The campus will remain closed until 12 noon Thursday, 02/13/25. Students should log into Canvas for specific class information from their instructors. Please contact event organizers for information on specific activities. Normal operations will resume at 12pm on Thursday.
In the Computer Science degree and Game Software Development concentration, students can learn the tools to become experienced and adaptable programmers, while applying Lawrence Tech’s motto of using their creativity to create magical moments in the medium of video games. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of game development, classes expose students to not only the intricacies of how to make a game, but also to how to work along people with different specialties and just as much passion for the craft.
Amusement, amazement, education, entertainment; gaming possesses multiple purposes and represents an exciting synthesis of science and art, power and playability. Game designers conceive and create interactive games for consumer use, applying aspects of probability, technology, artificial intelligence, and visual and sound aesthetics to enable and enhance a game playing experience.
Infinite Machine & Mobius Inventors
Two student organizations run by students from the Game Design and Computer Science degrees. IM&MI provide students of all majors with an inclusive community to meet like-minded individuals, work on projects, play games, watch movies, organize fundraisers, and do all sorts of fun activities.
LTUX
LTUX is a FREE annual campus-wide expo at Lawrence Technological University that combines anime, games, and Esports to showcase local talent in the form of student game showcases, cosplay workshops, gaming tournaments, panels, vendors, and more!
Advised by faculty members Dr. Stephen Mallory, Dr. Ahu Yolac, and Professor Jose Gonzalez-Belmonte, student leaders pool their resources together each year to provide a free celebration of everything LTU and Michigan has to offer: Great work, a friendly and welcoming studio culture, and amazing potential.
Trip to the Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Every March, we organize a trip to San Francisco for the Game Developers Conference, the biggest video game industry event in the United States. This is a great opportunity for our students to meet industry professionals, network, and discover new technologies that they can apply both in and out of school.
Course Name
Course #
Credits
College Composition develops students’ acquisition of the fundamental principles of academic writing. This course focuses on the development of writing thesis statements and main arguments, topic sentences, transitional words and phrases, supporting paragraphs, use of evidence, essay organization, and research skills. Extensive writing and research practice is required.
COM1103
3
Prerequisite: None. Introduction to the study of motives at work in human behavior; understanding of perception, reasoning, memory, consciousness, intelligence, psychopathology, and individual differences. Lecture 3 hours. 3 hours credit
PSY1213
3
An overview of computer science for CS and non-CS majors with the overarching objective to develop a computational mindset. For CS majors, to gain an appreciation of the relevance of the various computing topics and interrelationships for future courses. For non-CS majors, to provide the necessary technological background to appreciate and integrate into today’s technical society.
MCS1243
3
Topics include, limits and continuity, differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions, mean value theorem, applications of differentiation, anti-derivatives, indefinite integrals, inverse trigonometric functions, substitutions, definite integrals, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, applications of integration. Applications will be emphasized. In addition to regular class meetings, all students are required to participate in calculus lab sessions. The schedule, frequency, and modality of these labs may vary by section. Refer to the class schedule and course syllabus for details.
MCS1414
4
Course not found.
MCS1643
3
Total Credits:
16
Course Name
Course #
Credits
A historical survey that develops students’ abilities to critically engage texts of the ancient global world, placing an emphasis on the way these texts reflect their context and human experience. Readings may draw from philosophy, history, literature, visual art, and more. Class activities include reading of primary sources, seminar discussion, and writing in various genres. May be taken concurrently with COM 1103.
HUM1213
3
A historical survey that develops students’ abilities to engage texts of the modern global world, placing an emphasis on the way these texts reflect their context and human experience. Readings may draw from philosophy, history, literature, visual art, photography, film, digital media, and more. Class activities include reading of primary sources, seminar discussion, and writing in various genres. May be taken concurrently with COM 1103.
HUM1223
3
Hyperbolic functions, L’Hospital’s rule, techniques of integration, application to arc length and surface area, polar coordinates, infinite series, Taylor Series. In addition to regular class meetings, all students are required to participate in calculus lab sessions. The schedule, frequency, and modality of these labs may vary by section. Refer to the class schedule and course syllabus for details.
