Bachelors of Arts

The undergraduate game design and development specialization focuses on design and development of games for entertainment.  It is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art, or Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts & Technology within Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University. The specialization is also open to other majors on a case-by-case basis, particularly those in the Honors College.

Two courses in the specialization (TC445 and TC455, described below) are frequently taken as electives by serious game design MA students.

The specialization complements the breadth and depth of knowledge undergraduate students acquire in their majors with a multidisciplinary understanding of game design and development. For most majors outside of TC, the specialization often nearly fulfills the student's cognate requirements.

The specialization contains four courses, totaling 15 credits, usually taken during the student's junior and senior years, including:

1. TC339 Digital Games and Society (Spring offering, 3 credits)
2. TC445 Digital Game Design (Spring offering, 4 credits)
3. TC455 3D Game and Simulation Design (Fall offering, 4 credits)
4. TC498 Collaborative Game Design (Spring offering, 4 credits)

Through these courses, students will learn the technology, design fundamentals, and development process of digital games, as well as the history, social impacts, and business of games. Students will also gain valuable skills in communicating and collaborating in team-based projects while building a strong portfolio of games.
More information about the specialization, including how to apply, is available on the department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media web site.