Bachelor of Arts in Design - Interactive Entertainment Major - Computer Game Design Concentration

Our Vision: To become the pre-eminent, modern, multi-media design program in the country, offering design degrees, which provide students with a solid grounding in the arts, saleable technical expertise in interior, graphic, or interactive media design and a well-rounded general education foundation.

The Bachelor of Arts in Design degree offers majors in three areas of concentration: Interactive Entertainment, Graphic Design and Interior Design. Interactive Entertainment is further split into an arts-based Game Design major and a programming-based Game Development major. Each major which comprises the Bachelor of Arts in Design degree equips students with a broad range of marketable skills and a strong general education foundation upon which a lifelong, successful career can be built.

Course selections in each of the three art-based concentrations include both a solid grounding in the fine and visual arts, and hands-on practical core courses which stress the understanding of the underlying design processes and concept development. Students will learn firsthand how to create effective visual communication; how to develop and communicate design solutions; and how to create, capture and manipulate both traditional and new media design elements, all in a clear manner in keeping with the professional standards of their chosen field of study.

The program of study in Game Development prepares students for a career in the development and production of video games. This major features a solid base in computer programming fundamentals upon which core courses add the specific skills they need to apply their foundational knowledge in programming, art, concept design, engine design, animation and computer graphics to all aspects of video game development.

Whichever major a student chooses in the Bachelor of Arts in Design degree program, students can be assured of small classes with attentive, knowledgeable faculty, up-to-date equipment, and plenty of room to explore personal visions. Upon graduation, students will have the right technical skills, a firm theoretical base, opportunities for career internships, and a strong portfolio as solid evidence of their abilities.

Game Design Concentration

Program Mission: To provide our game design majors with (1) a strong foundation of electronic design skills and techniques, (2) a solid grounding in the liberal arts and, (3) the ability to think and write critically. In this way we hope to ensure that our graduating seniors will be prepared to enter the highly competitive industry of game design or continue their studies at a graduate level.

Program Description: The Game Design course curriculum offers a foundation of traditional drawing, illustration, and art courses in addition to courses in 2D and 3D animation, audio, storytelling, character development, and game technology. The Game Design student also develops skills in scriptwriting, computer programming, animation, project management and online media production. Students learn industry-related software such as: Gamemaker, Flash, Maya, and the complete suite of Adobe design software products. In addition, all students complete coursework in the liberal arts, the social sciences, and the laboratory sciences in keeping with the long-standing traditions of a liberal arts-based college degree. Students can further customize their curricula through internships, general elective coursework and free electives.

Program Objectives: The program seeks to impart to its students strong technical competence in fundamental arts principles along with specialized competence in the tools needed to be successful in the field of interactive entertainment. At the same time the program seeks to nourish a student’s creative talents through opportunities for internships, electives and special projects, developing in the student a personal aesthetic as well as a high standard of individual excellence and professionalism.  

Freshman Year

Fall Semester
Credit Hours
 
Spring Semester
Credit Hours
ACAD1001
First Year Experience
2
ENGL1003
Writing about Literature
3
INFO1001
Technology and Society
3
GAME1120
Introduction to Game Design
3
ENGL1001
English Composition I
3
ARTS1100
Principles of Drawing
3
GAME1001
History of Game Development
3
INFO1100
Introduction to Programming
3
ARTS1301
Principles of Design
3
 
Elective (Math 2000+)
3
 
Elective (Math)
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
17
 
 
15

 

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester
Credit Hours
Spring Semester
Credit Hours
INFO1400
Programming in C++
3
SOCI1001
Introduction to Sociology
3
GRPH2130
Techniques of Raster Imaging
3
ARTS2800
Life Drawing
3
GRPH2120
Techniques of Vector Imaging
3
GAME2120
2D Game Design
3
GAME2110
Storyboarding Animation
3
 
Elective (Science/lab)
4
 
Elective (Science/lab)
4
 
Elective (Humanities)
3
 
 
16
 
 
16


Junior Year

Fall Semester
Credit Hours
Spring Semester
Credit Hours
GAME3120
3D Modeling
3
ENGL2003
Public Speaking
3
GAME3111
Computer Illustration for Game Design
3
GAME3130
3D Animation
3
GAME3150
Level Design
3
GAME3160
Machinima
3
 
Elective (Humanities)
3
GAME3170
Game Production and Prototyping
3
 
Elective (INFO)
3
 
Elective (Social Science)
3
 
 
15
 
 
15


Senior Year

Fall Semester
Credit Hours
Spring Semester
Credit Hours
GAME4120
Literary Development of Virtual Worlds
3
GAME4400
Advanced Topics in Game Development
3
GAME4300
Career Internship/Design Elective
3
GAME4520
Senior Game Project II
3
GAME4510
Senior Game Project I
3
GAME4610
Portfolio
3
 
Open Elective
3
 
Open Elective
3
 
3
 
Elective (Non-Western)
3
 
 
15
 
 
15
 
 
 
 
Total Credits:
124