MCS1424
4
Introduction to programming with C++. Binary, two’s complement, decimal, hex, and octal representations. Variable types. Simple, iterative, and conditional statements. Procedure and functions with parameters by value and reference with or without a returning value. Arrays and vectors, multidimensional arrays, bubble and selection sorts, linear and binary search. Pointer and dynamic memory allocation, character and C-strings, file input/output (sequential). Classes, friends, array of objects, and operators’ overloading. Inheritance, polymorphism, virtual function, and recursion.
MCS1514
4
Create video games of several different genres such as shoot-em-up, scrolling shooter, platform, puzzles, maze racing, sports, and RPG. Examining and implementing game requirements for different hardware platforms.
MCS1653
3
Total Credits:
17
Course Name
Course #
Credits
Each aspect of game design is examined and implemented. At the end of the course students will have designed a complete game.
MCS3563
3
Course not found.
MCS2193
3
Records, advanced file input/output (random access), dynamic memory allocation. Static and dynamic implementation of stacks, linked lists (ordered and unordered), queue (regular and priority), circular queues. Selection and insertion sort, binary search. Lecture 3 hrs., Lab 1hr.
MCS2514
4
Number Theory, review of induction and recursion, advanced counting, equivalence, partial ordering, graphs, trees.
MCS2523
3
Game Elective*
XXX3/4
3/4
Total Credits:
16/17
Course Name
Course #
Credits
LLT Elective
LLT2XX3
3
SSC Elective
SSC2XX3
3
Analysis of algorithms, Big Oh notation, asymptotic behavior. Advanced sorting (heapsort, quicksort), external sorting. Binary, multiway, and AVL trees. Lecture 4 hrs.
MCS2534
4
Students will apply their skills to create a game prototype in a simulated professional team-driven environment. Exercising task tracking, weekly meetings, game testing, and version control practices will frame critiques and Faculty-driven mentorship.
GAM2313
3
Organization of database systems. Data definition, retrieval, manipulation. Relational databases, SQL. Practice using standard databases.
MCS2543
3
Total Credits:
16
Course Name
Course #
Credits
The application of creative writing techniques through various literary genres: poetry, fiction, drama, screenwriting, non-fiction, and critical evaluation. The following courses can be taken concurrently with this course: LLT 1213, LLT 1223.
CRW2513
3
This course is a brief overview of software engineering topics including software development models, requirements, software design & implementation, software debugging & testing, software maintenance, software quality & metrics, and software project management. Focused in depth learning goals include system modelling & analysis tools, model-based design, coding standards, IDE tools, version control systems, and the introduction of agile software development methodologies. In addition to theories, students will practice in the development of a long-running software project applying & utilizing software engineering techniques & tools covered in class.
MCS3643
3
This course introduces the fundamental concepts & methods of knowledge representation, perception, reasoning, problem solving, data-mining, and machine learning in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Topics covered include Knowledge-Based Systems, Rule-Based Expert Systems, Uncertainty Management, Fuzzy Systems, Artificial Neural Networks, Evolutionary Computation, Semantic Web, and Autonomous Robotics.
MCS4633
3
Calculus based kinematics and dynamics of particles, conservation of energy, momentum, rotational dynamics and statics, fluids, temperature and heat, and laws of thermodynamics. 3 Credit hours. Lecture 3 hrs., Studio 1 hr. The following course can be taken concurrently with this course: MCS1424.
PHY2413
3
Introductory laboratory experiments to complement University Physics 1. 1 Credit Hours. Lab 2 hrs.
PHY2421
1
Total Credits:
15
Course Name
Course #
Credits
Training in a systematic method for producing effective technical communication, written reports, letters, and memos as well as oral presentations. Lecture 3 hours. 3 hours credit
COM2103
3
This course builds upon pre-existing game development knowledge by employing industry standard methodologies as students start or continue a game project. In this team-oriented environment, project management techniques and advanced game programming, art, design, writing, or other skills are explored based on the needs of each individual project and team.
