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The Media School

Bachelor of Science in Game Design

Students on Summer 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 requirements GAMEDSGNBS

The B.S. in Game Design takes a social systems approach to game design, emphasizing the creative symbiosis that develops when game designers combine the age-old arts of storytelling and illustration with powerful new media platforms and state-of-the-art animation to translate their vision into compelling virtual realities. The degree shares its structure with the other undergraduate degrees offered in The Media School, including The Media Core (Managing, Making, Thinking Media) and all College degree requirements, but does not require a concentration or specialization.

Requirements

The major requires at least 54 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Media School Core.
    1. Introduction to Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 101 Media
    2. Managing Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 200 The Videogame Industry: Systems and Management (recommended)
      • MSCH-C 204 Behind the Prize
      • MSCH-C 207 Introduction to Media Industry and Management
      • MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations
      • MSCH-C 209 Introduction to Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication
    3. Thinking Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 210 Introduction to Games
    4. Making Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 220 Game Technology
  2. Game Design Developmental Skills. Three (3) courses:
    • MSCH-G 300 Game Production I
    • MSCH-G 310 Game Design I
    • MSCH-G 320 Game Art and Sound
  3. Game Design Advanced Courses. Five (5) courses:
    • MSCH-G 400 Game Production II
    • MSCH-G 410 Game Design II: Systems
    • MSCH-G 450 Game Workshop I: Prototype
    • MSCH-G 460 Game Workshop II: Development
    • MSCH-G 470 Game Workshop III: Publish
  4. Electives.
    1. Focal Area. At least three (3) courses from one (1) of the following focal areas:
      • Art
        • MSCH-G 290 (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-G 340 Animation for Digital Media
        • MSCH-G 420 Game Character Art
        • MSCH-G 424 Concept Art for Digital Media
        • MSCH-G 430 Game Environment Art
        • MSCH-G 434 Technical Game Art and Visual Effects
        • SOAD-A 102 Creative Core: Drawing
        • SOAD-A 103 Creative Core: 3D Design
        • SOAD-S 200 Drawing I
        • SOAD-S 210 Digital Art: Survey and Practice
        • SOAD-S 250 Graphic Design I
        • SOAD-S 300 Drawing II
        • SOAD-S 310 Interactive Multimedia
        • SOAD-S 311 Video Art
        • SOAD-S 313 3D Computer Graphics
        • SOAD-S 352 Production for the Graphic Designer
        • SOAD-S 410 Advanced Multimedia
        • SOAD-S 411 Digital Video
        • SOAD-S 413 Computer Graphical Environments
        • SOAD-S 450 Graphic Design Problem Solving
      • Design: Game Design Theory
        • MSCH-G 290 (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-G 350 Game Analytics
        • MSCH-G 366 Narrative Design
        • MSCH-G 372 Board Game Design
        • MSCH-G 440 Game Aesthetics
        • MSCH-G 444 Viewing History Through Games
        • MSCH-G 480 Virtual Worlds Design
        • ECON-E 321 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
        • ECON-S 321 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory: Honors
        • ECON-E 327 Game Theory
        • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics
        • MATH-M 447 Mathematical Models and Applications I
        • POLS-Y 204 Institutional Analysis and Governance
        • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
        • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
        • One of the following:
          • ANTH-A 306 Anthropological Statistics
          • CJUS-K 300 Techniques of Data Analysis
          • ECON-E 370 Statistical Analysis for Business and Economics
          • ECON-S 370 Statistical Analysis for Business and Economics: Honors
          • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
          • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques
          • PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques
          • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
          • STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
          • STAT-K 310 Statistical Techniques
          • STAT-S 301 Applied Statistical Methods for Business
          • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences
        • INFO-I 368 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK SCIENCE
        • INFO-I 468 NETWORK SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
      • Design: Games and Mind
        • MSCH-G 290 (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-G 360 Game Experience Design
        • MSCH-G 440 Game Aesthetics
        • COGS-Q 301 Brain and Cognition
        • COGS-Q 330 Perception/Action
        • COGS-Q 350 Mathematics and Logic for the Cognitive and Information Sciences
        • COGS-Q 351 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Computer Simulation
        • COGS-Q 360 Autonomous Robotics
        • COGS-Q 370 Experiments and Models in Cognition
        • PSY-P 330 Perception/Action
        • PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology
        • PSY-P 350 Human Factors/Ergonomics
        • PSY-P 423 Human Neuropsychology
        • PSY-P 430 Behavior Modification
        • PSY-P 437 Neurobiology of Addictions
        • PSY-P 453 Decision-making and the Brain
      • Management, Advertising and Public Relations
        • MSCH-A 301 Media and Consumer Behavior
        • MSCH-A 315 Advertising and Consumer Culture
        • MSCH-A 347 Persuasive Messaging in Media
        • MSCH-A 441 Integrated Marketing Communication Campaign Planning
        • MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations
        • MSCH-C 209 Introduction to Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication
        • MSCH-M 330 Production Management
        • MSCH-M 421 Media Economics
        • MSCH-M 422 Business Applications in Telecommunications
        • MSCH-M 446 Media Management
        • MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research
        • MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing
        • MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns
      • Programming
        • MSCH-G 290 (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-G 480 Virtual Worlds Design
        • MSCH-G 488 Artificial Intelligence for Games
        • CSCI-A 201 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING I
        • CSCI-A 202 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING II
        • CSCI-A 216 DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA CONCEPTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
        • CSCI-B 351 INTRODUCTION TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
        • CSCI-B 453 GAME DEVELOPMENT
        • CSCI-B 461 Database Concepts
        • CSCI-B 481 Interactive Graphics
        • CSCI-C 211 Introduction to Computer Science
        • CSCI-C 212 Introduction to Software Systems
        • CSCI-C 291 System Programming with C and UNIX
        • CSCI-C 292 INTRODUCTION TO GAME PROGRAMMING
        • CSCI-C 322 Object-Oriented Software Methods
        • CSCI-H 211 Introduction to Computer Science, Honors
        • CSCI-H 212 Introduction to Software Systems, Honors
        • CSCI-P 465 Software Engineering for Information Systems I
      • Sound
        • MSCH-P 353 Production Audio
        • MSCH-P 369 Sound Design
        • MSCH-P 455 Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media
        • MUS-A 102 AUDIO TECHNIQUES I
        • MUS-A 201 AUDIO TECHNIQUES II
        • MUS-A 202 AUDIO TECHNIQUES III
        • MUS-A 321 SOUND FOR PICTURE PRODUCTION
    2. Restricted Electives. Two (2) courses:
      • Any Media School course
      • INFO-H 300 HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION DESIGN AND PROGRAMMING, HONORS
      • INFO-I 300 HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION DESIGN AND PROGRAMMING
      • INFO-I 310 MULTIMEDIA ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
      • Another course approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
  5. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.