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

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?

Find a school

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: