The Michigan State University department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media offers an MA concentration in Serious Game Design and a BA specialization in game design and development. Faculty associated with the programs are frequent speakers at game design conferences and are leading many game design initiatives, including the GEL Lab (Games for Entertainment and Learning) and the MIND Lab .
Serious Game Design MA
The SGD MA track aims at the heart of serious game design, that
magical region where theory and content intersect with game design.
Game design for entertainment already requires diverse,
multidisciplinary expertise. Serious game design calls upon vastly
wider range of expertise and roles.
Students may enter the track with professional experience or a degree
in game design, computer science, art, psychology, education,
or interactive media.
Core courses include Foundations of Serious Games, Serious Game Theories, Serious Game Development, Design Research, and Design and Development of Media Product. Internships are strongly encouraged and an MA project is required. Electives and optional internship are carefully selected to enhance
each student's intended area of secondary expertise and must be
approved the student’s academic advisor and the Director of Graduate
Studies.
For more information visit the serious game design web site and feel free to contact Professor Carrie Heeter (heeter@msu.edu).
Game Design and Development BA Specialization
Media Arts and Technology majors come together with Art and Computer Science majors in this interdisciplinary specialization in game design and development. Students 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.
The specialization complements the breadth and depth of knowledge
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:
- TC339 Digital Games and Society (Spring offering, 3 credits)
- TC445 Digital Game Design (Spring offering, 4 credits)
- TC455 3D Game and Simulation Design (Fall offering, 4 credits)
- TC498 Collaborative Game Design (Spring offering, 4 credits)
Preference will be given to students majoring in Telecommunication,
Information Studies, and Media , Computer Science , or Art who have completed or are currently enrolled
in the specialization prerequisites applicable to their major (listed
below). Students with relevant experience and strong backgrounds from
other departments may also apply, particularly students in the Honors
College. Students without the listed prerequisites will also be
considered.
Prerequisites for Media Arts & Technology Students:
- TC 242 The Digital Image
- TC 243 Story, Sound, and Motion
- TC 247 3D Design of the Virtual Form
- TC 331 Intro to Interactive Media Design
For more information visit the specialization web page.
