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The Media School

Minor in Game Design (Minors)

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements GAMEDSNMIN

Students will learn the fundamental skills of game technology and design. These include basic programming, game design principles and project development skills. Courses in the minor present a sequence of increasingly complex problems that game design students solve as they move from basic concepts to game prototypes. These include a basic literacy with different forms of games; a fundamental understanding of game engines and other software tools that enable interactivity; an introduction to the principles of game design; production and management in a multidisciplinary media creation environment; and basic asset creation in visual and auditory media. The basic skills involved in making an effective game can be applied to many different fields, including history, computer science, and education.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Game Design Foundations.
    1. Introduction to Games. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 210 Introduction to Games
    2. Foundations Electives. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 220 Game Technology
      • ILS-Z 399 TOPICS IN INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE (Approved topics: "INTRODUCTION TO GAME PROGRAMMING" (TPC 5)) when taken prior to Summer 2024
      • INFO-I 210 INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE I when taken prior to Summer 2024
  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. Electives. One (1) course:
    • MSCH-C 200 The Videogame Industry: Systems and Management
    • MSCH-C 215 History of Videogames
    • MSCH-G 366 Narrative Design when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • MSCH-G 372 Board Game Design when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • MSCH-G 390 Topics in Game Design and Development
    • MSCH-G 421 Sound for Games and Playable Media I when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • MSCH-G 440 Game Aesthetics
  4. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Minor 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 minor.
    3. Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.

Minor 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 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

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)
  • Bachelor of Science in Game Design (GAMEDSGNBS)
  • Certificate in Journalism (JOURUGACR1)

Exceptions to and substitutions for minor 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.