Game Design (BS)
This program provides the skills for success in a rapidly advancing field. Student-created games of increasing sophistication stem from studies in art, business, computer science, communication, and graphic design, along with focused inquiries into game design principles and practice. Students can focus in either Creative Media or Technology to position themselves for work as innovative game designers, interactive web developers, digital artists, and in other related fields, either in-house or successfully self-employed.
The program offers a unique blend of both the hard and soft skills that employers prize. Students benefit from a wide range of University resources including the cutting-edge technology of the Draper & Maynard Makerspace, which features state-of-the-industry equipment in a facility comparable to those among leading technical and research institutions. The University’s robotics lab, video production suites, art galleries, computer labs, and other assets combine to offer multiple pathways to explore, experiment, and master essential concepts.
Plymouth State’s Cluster Learning Model prioritizes hands-on, project-based work that is the hallmark of creative team environments. Students make an impact while collaborating with peers from other disciplines and real-world businesses and organizations.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| GD 2000 | Game Design Principles | 4 |
| AR 1075 | Art Foundations Drawing: Line and Language | 4 |
| ENT 2040 | Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 4 |
| CS 2010 | Computing Fundamentals (TECO) | 3 |
| AG 2100 | Design Software Basics (TECO) | 4 |
| MA 2210 | Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) | 4 |
| CS 2370 | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| CM 2775 | Media and Cultural Studies (TECO) | 4 |
| CM 3006 | Analyzing Screen Media (DICO) | 4 |
| CM 3125 | Communicating Through Animation | 4 |
| AG 4200 | UX/UI: Digital Identity | 4 |
| CS 4520 | CyberEthics (DICO,WRCO) | 3 |
| GD 4000 | Game Design Workshop (Must take this class twice) | 8 |
| World Building Experience (choose 1) | 4 | |
| Rethinking Medieval and Renaissance Literature (INCO,INCP) | ||
| Currents in Global Literature (GACO) | ||
| Revolutionary America, 1763-1815 | ||
| Antebellum America, 1815-1860 (DICO,INCO) | ||
| American Civil War and Reconstruction | ||
| Topics in European History (GACO) | ||
| New Hampshire and New England History | ||
| Love, Sex, and Family in Medieval Europe | ||
| The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era, 1789-1815 (GACO) | ||
| The Great Depression in Film, Print, and On Stage: An Interdisciplinary History (DICO,INCO) | ||
| Interrogating US History (DICO,TECO) | ||
| Religious Conflict in Early Modern Europe (GACO) | ||
| Topics in United States History | ||
| Topics in World History (GACO) | ||
| Political Parties, Elections, and Interest Groups (TECO) | ||
| Model United Nations (GACO,INCO) | ||
| Latin American Politics (GACO,WRCO) | ||
| Women in World Politics | ||
| Politics and Conflict in the Middle East (GACO,INCO) | ||
| Pick a Focus - Technology or Creative Media | 9-12 | |
| Technology Focus: | ||
| Data Structures and Intermediate Programming | ||
Pick two of the following; both must be upper level | ||
| Interactive Web Communication | ||
| Mobile Application Development | ||
| Web Programming | ||
| Human-Computer Interaction | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
| Creative Media Focus (Pick 3; at least 2 must be upper level): | ||
| Imagery | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Scriptwriting | ||
| Fiction Workshop | ||
| Literature into Film | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology (TECO) | ||
| Design for the Theatre (Topics) | ||
| Writing for Performance (Topics) | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship | ||
| General Education | ||
| EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
| IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
| MA | Mathematics Foundations | 3-4 |
| CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
| PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
| SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
| SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
| Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 1 | 4-8 | |
| GACO | Global Awareness Connection | 3-4 |
| WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
| Electives | 9-12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).
| Year One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| AR 1080 | Art Foundations: Digital and New Media (TECO) | 4 |
| BUS 1100 | Introduction to Marketing and Sales | 4 |
| GD 2000 | Game Design Principles | 4 |
| MA 2210 | Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) | 4 |
| IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
| EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
| MA | Mathematics Foundations | 3-4 |
| CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
| Credits | 30-32 | |
| Year Two | ||
| AG 2100 | Design Software Basics (TECO) | 4 |
| CS 2010 | Computing Fundamentals (TECO) | 3 |
| CS 2370 | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| CM 2775 | Media and Cultural Studies (TECO) | 4 |
| PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
| SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
| SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
| Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 27-31 | |
| Year Three | ||
| CS 2381 | Data Structures and Intermediate Programming | 4 |
Or Creative Media Track course |
||
| CM 3006 | Analyzing Screen Media (DICO) | 4 |
| CM 3125 | Communicating Through Animation | 4 |
| GD 4000 | Game Design Workshop | 4 |
| World Building Experience course | 3-4 | |
| WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
| Electives | 7-8 | |
| Credits | 29-32 | |
| Year Four | ||
| GD 4000 | Game Design Workshop | 4 |
| CS 4520 | CyberEthics (DICO,WRCO) | 3 |
| AG 4200 | UX/UI: Digital Identity | 4 |
| Track course | 3-4 | |
| GACO | Global Awareness Connection | 3-4 |
| INCP | Integrated Capstone | 3-4 |
| Elective courses | 8 | |
| Credits | 28-31 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
The learning outcomes of the program are:
- Understand and apply game design principles in various domains
- Understand and apply programming principles for game development
- Understand and create various art components of games
- Understand game-specific business issues
- Work effectively in creative team environments
In the Game Design major at PSU, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to be able to work for major game studios, as a freelancer, and even to start your own studio. Building on PSU's innovative cluster learning model, you will work with your classmates to design games of increasing complexity. In addition, you will learn about the game industry so that you understand the choices to make to get your games funded and published.