GAM3313
3
This course continues from Software Engineering I and covers overall software engineering topics especially for developing large software using modelling languages and object oriented design methodologies. In-depth learning topics include UML (Unified Modelling Language) & tools, Object Oriented Design (OOD) methodologies, model-based design, software reuse, and comparison of various version control systems. Students will gain practical experience in the development of a larger long-running software project with a focus on object oriented programming language utilizing UML diagrams such as Use-Case, State, Sequence, Class, and Component diagrams as well as OOD methodologies
MCS3653
3
Application programming interfaces (APIs); interactive computer graphics; two- and three-dimensional representation and transformation; viewing with parallel and perspective projections; shading with illumination and material. Lecture 3 hours.
MCS3503
3
Game Elective*
XXX3/4
3/4
Total Credits:
15/16
Course Name
Course #
Credits
LLT Jr./Sr. Elective
3/4XX3
3
Natural Science Elective
BIO/PHY/CHM/GLG/PSC
XXX3
3
Course not found.
MCS4833
3
Beginning course on theory of computation. Regular languages, finite automata, context-free language, Turing Machine, Chomsky hierarchy, applications to parsing. Lecture 3 hrs.
MCS4653
3
Course not found.
MCS3663
3
Pathways 4001 is the capstone course for CoAS majors’ Pathways Program. The course meets for 4 half-day Saturday sessions fall term. The course’s work requirements are satisfied throughout students’ final year under the supervision of the Pathways Program Director. Requirements include: a) mentoring first-year CoAS majors in the Pathways 1001 course, b) participation in an extra- or co- curricular activity related to major research field, c) incorporation of leadership / ethics issues in senior thesis / capstone project.
COM4001
1
Total Credits:
16
Course Name
Course #
Credits
Jr./Sr. Elective
SSC/PSY
3/4XX3
3
Course not found.
MCS4843
3
Transmission media, local asynchronous communication (RS232) long distance communication, LAN Technologies, network topologies, hardware addressing, LAN wiring, physical topologies, interface hardware, extending LANs, fiber modems repeaters, bridges, and switches, WAN topologies and routing. Lecture 3 hrs.
MCS4613
3
Jr./Sr. MCS Elective*
3/4XX3/4
3/4
Jr./Sr. Game Elective*
3/4XX3/4
3/4
Total Credits:
15/17
*Electives may be selected from the following:
MCS 2414 Calculus 3
MCS 3403 Probability and Statistics
MCS 3863 Linear Algebra
MCS 3683 Principles of Computer Animation
MCS 3513 Software Architecture
TAS 1023 Game Audio & Sound Design 1
TAS 2023 Game Audio & Sound Design 2
GAM 2213 History of Game Design
GAM 2133 3D Environment Modeling
GAM 3993 Special Topics in Game Design
Katherine Tackett, Brandon Bourdage, Alexander Ortwine
Jenna Perkin, Alexandra Mojado, Tyler Mitchell, Michael Shaughnessy, Rebekah Campbell
Cameron Bennett
Tanner Eubanks, Cole Smith, Andrew Kazmierczak
Max Sievert, Griffin Weathers, Nathaniel Darling, Kip Jarett
Michael Shaughnessy, Blake Davey, Bryce Easterday, Isaac Jarvis, Lee Bradford
Jack Paesano
Kyle Barszcz
Rory Wilson
Jonathan Dervin
Cameron MacDonald
Brent Burtraw
James Hogg, Valerie Schlaupitz
Katherine Tackett
For me, the best part of LTU was that it facilitated a community of creative peers, creating a space to focus, become inspired, and to collaborate. I felt encouraged to participate in all aspects of development, which helped exercise tricky skills like demoing, branding, and releasing games. Practicing how to critique and how to be critiqued in a studio setting became invaluable communication skills that I’m always applying in the professional world. Topics taught in Linear Algebra and Computer Graphics gave me a footing on how to approach more advanced game systems and rendering techniques that I’ve now used extensively on large projects.
Use Your Cell Phone as a Document Camera in Zoom
From Computer
Log in and start your Zoom session with participants
From Phone
To use your cell phone as a makeshift document camera
