Game Design and Development (MS)

The master of science in game design and development is a two-year intensive program that requires 38 units of which 18 are required, 16 are electives chosen from a number of core area groups and 4 are the capstone requirement. 

Students must take at least 6 units of expression studios, studying a breadth of skills involved in creating Interactive Media, at least 2 units of professionalization courses, 2 units of electives building technical skills and another 6 units of courses crafting a specialization in the field. At least 10 500-level units must be taken from these course lists. Students are expected to engage in an internship or professional work environment during the summer following their second semester.

Core Requirements

• CTIN 532L Interactive Design and Production I Units: 4
• CTIN 534L Experiments in Interactivity I Units: 4
• CTIN 541 Design for Interactive Media Units: 4
• CTIN 583 Game Development for Designers Units: 2
• CTWR 410L Character Development and Storytelling for Games Units: 4

Expressions Studios
At least 6 units of the following courses:

• CTCS 505 Survey of Interactive Media Units: 2
• CTIN 412 Interactive Systems Design Units: 2
• CTIN 444 Audio Expression Units: 2
• CTIN 506 Procedural Expression Units: 2
• CTIN 544 Experiments in Interactivity II Units: 2
• CTPR 506 Visual Expression Units: 2

Specialization Courses
At least 6 units of the following courses:

• CSCI 426 Game Prototyping Units: 4
• CSCI 580 3-D Graphics and Rendering Units: 4
• CTAN 565L Motion Capture Performance Units: 2
• CTCS 482 Transmedia Entertainment Units: 4
• CTIN 480 Directing for Games and Interactive Media Units: 2
• CTIN 482 Designing Social Games Units: 2
• CTIN 591 Crew for Graduate Advanced Game Project Units: 2
• CTWR 526 Advanced Storytelling for Interactive Media Units: 2
• IML 575 Graduate Media Arts Research Lab Units: 2, 3, 4
• SCOR 405 Introduction to Scoring Video Games Units: 2

Technical Courses
At least 2 units of the following courses:

• CTAN 564L Motion Capture Fundamentals Units: 2
• CTIN 401L Interface Design for Games Units: 2
• CTIN 404L User Research for Games Units: 2
• CTIN 406L Sound Design for Games Units: 2
• CTIN 485 Advanced Game Development Units: 2

Professionalization Courses
At least 2 units of the following courses:

• CNTV 595 Professional Practicum Units: 1, 2, 4
• CTIN 458 Business and Management of Games Units: 2
• CTIN 497 Interactive Media Startup Units: 1
• CTIN 510 Research Methods for Innovation, Engagement and Assessment Units: 2

Capstone Courses
Choose 4 units of one of the following options:

• CTIN 529a Graduate Advanced Game Project Units: 2
• CTIN 529b Graduate Advanced Game Project Units: 2

Or

• CTIN 592 Game Development Capstone Units: 4