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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences

Under Review

The 2022-2023 requirements are not yet finalized and are subject to change so long as this notice is in place. While the information presented is generally reliable, you should confirm the information later this summer when requirements are finalized.
The Media School

Bachelor of Science in Game Design

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirementsGAMEDSGNBS

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.
    1. Game Production I. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 300 Game Production I
    2. Game Design I. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 310 Game Design I
    3. Game Art and Sound. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 320 Game Art and Sound
  3. Game Design Portfolio. Prior to enrolling in MSCH-G 400 Game Production II and MSCH-G 410 Game Design II, students must submit a Game Design Portfolio for review. Details about the submission process can be found on the Media School website .
  4. Advanced Game Design.
    1. Game Production II. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 400 Game Production II
    2. Game Design II. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 410 Game Design II: Systems
    3. Game Workshop I. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 450 Game Workshop I: Prototype
    4. Game Workshop II. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 460 Game Workshop II: Development
    5. Game Workshop III. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-G 470 Game Workshop III: Publish
  5. Focal Area Courses. Three (3) courses from one (1) of the following focal areas:
    • Art
      • MSCH-G 290 Topics in Game Design and Development (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 Topics in Game Design and Development (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-G 350 Game Analytics
      • MSCH-G 366 Narrative Design
      • MSCH-G 372 Conflict Systems
      • 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 Topics in Game Design and Development (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 Economics of Communications Industries
      • MSCH-M 422 Business Applications in Telecommunications
      • MSCH-M 446 Telecommunications 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 Topics in Game Design and Development (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
      1. Sound Design. One (1) course:
        • MSCH-G 290 Topics in Game Design and Development (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-P 353 Audio Production
        • MSCH-P 369 Sound Design
        • MUS-Z 361 Introduction to Midi and Computer Music
      2. Advanced Sound Design. Two (2) courses:
        • MSCH-G 421 Sound for Games and Playable Media I
        • MSCH-P 455 Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media
        • MSCH-V 334 Current Topics in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-V 470 Issues in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-J 360 Journalism Specialties (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
        • MSCH-X 490 Projects in Media (Approved by Concentration Coordinator)
        • MUS-Z 362 Computer Music: Design/perform
  6. 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
  7. GPA and Hours Requirements.
    1. Major Residency. 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. Major Upper Division Courses. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Minimum Grade. 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. Major GPA. 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.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100-499 level with the MSCH subject area prefix--as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken--as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent--except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements:

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (JOURBAJ)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Media (MEDIABA)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts (CINEARTBFA)
  • Certificate in New Media and Interactive Storytelling (NMISTACRT1)
  • Minor in Black Cinema and Media Studies (BLKCNMDMIN)
  • Minor in Cinema and Media Studies (CNMDASTMIN)
  • Minor in Film Production (FILMPRDMIN)
  • Minor in Game Design (GAMEDSNMIN)
  • Minor in Global Media (GLVMDIAMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Creative Advertising (MDCRADMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Diversity (MDIADIVMIN)
  • Minor in Media Law and Ethics (MDLWETMIN)
  • Minor in Media Persuasion (MDIAPRSMIN)
  • Minor in Media, Sex and Gender (MDGNDRMIN)
  • Minor in Public Relations (PBLCRELMIN)
  • [Discontinued credential name unavailable] (NMISTACRT)
  • [Discontinued credential name unavailable] (SPTMED-TMP)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.