I'm a 22-year-old student currently in the 3rd year of a 5-year master's program in computer science. My university only offers a master's degree, and I'm thinking about immigrating after I graduate. The first three years involved a general study of computer science, including web development and various programming languages. Now, I have to choose a specialization for the next two years, and I'm torn between software engineering and video game development. While I'm not passionate about computer science itself, I find video game development appealing because I might enjoy the final product more. However, I'm concerned that specializing in game development could limit my job prospects compared to specializing in software engineering, which seems to offer broader job opportunities. Plus, I've already learned a lot about software engineering in the first three years, and many graduates end up working in fields outside their specialization. Ultimately, I want to secure a job abroad to facilitate my immigration process. I'm looking for advice on which path to choose!
1 Answer
If your main goal is to get your master's and secure a job abroad, I'd say go with software engineering. It opens more doors internationally and offers more general applicability compared to game development. Keep in mind that game development often involves similar skills, but if your program doesn’t cover in-depth aspects like programming game loops or multiplayer functionality, it might not give you the skills you'll need elsewhere. Plus, transitioning into game development from a software engineering role might be easier than the other way around.
Thanks for the insight! So, are you suggesting I specialize in software engineering and then work on my own game projects in my spare time? That way I can strengthen my resume and eventually pivot into game development after some solid experience?