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 2000Game Design Principles4
AR 1075Art Foundations Drawing: Line and Language4
AR 1080Art Foundations: Digital and New Media (TECO)4
BUS 1100Introduction to Marketing and Sales4
CS 2010Computing Fundamentals (TECO)3
MA 2200Finite Mathematics (QRCO)3
CS 2370Introduction to Programming4
CM 2775Media and Cultural Studies (TECO)4
CM 3006Analyzing Screen Media (DICO)4
CM 3125Communicating Through Animation (INCO,INCP)4
AG 4200UX/UI: Digital Identity4
CS 4520CyberEthics (DICO,INCO,INCP,WRCO)3
GD 4000Game 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)
Digitalit: Storytelling in the Digital Age (TECO)
Revolutionary America, 1763-1815
Antebellum America, 1815-1860 (DICO,INCO,INCP)
American Civil War and Reconstruction
Topics in European History (GACO)
New Hampshire and New England History
Violence in the Middle Ages (GACO)
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,INCP)
Latin American Politics (GACO,WRCO)
Women in World Politics
Politics and Conflict in the Middle East (GACO,INCO,INCP)
Pick a Focus - Technology or Creative Media9-12
Technology Focus:
Data Structures and Intermediate Programming
Pick two of the following; both must be upper level
Interactive Web Communication (INCO,INCP)
Mobile Application Development
Web Programming
Advanced Web Programming
Human-Computer Interaction
Creative Media Focus (Pick 3; at least 2 must be upper level):
Imagery
Creative Writing
Scriptwriting
Digitalit: Storytelling in the Digital Age (TECO)
Fiction Workshop
Literature into Film
Introduction to Music Composition (must take this 3 times if chosen)
Design for the Theatre (Topics)
Writing for Performance (Topics)
General Education
EN 1400Composition4
IS 1115Tackling a Wicked Problem4
MAMathematics Foundations3-4
CTDICreative Thought Direction3-4
PPDIPast and Present Direction3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 14-8
GACOGlobal Awareness Connection3-4
WECOWellness Connection3-4
Electives9-12
Total Credits120
1

Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction). 

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredits
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 2200 Finite Mathematics (QRCO) 3
IS 1115 Tackling a Wicked Problem 4
EN 1400 Composition 4
MAMathematics Foundations 3-4
CTDICreative Thought Direction 3-4
 Credits29-31
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
PPDIPast and Present Direction 3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction 3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction 3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 3-4
 Credits27-31
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 (INCO,INCP) 4
GD 4000 Game Design Workshop 4
World Building Experience course 3-4
WECOWellness Connection 3-4
Electives 7-8
 Credits29-32
Year Four
GD 4000 Game Design Workshop 4
CS 4520 CyberEthics (DICO,INCO,INCP,WRCO) 3
AG 4200 UX/UI: Digital Identity 4
Track course 3-4
GACOGlobal Awareness Connection 3-4
INCPIntegrated Capstone 3-4
Elective courses 8
 Credits28-31
 Total Credits120

The learning outcomes of the program are:

  1. Understand and apply game design principles in various domains
  2. Understand and apply programming principles for game development
  3. Understand and create various art components of games
  4. Understand game-specific business issues
  5. 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.