated problems.

Software Development Engineer

Software development engineer (SDE) positions can be found in any number of industries. The role of an SDE is typically to design and build computer systems and software — either from scratch or by modifying existing systems and codebase.

Entry-Level Job Titles

  • Computer Scientist

  • Software Developer

  • Software Analyst

  • Computer Programmer

  • Networking Programmer

  • Artificial Intelligence Programmer

  • User Interface Programmer

  • Web Programmer

  • Game Scripter

  • VR/AR Software Developer

  • Machine Learning Engineer

  • Game Engine Developer

Senior-Level Job Titles

  • Lead Engineer

  • Lead Developer

  • Development Manager

  • Principal Engineer

  • Technical Director

  • Chief Technology Officer

  • Low Latency Software Developer

  • GPU Optimization Engineer

Other/Related Job Titles

  • Producer

  • Program Manager

  • Technical Program Manager

  • Data Analyst

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