Curriculum

Interactive Media: Game Design and Development, B.A.

Our curriculum includes 32 total units of study over four years. It begins with courses in the liberal arts during your first year and continuing all four years. Game courses start in your sophomore year and continue until graduation. If you choose, you can pursue internships or study abroad during the last two years.

The Interactive Media Major requires 13 total units — 8 core requirements and 5 from a chosen program Track.

Core Requirements

GAME 025 – Game Design Fundamentals (includes a First Year Intensive option)
Choose one of:
- GAME 030 – Examining Play
- GAME 010 – History of Game Development
- GAME 040 – Resistance Games
GAME 260 – Serious Game Project
GAME 255 – Game Studio (must take 5 semesters: 2 must be in junior year and 2 must be in senior year one of which is the Capstone)

Portfolios will be prepared throughout The Game Studio experience, and a yearly Senior Seminar “Prep” workshop will be held for Spring Showcase.

Catalog Courses

Program track requirements

In addition to the core requirements, students will take five additional units according to their chosen track.

3D Art

GAME 095 – Digital 3D Modeling [FYI option]
GAME 185 – 3D Animation
GAME 100 – Texturing & Lighting
GAME 105 – Environment Art
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

2D Art

GART 100 – Principles of Drawing [FYI option]
GART 235 – Life Drawing
GAME 085 – Raster and Vector Games
GAME 180 – Computer Illustration for Game Design
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Audio

MUSC 098 – Foundations of Music and Production
MUSC 141 – Computers and Music
GAME 130 – Digital Audio Production
GAME 165 – Game Audio (or GAME 160 Foley and Field Recording)
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Development and Programming

GCPT 010 – Computer Programming I [or CSCI equivalent]
GCPT 020 – Computer Programming II [or CSCI equivalent]
GAME 190 – Game Programming with Data Structures (previously Game Programming I)
GAME 265 – Artificial Intelligence for Games
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Production and Management

MGMT 100 – The Art and Science of Management
MKT 230 – Marketing Management
GAME 210 – Agile Project Management with Scrum
GAME 270 – Game Analytics
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Writing

GAME 075 – Literary Development of Virtual Worlds
GAME 095 – Creatures and Characters
GAME 175 – Writing for Fantasy and RPGs
ENG 101 – Intro to Creative Writing
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

UI/UX

GAME 150 – Visual Design and Media
GAME 140 – Animation and Motion Graphics
GAME 170 – UI/UX Design 1
GAME 270 – UI/UX Design 2
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Time-based Media

GAME 000 – Animation and Motion Graphics
GAME 185 – 3D Animation
GAME 275 – Character Animation
GAME 240 – Visual Effects
GAME xxx – Any GAME Elective

Design Your Own

Choose any 5 GAME, GART, GCPT, or other courses and obtain faculty approval to design your own unique program track.

Game Programming: male student behind 3 computers

GAME 195

Game Programming II

Study game programming using a third-party 3D game engine to provide a uniform interface for audio, 3D visuals, and device input. Students will use open-source tools/libraries to produce platform-independent code.

artificial intelligence video games philosophy - head of woman

GAME 265

Artificial Intelligence for Games

Students will develop logic grids for intelligent agents, discuss how learning and communication are integral elements of artificial intelligence, and engage in philosophical discussions about AI.

GAME 095

Digital 3D Modeling

Students will learn the step-by-step process of 3D graphics including modeling with NURBs, polygons, and subdivisions using sophisticated 3D software such as Maya.

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