Game Design, B.A.

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The B.A. in Game Design trains students interested to integrate game arts with related advanced technology software platforms in which videogames are conceptualized, designed, and created. The program is for students aspiring to gain the background and technical skill necessary for a career in gaming or related areas in interactive media, and closely connects students with the region’s game design companies and to the regional industrial ecosystem for games creation (including games for entertainment, serious games, animation, and work relating to the emerging esports sector). The major, while mainly preparing students for careers in the videogame companies and start-up enterprises, may also be understood as connecting students to career pathways in application development, film special effects, web design, animation, and other design arts.

Students desiring deeper training in game programming, whose career interests might also include work in the wider data sciences, might also consider the B.S. major in Game Development.

Coursework in this major introduces students to the logic of game conceptualization, rendering, story boarding, leveling, and more, while also preparing them to work in design platforms (e.g., Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine). Key goals of the major include: (a) the development of an industry-ready and career preparatory project portfolio; (b) CMII-supported senior year internship opportunities; and (c) senior year involvement in a collaborative design team that takes a full year’s time to create a launch-ready game. CMII is partnered with the Georgia Film Academy, and collaborates with GFA on related certifications in esports management.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see section 3030) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

Consistent with the aspiration that design students should have a broad grounding in the arts and humanities, the B.A. requires an Area H minor. The student selects the minor; CMII recommends that minor coursework plausibly connect to skills needed in the games industry. A student might, for example, choose to minor in Computer Science or Film or Graphic Design - all of which could complement the core training of the major.

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in Areas G and H to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See section 1460 for additional information.)

Areas A-E of the Core Curriculum

Area A2: Quantitative Skills

Recommended Course:

MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours or higher

Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Major (18 Hours)

Required Courses

CMIS 1020 - Fundamentals of Game Art 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 2100 - Introduction to Games Industries 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 2110 - Principles of Story Design 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 2115 - Writing and Previsualization for Games 3 Credit Hours

Elective Courses

Choose from the following courses to reach 18 credit hours in Area F.

ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ART 1010 - Drawing I 3 Credit Hours
ART 1020 - Two-Dimensional Design 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 1103K - Introductory Biology I 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 1104K - Introductory Biology II 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 1301 - Programming for Games I 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 1302 - Programming for Games II 3 Credit Hours
CSC 1301 - Principles of Computer Science I 4 Credit Hours
CSC 1302 - Principles of Computer Science II 4 Credit Hours
CSC 2301 - Introduction to Python Programming 3 Credit Hours
CSC 2302 - Python Programming for Data Science 3 Credit Hours
CSC 2510 - Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2130 - American Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2160 - Studies in Popular Culture 3 Credit Hours
FLME 1010 - Film Aesthetics and Analysis 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
World language at the 2002 level 3 Credit Hours

Area G: Major Courses (39 Hours)

CTW Requirement

CMIS 4900 - Senior Game Design Portfolio-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Game Design Fundamentals

All courses are required.

CMIS 4100 - Game Design I 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4110 - Game Design II 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4140 - 3D Modeling and Graphics 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4160 - 3D Animation and Motion Graphics 4 Credit Hours

Game Design Pipeline Specializations

Pick three or four classes to reach 13 credit hours.

CMIS 3140 - Interface Design for Games 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 4060 - Designing Immersive Media Experiences 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4155 - Game Engine Pipeline 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 4180 - Visual Effects for Games 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 4195 - Level Design for Games 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 4300 - Advanced Game Engine Pipeline 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4310 - Virtual Production Pipeline 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4315 - Advanced Virtual Production Pipeline 4 Credit Hours
CMIS 4330 - Playtesting for Games 3 Credit Hours
CMIS 4980 - Internship 1 to 6 Credit Hours

Capstone Experiences

All courses are required.

CMIS 4116 - Game Design Studio I 2 Credit Hours
CMIS 4117 - Game Design Studio II 2 Credit Hours
CMIS 4912 - Games Studies 3 Credit Hours

Area H: Minor and Additional Courses

A minor is required. Majors in the CMII Game Design BA program must select a minor consisting of at least 15 hours of courses in a discipline within CMII other than game design (e.g., Entertainment Media Management) or in another academic department/ school/institute that offers a baccalaureate degree. Students interested in bolstering their career readiness to work in the game design industry should consider a minor in Film, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or another related computational, arts or business discipline. At least nine semester hours of minor courses must be at the 3000 level or above, unless otherwise specified by the minor-granting department/school/institute. A grade of C- or higher is required in all minor courses.