Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

Ready Headset go! In our Bachelor of Arts in Game Design degree program, we’ll take you on an epic journey through hands-on, collaborative adventures. 

• Learn the secrets of logic, balance, storytelling, programming, and level design. It’s all about practical experience with game engines, project management, and rocking awesome projects with your fellow students. Your final challenge? A mind-blowing two-semester capstone project where interdisciplinary teams create gaming magic. With a range of electives, you can further develop your programming, game writing, marketing, user experience, art, or audio skills. Get ready to unleash your creativity and become the ultimate game design hero!

Game Design Degree Highlights & Outcomes

• Articulate and demonstrate game design principles and best practices through the development of engaging, interactive media.
• Implement, test, and critique user-centered design experiences and interfaces within interactive media.
• Demonstrate a career-ready understanding of game design and production through a published portfolio and professional identity.
• Demonstrate understanding of proven game storytelling principles while employing narrative-related tools, techniques, and best practices.
• Collaborate effectively and ethically as part of multidisciplinary projects and demonstrate professionalism in diverse team environments.

Join Our Alumni Ranks

• USV Bachelor of Arts in Game Design alumni have gone on to work at some of the most prestigious studios in the video game industry. 

Option: Get Your Game On with USV's Game Writing Focus

• Hey, future game changers! Ready to dive deep into the heart of storytelling in video games? Our Game Writing focus is where the magic happens. Guided by a rockstar industry veteran, you’ll learn the ropes of game writing and narrative design – the hottest roles in game dev today.

Success Stories? We've Got Plenty!

• Some Game Writing grads are now rocking narrative roles at studios like Blizzard, Magic Tavern, and even FableLabs. Our Game Writing champs have been owning the GDC Game Narrative Review competition for six years, snatching five Gold-level awards!

What Will You Learn? Oh, So Much Fun!

• Dive into game story and narrative analysis. Craft epic cutscenes. Plan and write those iconic game "barks." Craft branching dialogues and gripping stories. Create your own intellectual property (I.P.). Work within existing I.P. Direct voice talent like a pro. Develop your very own narrative-driven game. Learn the art of crafting a killer game writing portfolio site.

More Perks? You Bet!

• Get personal mentorship from Professor Skolnick himself. Field trips to top game studios (when available). Connect with at least eight industry pros beyond USV (think design, narrative, game writing).

The Game's Afoot!

• In a world of gaming programs, we're the rare breed with a whole track dedicated to this red-hot game development discipline. Don't just make games – write 'em like a pro!
• Electives crafted for future digital storytellers. The mastermind behind it all? Evan Skolnick!

Tech Pack
Your Essential Creative Toolkit

• Picture this: Your files, multimedia masterpieces, and coursework are all at your fingertips, 24/7. That’s the magic of Tech Pack.
• What’s in the box? A sleek laptop and media creation software tailored to your program, keeping you in sync with the ever-evolving industry standards. And it’s yours to keep after you graduate, setting you up for success in the future. Whether you’re crafting the next big game or working on mind-blowing multimedia projects, Tech Pack has your back.
• The exact components of your Tech Pack might vary based on what’s available when we ship it out. No worries – it’s all part of your total education cost. Oh, and about the software? You’ll need to do a quick download using your USV email. Just a heads-up, there might be a small cost involved. 

Potential Game Design Career Options
Your Experience Just Got Real

• Game Designer
• Level Designer
• Narrative Designer
• Game Writer
• Content Editor
• Producer
• Quality Assurance (QA) Tester