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Game Design & Development Degrees: What Coursework is Included in a Typical Game Design & Development Program?

Written by Michelle Burton. Last updated October 15, 2019.

Coursework for Game Design & Development Programs

What Coursework is Included in a Typical Game Design & Development Program? ACR Takes a Look.

Types of Courses for Game Design & Development Programs
3D Modeling Techniques
3D Texture, Rendering and Lighting Techniques
Advanced Game Engines: Using Unity3D
Advanced Game Programming
Character Creation and Texturing
Character Rigging
Concept Development
Environment Creation for Games
Fundamentals of Motion Graphics
Soundtracks for Film, Video and Games
Story Design Methods
Video and Audio for Game Design

What is Game Design & Development?

Game design & development is the process of creating interactive games for consoles, PCs, handheld devices, arcade machines, and the Internet. Game design & development artists determine the overall mission, theme, and rules of play. The process of game design & development involves brainstorming, collaboration, testing, and revising. Art, design, computer programming, and software design skills are utilized during the design and development process.   

What are the Types of Courses for Game Design & Development Programs?

Game designers and developers must understand the art and technology behind video games and how they work, they must understand storytelling, and they must understand how programmers arrive at certain ends. As such, game design & development students will take a combination of art, design, development, and programming courses. The following is one example of a 72 credit hour game design & development core:

  • 3D Modeling Techniques
  • 3D Texture, Rendering and Lighting Techniques
  • Advanced Game Engines: Using Unity3D
  • Advanced Game Programming
  • Advanced Motion Graphics
  • Advanced Photoshop
  • Aesthetics of Film
  • Basic Photoshop
  • Character Creation and Texturing
  • Character Rigging
  • Concept Development
  • Creating Sound Effects and Dialog for Film, Video and Games
  • Environment Creation for Games
  • Fundamentals of Motion Graphics
  • Game Development I & II
  • Intro to Game Engines
  • Intro to Game Programming
  • Introduction to 3D
  • Soundtracks for Film, Video and Games
  • Story Design Methods
  • Video and Audio for Game Design

Game design & development programs also require a number of math and science courses—some beginning, others advanced. Students will take courses such as Pre-calculus, College Physics, Finite Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics for Technologists, and Analytic Geometry. Once all course requirements are complete, students have the option to complete an internship, which provides the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training in the field. Students will complete a number of game design projects throughout the program as well as a Game Design & Development Senior Project. Students will also assemble a final portfolio representing their best work.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Game Design & Development?

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Game design & development graduates have a number of exciting career options. They become animators, game designers, game developers, game programmers, and more. Specific job titles include junior game designer, senior game designer, lead designer, content designer, creative director, art director, game writer, scriptwriter, user interface designer, system designer, technical designer, usability designer, and UI designer. Other options include researcher, instructor, and professor.

Schools to Consider:

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Full Sail University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Winter Park, FL & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Computer Animation - Online
  • Computer Animation - Florida Campus
  • Game Design - Online
  • Game Design - Florida Campus
  • Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Online
  • Graphic Design - Florida Campus
  • Simulation & Visualization - Campus
  • User Experience – Online
  • Artificial Intelligence - Online
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2024
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2024
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#36) - 2024
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Southern New Hampshire University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • BA in Game Art & Development
  • BS in Game Programming & Development
  • BA in Graphic Design
  • BA in Graphic Design & Web Design
  • BA in Graphic Design + User Experience Design (UX)
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#46) - 2024
Image Campus Request info
Image Campus
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Desarrollo de Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
  • Producción y Game Design (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
  • Arte y Animación para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
  • Producción y Animación 3D (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
  • Realización Integral de Dibujos Animados (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
  • Tecnicatura Superior en Animación 3D para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
  • Programación de Videojuegos con Unreal, Unity y Godot (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
  • Unreal Connectors (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Virtual Production (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Introducción a Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Diseño de Interacción 3D en Realidad Virtual con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Realidad Aumentada con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Realidad Virtual para Arquitectura (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Audio Inmersivo (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Animación Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Modelado Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Visualización Arquitectónica (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Motion Graphics (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • VFX (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Environments para Videojuegos con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Desarrollo de Videojuegos con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Game Design (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Concept Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Game Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Game Audio (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
  • Game Quality Analyst (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 25 International Animation Schools - 2024 (#23)
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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Modeling
  • Concept Art
  • Digital Illustration
  • Game Art & Animation
  • Game Design
  • Game Programming
  • VFX Compositing and FX
  • Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
  • Game Development - Programming, Design, Game Art & Animation, Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#18) - 2024
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Arizona State University Online
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Online Bachelor of Science in User Experience
  • Online Master of Science in User Experience
  • Online Bachelor of Science in Design in Graphic Design
  • Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – Full-Stack Web Development
  • Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – User Experience

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