Game Design & Production
Videogames have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, surpassing all other forms of entertainment. From consoles to PCs, mobile devices and immersive media, gaming has launched several new career paths, and companies are actively seeking graduates with skills in these areas. Digital games have provided new forms of socialization, political organization, and economic power, and they are at the forefront of the organization of a virtual society.
Game Design and Production explores gaming history and cultures while teaching critical skills to work in this growing industry. This interdisciplinary program offers a major with three concentrations: Coding, Design, and Narrative, and a minor.
MAJOR
Game Design and Production is a 120-credit program for the B.A. degree and a 125-credit program for the B.S. degree. Majors in this program must complete 30 credits and follow one of three concentrations as outlined below. Students who follow the Coding concentration will earn a B.S. degree upon graduation; students following the Design or Narrative concentration will earn a B.A. degree upon graduation.
Upon completion of a major in Game Design & Production, students are expected to:
- complete the planning, design, and building of digital games
- describe the history, structure, and issues of the videogame industry
- work collaboratively to apply their knowledge and skills
- analyze the ethical issues they may encounter while creating an interactive game.
All majors will complete:
| ART 134 | The Culture of Games | 3 |
| CMPT 101 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| COMM 365 | Game Design & Development | 3 |
| ART 407 | Senior Game Seminar | 3 |
In addition, students will complete one of the following three 18-credit concentrations:
CODING
| CMPT 102 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| CMPT 238 | Data Structures and Algorithms - I | 3 |
| CMPT 335 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CMPT 360 | Object Oriented Design with Java | 3 |
| CMPT 420 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
DESIGN
| ART 213 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 307 | 3D Design, Modeling and Visualization | 3 |
| ART 309 | Animation | 3 |
and 9 credits of elective courses as described below.
NARRATIVE
| COMM 304 | Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| COMM 359 | Interactive Narratives | 3 |
| DASH 310 | VR: Perception & Production | 3 |
and 9 credits of elective courses as described below.
Elective Courses
Elective courses that satisfy major and minor requirements are approved by the program director and are related to gaming, digital production, coding, and the culture, marketing, and effects of videogames. Majors may apply 3 credits from an internship in the gaming industry.
Suggested elective courses
Courses required in other GAME concentrations, including:
| ART 213 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 307 | 3D Design, Modeling and Visualization | 3 |
| ART 309 | Animation | 3 |
| CMPT 102 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| CMPT 238 | Data Structures and Algorithms - I | 3 |
| COMM 304 | Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| COMM 359 | Interactive Narratives | 3 |
| DASH 310 | VR: Perception & Production | 3 |
Other suggested elective courses:
| ART 214 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 380 | Digital Video Art: Editing and Production | 3 |
| COMM 222 | Introduction to Story and Post-Production | 3 |
| COMM 306 | Web Design | 3 |
| COMM 316 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| DASH 200 | Introduction to Digital Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| MUSC 390 | Digital Audio Recording and Editing | 3 |
In addition, students may enroll in specific special topics courses and other elective courses as approved by the Program Director.
Four-year Course Plan (B.A., Design or Narrative Concentration)
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 134 | 3 | CMPT 101 | 3 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 | PSYC 150 | 3 |
| MATH 151 | 3 | RELS 110 | 3 |
| First Year Seminar | 3 | SOC 153 | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | 3 | SPAN 102 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 150 | 3 | ART 307 or COMM 359 | 3 |
| ART 213 or COMM 304 | 3 | HIST 150 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | SCI 204 | 3 |
| RELS 214 | 3 | CONC. Elective | 3 |
| SCI 203 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 309 or DASH 310 | 3 | COMM 365 | 3 |
| POSC 150 | 3 | PHIL 150 | 3 |
| RELS 349 | 3 | SCI 230 | 3 |
| Conc. elective | 3 | CONC.Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 407 | 3 | COMM 475 | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | Electives | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Four-year Course Plan (B.S., Coding Concentration)
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 134 | 3 | CMPT 102 | 3 |
| CMPT 101 | 3 | ENGL 110 | 3 |
| MATH 185 | 4 | MATH 186 | 4 |
| RELS 110 | 3 | SPAN 102 | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | 3 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CMPT 238 | 3 | CMPT 335 | 3 |
| CMPT 360 | 3 | ENGL 150 | 3 |
| MATH 351 | 3 | PHYS 102 | 3 |
| PHIL 150 | 3 | PHYS 192 | 1 |
| PHYS 101 | 3 | RELS 233 | 3 |
| PHYS 191 | 1 | SOC 150 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 150 | 3 | ART 213 | 3 |
| COMM 365 | 3 | CMPT 420 | 3 |
| EECE 229 | 3 | CMPT 431 | 3 |
| PSYC 150 | 3 | POSC 150 | 3 |
| RELS 355 | 3 | PHYS 221 | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART 407 | 3 | CMPT 465 | 3 |
| COMM 304 | 3 | COMM 475 | 3 |
| HIST 150 | 3 | Electives | 9 |
| PHIL 201 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 125 | |||
MINOR
Students wishing to earn a minor in Game Design & Production must complete 15 credits, which include:
| ART 134 | The Culture of Games | 3 |
| COMM 365 | Game Design & Development | 3 |
and 9 credits of elective courses as approved by the program director.
Suggested elective courses
Courses required in GAME concentrations, including:
| ART 213 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 307 | 3D Design, Modeling and Visualization | 3 |
| ART 309 | Animation | 3 |
| CMPT 101 | Computer Science I | 3 |
| CMPT 102 | Computer Science II | 3 |
| CMPT 238 | Data Structures and Algorithms - I | 3 |
| COMM 304 | Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| COMM 359 | Interactive Narratives | 3 |
| DASH 310 | VR: Perception & Production | 3 |
Other suggested elective courses:
| ART 214 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 380 | Digital Video Art: Editing and Production | 3 |
| COMM 222 | Introduction to Story and Post-Production | 3 |
| COMM 306 | Web Design | 3 |
| COMM 316 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| DASH 200 | Introduction to Digital Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| MUSC 390 | Digital Audio Recording and Editing | 3 |
In addition, students may enroll in specific special topics courses and other elective courses as approved by the Program Director.
A minimum grade of C is required for courses to satisfy all major and minor requirements. Minors must have a contract signed and approved by the program director.